Choose Your Thoughts

Dear Aspen reader,

Life is a series of triggers—> reaction scenarios.

  • You work in a job (trigger) you get paid (reaction).

  • You order a coffee (trigger) the barista creates your order (reaction).

  • You exercise regularly (trigger) you gain vitality (reaction).

  • You eat nutritious foods (trigger) your digestion improves (reaction).

All around, even when we don’t realize, this relationship is taking place and impacting the flow of life. This association doesn’t take much conscious effort - it’s mostly behavioral. Think back to Psychology 101 with Pavlov and his dogs. The bell rang, they received food. Naturally, they salivated in anticipation of the food, so eventually when the bell rang —the dogs salivated without even receiving food.

As humans, our reactions to a given trigger make up the majority of what consumes our thought life, our behavior and the flow of our day. Have you ever stepped back to think that in spite of what’s happening around you, there is a choice as to how you may react?

Seven years ago, my family faced a death in the family that hit us deep to the core. It was unexpected, world shaking and life altering. As we moved into a new season, we faced the choice that all those who’ve experienced grief face:

  1. To move on (as if leaving something behind in sorrow)

    OR

  2. To move forward (into new beginnings with hope)

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We chose the latter. When life prompts you (or even forces you) to change courses, for whatever reason, a new normal follows. We chose to respond to the trigger (of death) with hope (reaction). It was (and still is) a conscious choice that we make, daily, because we identify hope as the number one truth for promoting a positive mindset, overall wellness and the motivation to conquer another day.

The mind can be such a battlefield. The mind is the place where “right” and “wrong” are decided. The mind is the place where “good” and “bad” are defined. The mind is complex and beautiful. And when the emotional load of life takes over, reactions seem to flow as a dam that has broken down. Emotional reactions seem to be automatic, but I want to invite you into a new arena today and encourage you to choose your thoughts wisely. It’s possible!

What thoughts do you need to choose today?

In health,

Alecia

Alecia Ritzema