In this moment(right now), we are in control of our time and our schedule. Think about it for a second. In this present moment, you and I are in control of what we do and how we feel. If we allow memories from the past to invade our minds, then we are held prisoner and are not in control of our lives.

Let’s try this. Each time we revert to a memory that does not serve us well (i.e., makes us feel bad about ourselves), take a breath in and imagine exhaling that thought and replacing it with something better, one that invokes happiness. Use all your will to hold that thought there, and don’t let the negative one pop back in. Try to do it as long as you can. Like anything, the more you do it, the easier it gets. Trust me.

When we’re in a headspace where we focus on feeling good, good things happen in our lives.

We apply for that job, walk up to that person we’d been fearful of and speak confidently to them, or maybe we just enjoy the feeling of being happy. We are in control of our mindset—every day, every second. We are the keepers of ourselves, no one else. We decide how we feel.

Some of us have been programmed with negative and self-limiting thoughts, and we stay there because it feels comfortable. We don’t want to rock the boat, so we follow the same path as those who programmed us. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. We can break out of the web and live for ourselves. Believe in goodness and hope, and know that better days are on the horizon, not more pain.

If we allow the past to sicken our minds, we are responsible for causing that to happen. Because, guess what? We create every single thought we have. We process what someone does or says to us, filter it through our perception, and then conjure up a story that may or may not be true.

Breathe in thinking ‘I am responsible for myself’ and exhale ‘I let go of what I can’t control.’

Shift from “I’m a victim” to “I’m a keeper of myself.” We are responsible for making ourselves happy and having peace of mind. We are the only ones who can do that, no one else. Be the keeper of yourself and be mindful of what you think.

Time comes and goes. When we say things like (and I’ve done this) “Where does the time go?” or “Time is flying by,” we recognize the speed at which days and months go by. I want to write a book titled Stop Time, about how to slow down life. I will. Just not right now. I’ve got other irons in the fire that need my attention, like my novel At What Price, which needs to be finished editing.  But when we live in the present moment, we can slow down time. All it takes is harnessing our thoughts to be here right now.

I’ve allowed myself (See that pesky word “allowed” again?) to think of the past and let it keep me there. I am in control of packing up the past and sending it away. The past does nothing for us in the present moment. Even positive, happy memories can clutter the present moment because we’re not allowing ourselves to feel happiness in this moment.

We can be happy, no matter what circumstances we face. Complaining about something won’t make us feel happy. It keeps us stuck. Excuses keep us stuck, too. Just because we were dealt a shitty hand in the beginning or middle of our lives, guess what  – the game is not over! We can ask the dealer to trade in the cards we don’t need anymore for some good ones that give us a royal flush of happiness. All it takes is being present, mindful of our thoughts, and breathing out the ones that harm us.

Thank you for reading this and spending some of your precious time with my thoughts and ideas. I write them to help us all achieve happiness and peace of mind. Gosh, that’s the goal of life.

I hope we all have a happy, healthy, and very prosperous New Year! Woohoo—bring on the new year!

To Being our keeper,

Francesca

 

Created by a human for humans.

 

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