Take a few minutes to contemplate this idea. I imagine it’s a bit foreign to many.

If you subscribe to the idea that nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so (William Shakespeare), then you can see how the same would apply to how you live.

Some people who are very affluent and live in mansions and have people doing everything for them are unhappy. And then you can look at the most poverty stricken countries and areas in our country and these people are usually very happy. They are also usually very communal people and take care of each other. You’ve heard that one of the best ways to get out of a depression is to go give to or take care of other people.

Wanting to care for others is a different way of thinking. It’s putting the needs and welfare of others before your own.

How do you think about your circumstances and situation? I know I’ve changed how I look at problems that arise. And since I’ve changed my way of thinking, the way I live is different. When I have problems now, I don’t “awful-ize” any more or not as much as I used to. I acknowledge my emotions and allow myself to feel them but I don’t make decisions based on them. I wait til the emotions pass (I give them a finite amount of time) and then I look at the situation objectively.

I’m not great at it yet but it’s become more of a habit and I’m seeing the benefits and rewards so that makes me want to continue.

I used to just try to suppress my emotions but I was never successful at it so just like a pressure cooker, all would explode. And then while experiencing the lava flow of emotions, I’d make dumbass decisions because I didn’t use objective data.

My way of life is now more ruled by my thinking and it’s 100% better!

Think about it.