The Condition of The Human Mind: Thought

I've been learning a lot about life lately. About the way we as humans think and do things. About the rut we have all put ourselves in.. But most importantly I have been learning how to change all of that, and how to become better. 

So I've decided that I should share it with all of you. Take from it what you may. I personally have found all of it fascinating and life changing. I seriously go about my life differently each day. And I have come to realize that the world is oh so very different than what I thought..

I'm going to start with a picture: 

Now all you have to do is answer a simple question, what is in the picture? 

The answer should be simple, it's a snowflake right? Just a snowflake, nothing special. So why am I asking you to tell me what's in the picture? 

Well... What if I was to tell you that you are wrong. It isn't a snowflake at all...

Look again... And think about it. 

Has your answer changed? If you get where I'm going by now then it should have. But a lot of people don't see it until it's explained..

So let me explain. It isn't a snowflake. Not really. All it is is a picture of a snowflake. Not an actual snowflake. Therefore when your automatic answer is to say it's a snowflake, you are wrong.

All of us have thousands, millions, even billions of thoughts go through our head, everyday, all day, from the moment we wake up. They are just zipping through at the speed of light. Take this moment right now for instance, and look out the window. What do you see? Perhaps you see grass, or cars, or birds. Whatever it is you see your mind will automatically send you a thought saying "oh it's a bird" or "oh it's grass". 

But see... Here's the thing. These thoughts are not your thoughts at all. Not even close. They are your brains thoughts. Thoughts that every single human being has every single day. They are an automated response, just like with the picture of the snowflake. You had an automatic response "oh it's a snowflake".

Do you get where I'm going with this? 

A lot of things people would call a thought are really just our minds filtering things. 

So if those aren't our thoughts, then do we even have thoughts, real thoughts? Well yes, of course we do. Provided that we aren't one of those people that just glide through life without wanting to challenge anything. Because the only time when we have a thought of our own is when we challenge.

Like when I told you your answer that the picture was a snowflake was wrong. That was a challenge. Some of you jumped to it. You challenged yourself, you took a step back, you thought critically, and you came to the conclusion that it wasn't a snowflake at all, but just a picture in the shape of a snowflake.

This is the condition of the human mind, of human beings in general. We all do it. All the time. All day. But the goal is to stop that, and challenge.. Stop and say "is it.. is it really?"

That is the truth of the human condition.

The Fleeting Facts.

The sad truth is that I notice a lot more deaths and losses right around the holidays... I don't know if you've noticed it too, or if it's just me. But the past few years I have been to too many funerals, and heard of too many deaths.. And it all for people I have known, and some I have even grown up with. And it's hard.. Especially because it all seems to land during the Holiday's, the time when you are super focused on family. Death is already hard. But it is an even bigger slap in the face when it's around the time you are looking to your family the most.

In my opinion there has been far too many deaths over the past couple of years. And my heart really does go out to those who have lost a loved one. I know it isn't easy. I have dealt with my share of death.. And while I realize people die every day, just like people are born every day.. It doesn't really hit home until someone you know dies. And then it is suddenly a very surreal thing. Suddenly it is very personal.. And very unfair.

But it's been making me think... Think about life and how fleeting it really is. I mean I think we all know in the back of our heads that time is short. We know it. We just block it out. Because, really, who wants to think about that right? The goal of life is to be happy. And dwelling on death, or the fact the your life really isn't that long, is frankly really depressing. 

While I realize no one wants to think about that, I do think we should think about it a little bit more. I'm definitely not saying anyone should go all deep dark and depressed and dwell on the bad. That's not the point. The point is that the saying "live each day like it's you're last" should be practiced a lot more. We should all start appreciating life a bit more, and appreciating the people that are closest to us more. In today's society we all just tend to glide through life in fast motion. We treat everything like we need to get it done as quickly as possible. There is no magic to the day, there is just rushing and craziness. People don't tell their friends and family they love them nearly enough. Fights occur far too often. Relationships are broken too much. Gifts people buy aren't heart felt, it's all about buying the latest piece of technology, and going into debt because you want your gift to be bigger than everyone else's.. Life isn't loved like it should be. Beauty is skipped over. We play life in fast motion. Nothing is savored. 

In my opinion as time has gone on, everything has gone all wrong. Hold your loved ones close. Tell a stranger her hair is pretty. Ask for that girls phone number. Give yourself a compliment every day. Dwell on the good, not the bad. Go for your dreams. Shoot for the stars.. Break the pattern.. Savor. Because tomorrow is truly never a guarantee.

Remember:

Confidence is key. Love is blind. Support is a treasure. Relationships are overrated. Time is a concept. Open mindedness is a vision. Bravery is often mistaken for rashness. Shyness should never be taken as weakness. Regrets are a waste of time. Questions are for the bold. Happiness is a quest. Acceptance is a strength. Loyalty is bravery. Choices are impossible. Discouragement never pays. Optimism is a way of life. Luck is realizing opportunity. Credit isn't needed. Kindness requires selflessness. Laughter is medicine. Patience is not a virtue, but a sign of a more highly developed being. Ruthlessness is boredom on fire. Self love is mistaken for arrogance. Humor is talent. Seeing beauty is artistry. Anger is destruction. Hate is taught. Opinions are never fact. Mistakes are lessons. Adventure is everywhere. Normal has no definition. Religion is man made. Strength has nothing to do with a physical body. Music is life. You are your worst critic. Letting go takes courage. Romance is an act of passion. Danger is real. Fear is a choice. Death is a different journey. Passion can be dangerous. Too much of a good thing can be bad. Talent should be shared. Every life is precious. Senses are gifts. Beliefs are nothing but opinions. Reality is perception of the mind. The universe is all in your head.. But most importantly, never give up. Never surrender. And seize the day.

Lioness

For me.. Life lately has been an adventure of even more self discovery. It always astonishes me how much we don't even know about ourselves, and how much we can learn in just a matter of minutes. 

But even though I have been learning some new things I can't say I have been very shocked.. I guess I just kind of always knew about them in the back of my mind.. I just chose to bury it all throughout different parts of my life. 

Basically all I can really say is my lioness is coming out.. The huge part of me that is unbelievably strong is tired of sleeping. I am ready to wake up. And I am bringing every single part of me with it. I am embracing this blazing fire of strength and I am letting it engulf me. I'm not really scared anymore.. I've felt this part of me before at different times but I've always stifled it. Because I feared it. Not anymore. I am sick of being viewed as weak. I am sick of standing silently in the shadows. I am tired of being ran over and undervalued. I know I have a lot to offer this world and I am starting to get ready to do that.

Be prepared to see a different side of me. Don't get me wrong.. I won't be changing too much.. But just don't be surprised if you see a different light and strength and presence about me. 

Recently I have been able to talk with a new found friend in my life.. And he has truly taught me so much... About life, about obstacles and how you can overcome them, about embracing my spirit, and my huge value. He and I have a lot in common.. And it has been so wonderful to learn from him. I truly look up to him.. He sees the roaring lioness inside me, and he has helped me to see it.

I have yet to perfect this hew art form of accepting my whole self without worrying about what others think of me.. But I am truly and completely enjoying the journey. 

I am tired of not being loved back the way I have loved others, I am tired of not being heard, I am tired of people not really seeing me, I am tired of others defining me, I am tired of standing in my own way, I am tired... Tired of how my life has been lived so far and how others in my life have treated me and people I love. 

I am worth it. I am strong. I am beautiful. I am amazing. I am smart. I have value. I am a lioness.

So watch out... I am breaking free.

And I won't be chained again.