I was recently asked the following: “What is obvious to you but not so obvious to others?”
Here is my 19-point answer:
- All people feel angst, insecurity, doubt, fear (although I use a different word), nervousness, anger.
- Feeling anxious does not mean you have a problem or a personality flaw; it means you are human.
- Feelings come from our thinking in the moment and not circumstances, all day and every day.
- Competence does not equal confidence.
- Your mental life is a roller coaster. Embrace the ride. As your head fills with thought, you have trouble seeing clearly and are at a low point in the journey. In contrast, as your head naturally empties of thought, you see life differently and are at a high point. Our perspective of every circumstance in our life varies depending on our position on the roller coaster.
- Depending on your mind-set, you will perceive/interpret identical situations differently.
- Mind-set shapes our experience. Events don’t shape mind-set.
- A head filled with thought (clutter) and a head devoid of thought (clarity) are both normal.
- Clarity and a high state of mind is not a goal to be achieved.
- You can’t control your thinking nor your feelings.
- You don’t have to listen to any thought that arises.
- There is a huge difference between thought as a psychological category and the content of your thinking.
- You don’t choose your mind-set. Your mind-set chooses you.
- You are not a victim to the circumstances in your life.
- You don’t have control over your mind-set, mood, or state of mind.
- When left alone your mind will self-correct to clarity; tips and strategies block your natural healing mechanism.
- Judging the content of your thinking as positive or negative isn’t helpful.
- Your mind-set fluctuates independent of events.
- Psychological freedom and well-being is a by-product of understanding how the mind works.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Grace and peace,
Bruce