Daily Gratitude: There’s so much going on inside of us that we might even be frightened if we knew how much.

That’s where IFS comes in. It is truly an entire family system within you. There’s all sorts of typical family interactions as well – spats, sulking, rejoicing, taking care of one another, love, anger, sadness, grief, you name it.

We all acknowledge that we have memories so why can’t we accept that we have “tiny personalities” within that may even be containers for most of those memories.

In the past week alone I’ve made major changes in my perspective on people and ideas and things in my life. I’m 77 years old so this is amazing that I can up thoughts and beliefs I’ve held for so long. But it works.

Every time you say “a part of me….”, you are acknowledging one of those tiny personalities.

This inside family is where most of your battles are fought. My parts were frequently at “war” with one another, just like two toddlers or worse yet, two teenagers. They both want the same thing. In this teenage example they most likely want autonomy just as physical teens do. They just have different ways of getting what they want.

The battles within are the hardest fought. Learn more about your parts and you’ll learn that you are not stuck in particular beliefs or thought patterns. You can change!

That is the most freeing experience in your life.

Daily Gratitude: Most of our “personal” issues are rooted in the past. They are the product of our upbringing and influence from so many people and groups (parents, siblings, friends, religious leaders, school teachers, media, music and theater even. We’ve been brainwashed galore as children and although that feels rather terrifying, it’s a necessity of sorts because we are totally clueless and defenseless as babies and children.

What happens, though, is that we never take time to examine those things that are crammed into our heads. We never make any choices after that. It’s just “the way it is”.

IFS (Internal Family Systems) is pretty much all about taking the past out of the present. Our parts are stuck at the age they are “born” (when they develop) and they act that age and perform the role they did way back then.

Have you ever said “I did such and such and it was so out of character for me. I just don’t know what happened.” That is the protector(s) talking and behaving.

Even if you don’t subscribe to IFS theory and practice, it’s imperative for growth that you examine your beliefs. How many do you still really belief. Remember that a belief is just a thought you keep thinking. It is NOT the gospel and does not come from above. It’s a thought that has been ingrained in you all those years ago most likely.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a library of beliefs so that you can pick, choose, and discard? Like a 7-11 you can just go into your “belief convenience store” and see what works for you today.

It’s not really that simple and I’m not making fun of the process. I’m just using the lighthearted spirit to illustrate that you can change your beliefs. It takes work but you’ll be surprised….and happy. It will feel so good to know you’re making your own choices.

Daily Gratitude: Sometimes we need tiny bits of accomplishment just like we need little pieces of chocolate sometimes.

This is one way to get that “hit”. Can you make a game out of it? How can you be different than you were 5 minutes ago? Can you think differently, maybe act differently, or perhaps even feel differently?

What can you think about that will change you, just a tiny bit? Can you look at a subject with more of an open mind? That’s not to say you have to change your mind, just be willing to examine another point of view for a few minutes. Can you think about a person with less judgment and criticism? Can you try to see where they are coming from or maybe figure out reasons they act as they do? Or maybe even entertain the concept that you don’t know everything and maybe some people think the same of you?

An easy way to get started is to just explore the reverse or the opposite of what first comes into your mind when you see or hear something.

It’s a fun way to change and to expand your horizons.