As most
of you know, I have a spirited and spunky daughter who has inherited my
positive attitude and self-belief.
When she
was 10, we had an interesting exchange. I was exhausted and
decided to take a quick nap. Sammy asked if she could come upstairs and
read while I napped. Unable to fall asleep right away, I began doing a
Soduko puzzle while she read. I have been working through the "Fiendish
level" in a book a girlfriend gave me at Christmas. Ten or fifteen
minutes later, Sammy asked how I was doing on my fiendish puzzle. "I
don't know kiddo," I replied. "This is a tough one, I may not be able
to solve it."
Sammy
replied with, "Who are you and what have you done with my mother!" She
chuckled. "The Mom I know can solve any Soduko puzzle--even the
fiendish." I smiled to myself and solved the puzzle in the next 10
minutes. Then I tossed and turned as I often do when trying to fall
asleep. Sammy must have noticed because she said, "What are you doing,
Momma?"
"Trying
to sleep; I often have a hard time falling asleep though, my mind just
keeps spinning."
"Well
just turn it off," Sammy stated simply.
"How do
I do that?"
"You
just do," she said matter-of-factly. "You think about nothing. If you
believe that you can think about nothing and turn your mind off, then
you can. That's what I do." I think she could tell that I wasn't
convinced. "Come on, try it," she said. "Is your mind clear now?" I
paused for a moment. "Yes, it's clear Sammy."
"Okay so
don't think about anything." A moment later "Are you thinking about
anything?"
"I am
thinking that I am thinking nothing."
Sammy
laughed. "Okay, try this. Imagine a night sky with beautiful stars.
Just look up at the stars in your mind and get lost in them." I did as
she instructed, keeping my focus on the stars and their patterns.
"Are you
thinking anything now Momma?"
Well,
actually, she had to tell me after I woke up that she had asked that
question-- as I had already fallen asleep.
Your
Turn:
Sammy reminded me of how important the "little things" we say to
ourselves are. She also reiterated the power of the mind. It will
accomplish what we believe it can accomplish. I thought the lesson went
nicely with today's quote. "Don't compromise yourself, you're all that
you've got." Big doubts, fears, and insecurities are born from smaller
ones. When we keep affirming the positive to ourselves, we diminish the
emotional and physical energy that is drained from limiting
beliefs.
Today,
be cognizant of the messages you send yourself. Replace "I cannot" with
"I can." (And try Sammy's resting exercise--works like a charm!)
Your
Affirmation:
Each day my self-belief grows.
