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Marie T. Russell's Daily Inspiration

The focus for today is:  I seek positive alternatives to my fear-based thoughts.

Our mind is very good at imagining scenarios. For example, you call a friend and they don't answer, and you know very well they are home. So your mind jumps to the conclusion that they don't want to talk to you and are ignoring your call. The negative assumption is a threat to the harmonious relationship you've had, as well as to your peace of mind.

So, one way out of this dilemma is to come up with other possible reasons why your friend did not pick up when you called. Maybe they were in the shower. Or maybe they decided to take a nap and turned their phone off. Or maybe they are in the middle of an argument, or a love session, with their spouse, and didn't want to answer the phone. There are many possibilities.

So the next time your mind comes up with a threat-based thought, such as that person doesn't like me, or I'm going to get fired for this, or whatever, stop and take the time to come up with alternative reasons why the person is behaving in the way they are. And then ask yourself if those are not just as possible as the original fear-based thought. Choose to entertain possibilities and alternatives that are more supportive of you and the other people involved. 

Today's Daily Inspiration is excerpted from the InnerSelf.com article:

Developing Compassionate Thinking
Written by Marie T. Russell

Read the complete article here

 

This is Marie T. Russell, publisher of InnerSelf, wishing you a day of seeking positive alternatives (today and every day)

Join me again tomorrow for the Daily Inspiration and focus of the day.

Today, we seek positive alternatives to our fear-based thoughts.

* * * * *

This week's Daily Inspirations are inspired from:

BOOK: The Shyness Workbook

The Shyness Workbook: Take Control of Social Anxiety Using Your Compassionate Mind
by Lynne Henderson.

book cover of The Shyness Workbook by Lynne Henderson.Shyness has evolved as an emotion over thousands of years and can be helpful in some circumstances. However, it can become a problem when it interferes with life goals, develops into social anxiety disorder or leads to 'learned pessimism', mild depression and even 'learned helplessness'. In this way, shyness and shame often hold us back from realising our potential and from engaging with others wholeheartedly.

There is nothing wrong with being shy - it is a natural emotion that everyone can experience. But if shyness is negatively impacting your life, The Shyness Workbook can help you grow your confidence.

For more info and/or to order this book, click here. Also available as a Kindle edition. 

About The Author

Marie T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985). She also produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from 1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our own inner source of joy and creativity.

Creative Commons 3.0: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License. Attribute the author: Marie T. Russell, InnerSelf.com. Link back to the article: This article originally appeared on InnerSelf.com