What a great essay, Amanda! It really helped me to realize that my random thoughts as I walk along the street are creating my world. So if I am judging those I see, feeling grumpy or anxious about my life, not even SEEING what's around me because I'm lost in anxious thoughts, well, now.... that's my life, isn't its? Key point, which you express so well: I can change the story.
Thanks Don. Yep, we are writing our own story every day with what we think, how we react to things, and how we act. It was a revelation for me when I realised this! My life is very different now.
I stopped listening to the news during 2016-2020 administration in the US because I couldn't handle the constant bad news. It was too much on my nervous system. I find when really important things happen it gets filtered to me through other means, then I can investigate when I want to know more from sources I trust. It feels more empowering, that I am not a victim of the news cycle but I can control what I am exposed to.
This is so beautiful, Amanda. Our thoughts and beliefs are truly powerful in creating our experience. I’ve found that when I bring loving awareness to my thoughts I’m able to intentionally create incredible shifts in my experience/life. Thank you for sharing this empowering piece. Just subscribed 💖💖💖
Thanks for your lovely comment, Catherine. I’m glad to hear of your experience of changing your life with the power of your thoughts. We have way more power than we realise. It’s great to have you here 💙
I haven’t watched the news in ages either, once I, like you had the realisation that it was geared negatively in order to attract more attention. I caught the tail end of the nightly news by accident the other night and was struck by how over the top dramatic it sounded. We can become inured to drama, but equally we can become used to peace. I prefer the latter. Thankyou so much for this essay, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Hi Kate, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I too caught the news by accident recently when staying with family. It was insane! It’s amazing how much you can see through what they’re doing with it when you no longer watch or read it. Peace is definitely my preference too 💙
i made the decision a few years ago to limit my news consumption to what I felt I had to know rather than fear-mongering over indulgence. Now if I know I can't take action to change things, I cannot dwell on it. but if it's something I feel I can have an effect on, I will dive right in.
I've curated my social media to only bring me positive memes now as well.
My husband and I just had a long conversation last night that began with him asking me what frightened me, made me anxious. We spent a lot of time talking about the political situation here, then climate, then AI, all the things. In the end, he said something like, this is where we are, we’re human, we’re experiencing our particular lives like all the other humans have also experienced their own particular existences. Accept it. Today, when I read your words, I thought about that acceptance again and how it’s sort of the threshold to doing what your describing here, creating and being kindness, compassion, beauty in the world. I so appreciate this theme in your work and writing, Amanda. I need to be reminded of it over and over.
Hi Emily, I’m sorry to hear that you are so anxious about these things. I used to be too. But I realised that it didn't change anything, didn't help or make any difference to any of those things. It just made me sad and angry. And your husband sounds like a very wise man! This is where we are. And we can fret and feel bad about things that are way beyond our control, or we can try and make a positive difference in whatever small way we can. Just knowing you are doing that makes you feel better straight away. And I am very happy to hear that this theme in my work is appreciated. And don't you worry, I will be reminding you over and over! 😊💙
Thanks, Amanda. Anxiety is my first response to most things as I live with it as a mental illness, so I have to take that into consideration when I say I’m frightened of something. Complex trauma adds an element to the mix as well. And peri-menopause has exasperated my mental health stuff. I accept anxiety as my companion and work with it as I’m able. Your writing helps with that work. Thank you!
Yes, it's certainly interesting! On anxiety again, I have begun pondering its role in keeping me from feeling all the "real" feelings I experience as I move through my days. It's a safety net, so that I don't get to close to those other emotions. I am exploring this and curious about it.
Yes I get that. When I suffered from anxiety it was doing the same thing. It was something to focus on rather than look at what I really needed to. But I found when I did really deep therapy and looked at all the things I’d been scared of facing and feeling, my anxiety slowly went away. Now it’s a very occasional visitor and one I’m able to handle really differently than before. I’m interested to hear how your explorations go 💙
I’ll let you know. I’m also interested in my body and how I can heal some of this without talking about it, thinking about it, as I have for years. I’m wondering about releasing the trauma in my nervous system somatically. We’ll see!
Yes that’s a good idea. I had a lot of massage which helped to release lots of it that I had stored in my neck and shoulders. Recently too I have been doing qigong tapping and that has been really powerful, especially when tapping on my right hip. Strong surges of emotion when I first started doing it but lessening now so it must be letting go of it all.
What a great essay, Amanda! It really helped me to realize that my random thoughts as I walk along the street are creating my world. So if I am judging those I see, feeling grumpy or anxious about my life, not even SEEING what's around me because I'm lost in anxious thoughts, well, now.... that's my life, isn't its? Key point, which you express so well: I can change the story.
