New year, new thoughts, new you.....

You know that I believe whole-heartedly that our thoughts can work for us or against us. We need to keep control our thoughts. Thoughts create our feelings, our feelings create our actions and our actions create our results. Control your thoughts, and it will help control your feelings. Too often, we let our negative thoughts, our self-limiting beliefs, and mindsets dictate our actions which can give us bad results.

Our thoughts shape our life. Everything starts with a thought, which impacts our feelings, actions, and ultimately, our results. If you’re not happy with the results in your life, you have the power to change everything simply by changing your thoughts. Why are we having these thoughts if they are serving us well? Here are a few things to think about and what I have learned:

• Identify your thoughts. Are your thoughts negative or positive? Do they support the results you want in life?

• You can’t change the past. What’s done is done. Accept that you can’t change events of the past (although you can learn from them) and stop wondering “what if”. Say Done. Move on. This is the most important of all. Do not dwell on yesterday. There is nothing that can be done.

• Worry is a waste of time. Worrying is one of the most useless, wasteful emotions we can experience, yet it is one of the most common. If we learn to let go of this emotion, our lives will be so much easier. If you cannot change it, help it, don’t think about. It does you no good.

• Embrace what you can control. Focus on the areas of life that are within your control -- the things that you can affect and have power over changing.

• Be mindful of the people you surround yourself with. Keep your distance from people who bring you down, suck the energy out of you, and make you feel bad. We discussed this last week!

• Ask questions. Ask questions that support the results you want in your life. How can you feel happier? How can you achieve your goal? What can you do today to move forward? What do you enjoy? I have learned that doing something creative brings me joy. Cooking, gardening, or making a basket is fun! According to Brene Brown, Ph.D., The Gifts of Imperfection, creativity is extremely important for our happiness.

So, for 2022, we need to prioritize our mindset! If you did not read my blog It is never too late, please do. I discuss more on the growth or fixed mindset. The book, Mindset, by Carol S. Dweck, changed my life! Yes, that sounds over the top, but it is true. I read it several years ago and realized that at any age, I can learn or do anything if I had the mindset to do it. It might take me longer, but it can be done. I never say I am too old anymore. I might change my desire because my body does not like it (like water skiing) but I still can make the choice of doing it or not. Now, you know that I am smart enough to understand that I should not going to try to get my PhD in mathematics! But in general, you are not going to hear “I am too old” to change or try something new.

So, what are we going to create, change, or do for 2022? What are your goals or dreams? Think about it and put your mindset-and creative thoughts to use!

I just finished a small little book, The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brené Brown, Ph.D. It was perfect to add a quick note to this blog. Louis was finishing up a huge project and was waiting for other engineers to send in something, not sure what but was able to finish my book. I decided to get up and add a few things about her last chapter. “Cultivating Laughter, Song, and Dance and letting go of being cool and always in control”, was interesting. She explains how these three things are so important to creating more joy. I could not agree more! However, some of us will dance but not sing (that is me), some will sing but not dance. All of us need to laugh and know it is good for us. We don’t dance or sing because we might get embarrassed and worry about what others might think. Really? Yes, it is true. I only move my lips🤷‍♀️. One early morning, I was vacuuming and Preston comes tapping on my shoulder, it frightened me. I had my ipod and earplugs on. He said, “mom please”. I said oh I am sorry honey for vacuuming. He said, “it is not the vacuuming, it is the singing. Please try not to sing”🤔.

I found the part in the book that being creative and using your creative skills brings us joy. I am definitely adding more creativity to my 2022 goals. I can be creative in the kitchen with cooking, or outside gardening, or even with house chores by organizing. I enjoy making baskets for gifts, or planning some type of get together. It is where let my creative juices run. Look out 2022, I am going to be a creative junkie😁.