Three pounds of happy

Think about a flower, any flower.

Think about a rhino.

Think about the taste of your favorite ice cream.

Think about your first kiss.

Our brains are amazing things. These three pound dynamos control every action in our bodies. The average brain is believed to generate around 50,000 thoughts per day.

Who controls those thoughts? As the four sentences that started this column show, we do. No one or nothing controls our thoughts outside of ourselves. You chose to think about those things I asked about and I’m sure you saw them in your mind’s eye in great detail.

So what is the point in using our tremendous brains to focus on negative thoughts?

It really serves no purpose. My mother described herself as a “worrier”. She suffered from ulcers and smoked to relieve her stress from the negative thoughts running through her head. The smoking eventually killed her. Some would say she killed herself. She let her thoughts force an action that ultimately lead to her death.

If you are a “worrier” don’t let that determine your fate. Your brain is stronger than you think and so are you. Sometimes we have to train ourselves to look at life differently in order to allow our super powered brains to funnel our thoughts in the right direction.

Gratitude is a great way to start to control negative thoughts. You have to give yourself a break and look at your life differently. What would happen if you began to say to yourself “Got it good” every time you touched a door knob? Or if you trained yourself to say “Thankful” each time you looked at a clock? Would your life take a different turn? Would your brain begin to process information in a more positive fashion?

I think it would. Our thoughts are a product of our brain and our emotions. These things can be controlled to a certain degree. What have you got to lose from trying to think in a new way? Nothing. So give it a try.

If you are unable to manage your thoughts or find they are interfering with your ability to meet your daily responsibilities or enjoy life seek out professional help. There is no shame in asking for help. If you had a broken arm would you go to the doctor or would you just hope you could will yourself to heal? You would go to the doctor. It is the same philosophy when it comes to your mental health.

Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right,” this highlights how much our thoughts determine success or failure.

You are a unique and valuable creation. Think of yourself in those terms. Your brain has 86 billion nerve cells in it. Don’t waste them on worry, stress and regret. You are worth too much to humanity to let that happen.

Do me a favor. Take the next few seconds and think of 10 things in your life that make you happy.

See? You got this.