Thanks Don. Yep, we are writing our own story every day with what we think, how we react to things, and how we act. It was a revelation for me when I realised this! My life is very different now.
I stopped listening to the news during 2016-2020 administration in the US because I couldn't handle the constant bad news. It was too much on my nervous system. I find when really important things happen it gets filtered to me through other means, then I can investigate when I want to know more from sources I trust. It feels more empowering, that I am not a victim of the news cycle but I can control what I am exposed to.
Yes that’s exactly what I do.
I can feel my brain boggling!
Yay! Brain boggling is great! I try to get mine boggled every week 😂
This is so beautiful, Amanda. Our thoughts and beliefs are truly powerful in creating our experience. I’ve found that when I bring loving awareness to my thoughts I’m able to intentionally create incredible shifts in my experience/life. Thank you for sharing this empowering piece. Just subscribed 💖💖💖
Thanks for your lovely comment, Catherine. I’m glad to hear of your experience of changing your life with the power of your thoughts. We have way more power than we realise. It’s great to have you here 💙
I haven’t watched the news in ages either, once I, like you had the realisation that it was geared negatively in order to attract more attention. I caught the tail end of the nightly news by accident the other night and was struck by how over the top dramatic it sounded. We can become inured to drama, but equally we can become used to peace. I prefer the latter. Thankyou so much for this essay, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Hi Kate, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I too caught the news by accident recently when staying with family. It was insane! It’s amazing how much you can see through what they’re doing with it when you no longer watch or read it. Peace is definitely my preference too 💙
A great essay thank you 🙏🏽 words can create worlds
Thanks Layla. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it 😊
i made the decision a few years ago to limit my news consumption to what I felt I had to know rather than fear-mongering over indulgence. Now if I know I can't take action to change things, I cannot dwell on it. but if it's something I feel I can have an effect on, I will dive right in.
I've curated my social media to only bring me positive memes now as well.
Sounds like a healthy approach!
My husband and I just had a long conversation last night that began with him asking me what frightened me, made me anxious. We spent a lot of time talking about the political situation here, then climate, then AI, all the things. In the end, he said something like, this is where we are, we’re human, we’re experiencing our particular lives like all the other humans have also experienced their own particular existences. Accept it. Today, when I read your words, I thought about that acceptance again and how it’s sort of the threshold to doing what your describing here, creating and being kindness, compassion, beauty in the world. I so appreciate this theme in your work and writing, Amanda. I need to be reminded of it over and over.
P.S. My husband is also a cognitive scientist😊
Hi Emily, I’m sorry to hear that you are so anxious about these things. I used to be too. But I realised that it didn't change anything, didn't help or make any difference to any of those things. It just made me sad and angry. And your husband sounds like a very wise man! This is where we are. And we can fret and feel bad about things that are way beyond our control, or we can try and make a positive difference in whatever small way we can. Just knowing you are doing that makes you feel better straight away. And I am very happy to hear that this theme in my work is appreciated. And don't you worry, I will be reminding you over and over! 😊💙
Thanks, Amanda. Anxiety is my first response to most things as I live with it as a mental illness, so I have to take that into consideration when I say I’m frightened of something. Complex trauma adds an element to the mix as well. And peri-menopause has exasperated my mental health stuff. I accept anxiety as my companion and work with it as I’m able. Your writing helps with that work. Thank you!
Ah yes, the joys of perimenopause. It’s a rollercoaster! Here’s hoping you can rub along with your companion as nicely as possible 💙
Yes, it's certainly interesting! On anxiety again, I have begun pondering its role in keeping me from feeling all the "real" feelings I experience as I move through my days. It's a safety net, so that I don't get to close to those other emotions. I am exploring this and curious about it.
Yes I get that. When I suffered from anxiety it was doing the same thing. It was something to focus on rather than look at what I really needed to. But I found when I did really deep therapy and looked at all the things I’d been scared of facing and feeling, my anxiety slowly went away. Now it’s a very occasional visitor and one I’m able to handle really differently than before. I’m interested to hear how your explorations go 💙
I’ll let you know. I’m also interested in my body and how I can heal some of this without talking about it, thinking about it, as I have for years. I’m wondering about releasing the trauma in my nervous system somatically. We’ll see!
Yes that’s a good idea. I had a lot of massage which helped to release lots of it that I had stored in my neck and shoulders. Recently too I have been doing qigong tapping and that has been really powerful, especially when tapping on my right hip. Strong surges of emotion when I first started doing it but lessening now so it must be letting go of it all.
QiGong tapping is great! Thanks for the info:).