You know what I've noticed?

We can wake up with a thought, carry it through the day, and before we know it, that one thought has turned into a whole conversation in our heads.

I've come to realize that our brains are always trying to help us navigate life. They notice possibilities, look for what might go wrong, and sometimes bring thoughts to us simply because they want to keep us safe.

But that doesn't mean every thought needs our attention.

Some thoughts are helpful.

Some are simply passing through.

And some can keep circling until we forget that we have a choice about what we do with them.

I've found that sometimes the first step is very simple: pause.

Take a breath. Put your hand over your heart. Notice what's happening inside without immediately needing to fix it.

Then we can ask ourselves, “Is this thought helping me right now?”

The more we practice this, the more familiar we can become with our own minds.

And I think that's a beautiful thing to share with our children, too. Because what we think can influence how we feel, how we act, and eventually how we see ourselves.

We don't have to be afraid of our thoughts.

We can learn from them, question them, let some of them go, and make room for the ones that help us move forward.

Perhaps learning how to think isn't about having a quiet mind all the time.

Perhaps it's about learning that we have a choice in what we give our attention to.

If you have a few quiet minutes, I’d love for you to join me on YouTube for my latest conversation about our thoughts. Watch on YouTube

Be well,

Deb “Shanti” Kelly Grandma on a Mission | Founder of Life Ingredients Helping children learn how to manage life—and live it well. ❤️