Our Thoughts Create Our Experience

Most of us do not realize that we are constantly creating our reality through the mind stream that interprets our experience. Imagine driving down a road on a beautiful day taking your time to view the scenery  and thinking what a lovely place this is, I am so lucky to live here.  Now imaging driving down the same road on a beautiful day when you are in a rush to get somewhere and encountering a slow driver with no place to pass, you think I hate these drivers that get in my way why can't they drive the speed limit? Just notice that you are traveling down the same road but a different experience!  Our mind is constantly choosing to focus on some things and ignore others.  The process is so automatic we rarely recognize it. The process of sorting and filtering, judging and categorizing is the constant underlying   structure of our experience.  Now consider that most of your stress is related to this very process.  Our mind tells us that it is the outside events, people and content of our lives that is causing our stress.  More accurately, it  is the meaning we give these things which is controlling our experience.  

The process of becoming more aware of our thoughts and recognizing there is choice involved can be a tremendously freeing change of focus.   Mindfulness practice is exactly this change of focus.  It is learning to become more observant of our internal world and through this learning to change our experience in the direction of happiness.  Just notice that you can have a thought and at the same time observe that you are thinking the thought.  Who is observing?  You are not your thoughts you are the creator of your thoughts and you can change their meaning at any time.  For most people this a radical idea, but it is the central awareness  in creating the experience of happiness.  

If you are struggling with stress or feeling trapped in your unhappy life experience contact us @ Professional alternatives, PLC (540)825-2788 or on the web @ http://www.professionalcounselingpiedmontva.com for help with changing your reality.

Creating Mind and Body Health

 

In this Blog I examine a few of the lifestyle issues which affect our emotional and physical health.
 When I talk with clients about their emotional concerns one of the consistent themes is a lack of "self care". and balance.  Research has clearly shown that people who exercise regularly are less prone to depression as well as physical illness.  When we consider a plan for maintaining balance in our lives we need to consider that an active lifestyle with regular exercise is important to our emotional well being. Exercise is often associated with a gym membership or buying a piece of exercise equipment, however these approaches are only useful when we "show up" to exercise. It is more effective to get outside and walk on a regular basis than going to the gym occasionally. 

Research has also shown that a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids is linked to a healthy emotional outlook. Food is our body's fuel and the quality of what we eat  effects the quality of our energy  What we eat plays a key role in our emotional balance as well as our physical health. It is important to pay attention to our diet and make conscious choices about what we eat just as we need to make conscious choices about exercise


Finally, our thoughts are responsible for the way we see the world and ourselves. The content of our thinking is the source of most of our stress.  One of the statements I make to clients on a regular basis is "Everything has only the meaning we give it".We need to learn to "observe and question " our thoughts to avoid the trap of believing every thought we have is true.

Learning to balance our thoughts, feelings, work and play is the best way to maintain happiness in a stressful world.  If you are interested in ways to create more balance in your life contact us at Professional Alternatives, PLC  (540)-825-2788 or visit us on the web @ http://www.professionalcounselingpiedmontva.com

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PASSION, THE BEST ANTI-DEPRESSANT

You may have wondered with the dramatic increase in medication options for mood disorders such as depression whether there is any reason to do anything about the blues other than take a pill.  Research has repeatedly shown that medication without psychotherapy is less effective in outcome measures for treatment of depression.  Newer research coming out of the integrative medicine field suggests that one of the ways the brain deals with trauma is to grow new "Dendrites" or receptors at the neuro- transmitter site.  What is interesting is that studies have also shown that another way neuro genesis occurs is when we are passionate about something. So Passion may be how we naturally heal and maintain our optimism for life. Dance, Sing, and Love with all of your Heart may indeed be the best medicine for depression! If you feel that you have lost your connection to Passion or need to explore ways to manage your emotional stress it may be time to consider therapy as an option.  Give us a call at Professional Alternative, PLC  (540)-825-2788 or visit us on the web @ http://www.professionalcounselingpiedmontva.com.   Be well and live Joyfully!