Beyond Trying To Fix Your Thoughts - August 04

Have you ever tried a tool or technique that worked for a while, only to find that it eventually stopped working? In today’s 5 Minutes in Nature, Liz explores a different approach. Rather than trying to get rid of uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, she gently brings her awareness back to who she truly is. And when she does this, something natural happens: her thoughts begin to settle on their own.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to 5 minutes in nature with me Liz Scott, Up and about on a blustery Dartmoor and hunkering behind a gorse bush, One of these thorn bushes on the Dartmoor that give me a little bit of shelter because it's such a wide open expanse of land. It's the evening, I'm looking up at the sky, It's got little white clouds, There's a lot of blue sky. There's a sense of freshness in the air, Something we've not had for a little while. Earlier today there was a misty rain and there's no trace of it now because it's all been blown away by the wind and the warmth of the sun, But it was very welcome just to walk out in that misty rain and just feel that sense of coolness on my skin. And today's reflection is about one thing that has shifted significantly for me and it relates to uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. Because there was a time in the past when I used to try and get rid of uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. I didn't want to feel them. I didn't want to feel the agitation or frustration, The guilt or the worry or the fear or the insecurity. For a way to get rid of those uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. And what is so different with the way that I deal with life now or I journey through life now? One of the things that is really different is that I am not trying to change my state of mind. It's as though I were trying to change the clouds in the sky here, Right in front of me. It makes no sense. I can observe them. I can notice them. I can notice the different shapes they make. But I am not trying to change the clouds. And if I were to try and change the clouds, I might expend a lot of energy in trying to change them. And it would be for no purpose. They change of their own accord. And what happens with tools and techniques, In my experience, Is that, And I'm going to keep using the analogy of the clouds, Is that I might try a tool or technique to make myself feel better. And that's the equivalent of me using a tool or technique to make the clouds change. It might be that whilst I'm in the process of using a tool or technique, The clouds change shape. But that's got nothing to do with my tool or technique. It's just a happenstance, A coincidence. And that's what I've noticed with tools and techniques. They kind of seem to work for a little while and then they don't. And I've come across something so much more useful. Because in understanding the nature of thought. I align myself with it. I don't try and change it or get rid of it. The only thing I am ever exploring when I am noticing what's going on in my world is I'm bringing my awareness back to that central, Centered essence of who I truly am. That God energy, That love energy. That is what I want to explore in my world. And a happy circumstance of that or a symptom of that is as I become more present to who I truly am. I notice that what arises in me is a sense of compassion, Is a sense of peace. I notice that thought storms seem to dissolve in their own way and their own time without any effort from me. I notice who I truly am. Compassion, Love, The expression of love arises freely. And I am just present to that in my world. So that is why I don't spend time telling you how to change your thoughts, Your feelings. I just don't see that there's any value in it. Any more than I would try and teach you how to change the shape of a cloud. It just makes no sense in my life. However, As I look within and find that settled space. If it occurs to me to go for a walk or to sit and meditate or to go on the bench in my back garden and raise my face to the sun and close my eyes, If that occurs to me to do it, I do it. But that is not what I'm doing to feel better. That is because I've got in touch with who I truly am. And that is then what makes sense to do. So I'd love your reflections on this. And tomorrow I'm going to talk a bit more about it, But I'm not talking about a tool and technique. I'm reflecting on you getting back in touch with who you truly are. That is where the magic lies. Let me know your reflections. And of course, Don't forget to join me again tomorrow for another five minutes in nature.

Reviews

I love this! We try to control so much about our lives and eventually realise the struggle for control is futile. Thank you! 🙏🏻

I had to jump on this reflection today Liz as it’s going to be my theme in class! I am using a Louise Hay quote, but one of hers has never resonated “it’s only a thought, and a thought can be changed” which to me makes no sense because once you’ve had the thought it’s passed. So your way of looking at it makes so much more sense to me.

Thanks for the serendipitous timing 💗🙏☺️

Hi Liz, I’ve been coming to the same conclusion, of observing my thoughts without trying to get rid of them, even the unsettled ones. I liked how you said if you felt like putting your face to the sun, closing your eyes, that it was more of a thought that occurred to you as opposed to a technique to apply to feel better. For me, my own inner wisdom can be tapped into much easier when I let it flow in rather than trying to dictate it.

When my inner voice tells me to take a walk or some other action during unsettled feelings, how do I know if that isn’t just my brain trying to sneak in a tool I’ve learned in the past?

Good morning Liz. Your bench in the garden prompted this. I see my responses to your Five Minutes in Nature. As Thoughts From My Deck.

Thought storms. If you allow me to digresss. I just watched the movie Pressure filmed in Mentmore on a large castle like estate. It is about the days leading up to D-Day and the work surrounding determining what the weather would be like on that day. Scottish Meteorologist James Stagg was the principal. Very innovative and scientific in his ways of short term forecast as the old methods the tools were looking at old charts on same day years back and suggesting that the weather would likely be similar hence forth on the day in question.

I would recommend it if you are interested in science history.

Back to the thought clouds. You can control and yes like you a return to center for me starts with three breaths. That way what ever may be disturbing me tends to dissolve somewhat and allow for more settled moments.

Cooler fresh air here this morning is a relief. Thanks Liz. See you tomorrow. ✌️❤️