Stop "It's not fair" Thinking

A young girl has just recovered from cancer. She was depressed and suicidal during her ordeal. She has found new hope and new life. What was her recovery process?

We all have negative thinking from time to time--and often for very good reason as this young girl did. "It's not fair," slipped from her lips many times a day. Here are some of the ways she pulled herself out of her "stinking thinking."

• She said, "Stop it!" to herself.
• She visualized a stop sign in her head.
• She gave thanks for her life.
• She wrote a gratitude thought in her journal to replace her negative thinking.

We all have difficult situations to deal with in life. We can all say, “It’s not fair.”

We grow from our trials. This young girl is much wiser, more empathetic, and loving that she was before.

She appreciates life like she never did before.

Find the good in all you do. It’s here—even if it seems hidden.

Before you go to bed every night find three good things about your day.

Thinking is a habit. Make it a positive one.

Self-Esteem Blasters for Kids

Listen to your child.

View the world from their eyes.

“Only if we understand, will we care.

Only if we care will be help.” Jane Goodall

Mirror a child’s feelings:

            You seem happy today.

            I’ll bet that was fun.

            Feeling a little sad?

“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller

When your child’s done something good, respond positively.

            That was a very thoughtful way to handle that.

            Looks like you spent some time thinking about that.

“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.” Marie Curie

Children are young for such a short time.

"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory." Dr. Seuss

Protection? or Prison?

I love the beauty of this little moth, but I must take a minute to think of  the changes it has gone through to bless the earth.

When hiking in the Tetons one afternoon, I watched a delicate blue moth, with hundreds of it's friends flit near a stream of water.

“I would like to be as carefree as you,” I said.

“I haven’t always been this way,” replied Blue. 

“It must have taken great energy for you to create the fragile, but durable chrysalis protection you lived in for a time in your early life.”

“The slumber was delicious,” said Blue, “and a much deserved rest after the energy it took to harbor myself.”

 “But, in the end, it must have been a struggle to break free of the protection you created for yourself,” I said.

“It had become a prison,” said Blue. “The twisting, and pressing to get free was a lot of work?

“You must feel very tired,” I suggested.

“Oh, but look what we’ve become,” said Blue. “The first time I took flight. Such a feeling of exhilaration!”

“What a sense of freedom,” I said.

“But I wouldn’t have appreciated it if I hadn’t known confinement first,” said Blue.

Tiny little Blue danced away. As I watched, I reflected on the parallel between Blue’s life and mine. How many times have I created a protection to shield me from harm—my shyness, my inability to listen to others, my self-centeredness, my lack of empathy. 

As I matured, my protection became a prison. I pushed against my protection, broke free,

and developed wings to fly. Now I enjoy the freedom I have found. Sometimes I slip back into my chrysalis, but I find my wings again rather quickly. Fly with me. Find your wings and come along. The journey is spectacular.

What protection have you created? Has it become a prison? Let go and enjoy the journey.