Water Your Thought Life

      I read a book the other day (Growing Up Duggar) in which the authors mentioned the idea of a "thought life." That got me thinking... ironic I know. But in our world we focus so much on the idea of maintaining your social life and living a healthy life and even figuring out your spiritual life. How many times do you actually have someone ask you, "How is your thought life going?"

     Our society focuses on "finding yourself." They focus on knowing who you are and knowing what you want in life. But no one ever teaches us how to grow in our thought life. Why are we expected to grow in an area that isn't watered?

     So how do we water our thought life? I don't promise to have the answers but I think that it comes from a lot of different things. I decided to see what other people had put out in the world about the idea of a "thought life," so what do I do? Pinterest it. Here's a short list of some things that seemed to be reoccurring themes amongst my findings:

                1. Banish the Negative Thoughts: As soon as you find yourself falling in to a cycle of negative thoughts, whether those are about yourself or others or life in general, take those thoughts captive. Replace them with thoughts of...

                2. Hope: It's not the end. And when it seems like it is, take the opportunity to make it a new beginning! When you think that you have nothing more to give, keep trying! Don't give up!

                3. Keep Moving: Don't dwell. As soon as you dwell, or stop to count the exclamation marks, you end up driving yourself crazy. Never stay in one mental spot too long.

                4. Your thoughts influence your Actions: "What you think, you are" was a quote that came up a lot in my search. I think that this holds a lot of truth to it. In that case, isn't working on and thinking about your thought life worth it?

                5. You have a choice: "Choose Happy" was another saying that came up time and time again. This implies that you have the ultimate power over different areas of your life. You get to choose your attitude, reaction, and response.

     Some things that I would suggest doing in order to make sure that you are watering your thought life are:

                1. Journal-Record- Write in your diary: Whatever you want to call it. My friend Hilary makes a good case for journaling on her blog here.

                2. Accountability: Find someone who will ask you how your thought life is doing. Encourage them to share their thought life with you, too!

                3. Pray: I choose to pray. You may meditate, think, dance or whatever you do that leads you to that place where you are examining your life and how things are going. This time will foster a strong thought life.

     If you have all the power when it comes to your "thought life" why not choose to use that power? Take control of the power. Decide what you want the power to be used for. Water your thought life. Help it grow!

     I'll leave you with a quote, "You've always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself." -Glinda

An Empty Brown Wall

     I've gone to multiple stores. Searched online databases. Stared at the wall hoping that something, anything would come to my mind. But I've got nothing. Well, I've got a big empty brown wall. It has nothing on it. My couch sits below and above is a wall full of potential. So I decided to sit down and think, "What do I want this wall to say?" (because when you live alone... sometimes inanimate objects have to talk...)

     Isn't that like so many things in life? A blank canvas of potential. So why not set some goals? Figure out what you want "your wall" (and not the Facebook one) to look like. Looking back in a year, what do you want to see? Now's your chance to figure it out. Now, while you have a big blank wall.

     I think that I want my big brown wall (the literal one) to say that I appreciate the people in my life. I want it to invite, welcome, and encourage those who come in. Come to think of it, that's what I want my life to do as well.

     So, as you finish reading this random and brief blog post, think about what you would want your big brown living room wall to say about you? Is that what you want your life to say, too?