We took a little weekend trip down to Austin. Friday afternoon,I noticed that we were rushing to get packed, rushing to beat traffic. Rushing to get to dinner.
Clearly we needed to hurry up, so we could get to Austin to relax together.
Ha. It sounds ironic when I say it out loud, but there’s only so much time in a weekend and we didn’t want to spend it sitting in a traffic jam on the highway. So we rushed out of town.
I think I go on those trips with a bit of an expectation that life will be easier while we’re gone.
That when we’re not at home with our hectic schedules, any frustrating family dynamics will simply disappear. That doesn’t exactly happen. It’s certainly better, but everything doesn’t magically get fixed when we change environments.
The truth is, wherever I go, there I am.
I take the same me to Austin or Colorado or the beach. Sure, I get a little more sleep and things aren’t as rushed so I’m a little more patient. My reaction time is a little slower, but my internal narrative stays the same.
The only thing that will change my experience is me changing me.
There will always be traffic on the road to Austin on Friday afternoon. My kids aren’t going to become perfectly well-behaved adults. . .(hopefully ever!) My husband isn’t ever going to bow in service of my every want. . . (even before I’ve stated it). Texas is always going to be hot in the fall.
If I want to enjoy my life more, it’s up to me.
It all starts with my thoughts. It’s amazing to me how much I experience life through the lens of my thoughts. Every little thought affects my reaction to any given situation. My reactions can change everything. For better or for worse.
It’s the same for you.
If you want to enjoy your life more, it’s totally up to you.
Do you ever find that your thoughts about a certain situation change your reaction, which instantly affects your situation?
What if today, you started to pay more attention to the thoughts that come right before your reactions?
It’s the first step to changing everything.
Give it a try.
to more love,
Crystal
P.S. I know this guy who wrote an entire book on this subject. You should totally check it out. 😉 –>The Stories We Tell Ourselves
