Daily Gratitude: “If the mind can stay with itself and not go out looking for things to criticize or latch onto, it can maintain a natural form of stillness.”

Have you ever said or thought “I wish I could just shut out the world”?

You can. You are in charge of your mind. You can be your own Ring doorbell. You can hear something banging at your door, trying to get your attention. But you don’t have to open the door right away. Use your Ring doorbell (or in the old days, the peephole) and take a peek at who (or what if you’re talking about the mind) is trying to gain entrance.

Is this “visitor” an invited guest (something that will help you reach a goal you’ve set)? Or is it an intruder (something that will distract you or veer you off into a direction that really has no purposeful aim)? Is the visitor there to help or hinder you?

You should be able to tell from that peek but sometimes you need to ask a few questions. If you do, though, make sure you ask them while the visitor is still outside. Once you’ve let them in, your control over them weakens.

You want to let in those thoughts and activities and relationships that further your goals and keep you on track.

You want to keep out the ones that will distract you or once they gain a foothold, carry you along as if you’re a “tuber” traveling down the rapids and you have nothing to steer with.

Don’t let anything in without making a conscious evaluation and decision. You control your mind. Be your own Ring doorbell.