16 Jan What if you could start with your mind as a blank slate …
It needs to stop!
For too long now I’ve been letting other people and other issues live rent free in my mind. And it’s not been good for my happiness or mental health. In fact, it’s been very, very bad for both.
What does “living rent free in my mind” mean?
Well, it means I’ve been thinking way too much about certain things that aren’t “paying the rent”. That is, in this context, they’re not serving me, making me happy, or helping me live the life I want to live.
Why would I do this?
Because I care about certain issues and I like to be up to date regarding news and current affairs and so I read and watch a lot of content to stay informed. At the same time, however, I suffer when I do this because as an empath, and highly sensitive person, I feel very strongly when I feel other people are wronged, when wrong is done, when the world is not the way I think it should be.
But the reality is, I don’t need to think about these things as much as I do; it doesn’t help me to think about these things as much as I do.
I’ve decided I’m going to choose who and what “lives” in my mind, who and what I allow to “rent” space in my head!
And you can too. For you, it might not be politics or world issues, it might be a work colleague or family member. But whomever or whatever it is, you can determine whether or not they take up space in your thinking.
Now, at the risk of stating the obvious, this is easier said than done, but it is possible; with practice and determination. If you’re mindful of what you’re thinking you can be mindful of thinking of other, more helpful people and topics. You can distract yourself if you find yourself focusing on matters that are unhealthy for you.
Ask yourself what or who would be “living in your head” if you were truly happy, if happiness and wellbeing and thriving and flourishing were your natural states, and then work hard to make this happen, to focus on this and to refocus as often as possible.
It’s your mind and you get to choose who lives in it. Let’s all say goodbye to those “bad tenants”!