If you’re trapped in a dungeon of your own design (and you know who you are), I have good news for you. There is a way out! It’s not easy: you have to control….. your thoughts. OK, it may sound easy, but just try it a moment: try to not think for one full minute. Hard to do? We are so conditioned to identify with our thoughts that it is almost impossible for us to close them out. They swirl around in our heads, sneaking in and taking up residence, convincing us that our situation is awful and there’s no way out. Night thoughts are the worse, as you don’t have any protection against the negativity that worms its way into your mind.
What to do? Try to be present for a few moments. Concentrate on your breathing, examine a flower, watch a puppy play, paint something. Do something that brings your awareness into the present moment, letting the past slip away (it no longer exists anyway), and holding off the future (it doesn’t exist yet). All you really have is the present moment. And if you really immerse yourself in this moment, you will discover that things are not as awful as they seem. At this very moment, as you read this, you are surrounded by beauty, love and energy. Open your eyes and see them. Let that overwhelm you, crowding out the negative thoughts, the worries and the anxiety.
Yes, the negative thoughts will creep back in. But recognize them as perceptions, and let them go. Do not let them take you over! They may be comfortable and familiar, but they are destructive and do you no good.
Hey, if I can do this (and I can!), anyone can. Try it!