mindfulness

   I posted a podcast awhile back that I had listened to about being mindful. In the podcast it said, If our minds are always being distracted by something like scrolling through your phone, or watching a show,  we don't have the chance to sit and be mindful. If you are being mindful you can stand outside yourself and take a look at your thought patterns, if they are positive, or negative. Your thoughts dictate your feelings, so its important to control your thoughts. Believe it or not, we are in control of our thoughts! If you are being mindful, and have a bad thought, you can compartmentalize it in your brain, and put it aside and label it. "negative thought about ...." and stop the negativity in its tracks, instead of experiencing the feeling that comes after a negative thought. you can have confidence in yourself that all of your thoughts  don't indicate who you are, especially the negative ones.  

I think that is why mediation is so important.  To find some time during the day to clear your head, or  to view yourself from the outside looking in, to be mindful, and really assess how you are doing, things you can improve on, and take some time to focus on positive thoughts about yourself and others. I really do believe that beauty shines from within, and it starts with good thoughts!