“Happiness is not a goal; It is a by-product.”
-Eleanor Roosvelt

Buckle up. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. A swirl of political activity will be bombarding us over these next few months.  It could become (if it’s not already for you) confusing, emotionally charged, combative. Perhaps not the best topic for the dinner table.

I personally enjoy a good spar in conversation, but only when it’s done with a twinkle in the eye. I just don’t see too many twinkles when discussing politics and religion.

Making political decisions on how best to move forward can be as difficult as finding Nemo.  However, studying the lives of great thinkers of yore can help. People like Eleanor Roosevelt, Rumi, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, Leo Tolstoy, and so many more. One key ingredient these great leaders all had in common was their effective use of self-discipline.

And self-discipline doesn’t come along easily. I’ll be the first to raise my hand on that.

Whether it’s the development of self-discipline or the quest for inner peace, neither can be found in an online search. Sure there’s lots of information out there, but the internet is a muddy place. Lots of mud and guck to sift through. Yes, that’s right. For those of us who liked to play in the mud as children, we still can.

In fact, just try sitting in stillness for a while to experience a real mud party. So many thoughts in so little time to sling around in that big little ‘ol brain. (I use ‘big’ and ‘little’ together to cover all bases – different times of day, caffeinated or not, etc.).

And if mud isn’t your thing but excitement is, sitting in stillness can be like riding a roller coaster of thoughts roaring this way and that with never a dull moment.

Thoughts like these can leap up…

“He’s a jerk.”

“She laughs too much.”

“He’s an idiot. She’s an idiot. I’m an idiot.” (Not everyone gets to the ‘I’m” part tho maybe they should)

“Wheeeee”…

And here’s where the lightbulb comes in…

Those negative thoughts don’t have to be there! 

Flip the book. Turn the page. You have the power to steer your thoughts into more positive, healing, enlightening ways. YOU are the captain of your ship!

Aye, I Captain!

So try simply watching your thoughts more often. When your mouth isn’t moving your thoughts are probably sprinting. Where do they sprint off to?  Berating others or yourself?

Next time you have a negative thought let it go. Change the subject, adjective, adverb, whatever. You are in control of your thoughts.

You, and only you, are the one in charge of your mind’s destiny.

It can be tough growing up, but don’t fret. It’s still possible at any time to jump on a roller coaster or play in the mud too.