Turn It Around

A Practice[1] for Joy, Gratitude, and Flow

 

Objectives: Expanding awareness, empowerment, and joy

When you have an unpleasant or worrisome thought, place your attention on a different thought that you enjoy and allow it to lead you to another, then another, for at least 30 seconds. 

  • Within that 30 seconds, if you begin to think a thought you don’t enjoy, notice it without judgment, then return attention (if possible) to a thought or feeling you do enjoy. 

  • The refocus and ensuing positive momentum may be effortless, or you may find yourself returning attention to positive thoughts and feelings for 7-10 minutes before you succeed in at least 30 seconds of purely positive thinking and feeling. By then, momentum is typically positive.

  • As you sense into your joy, expand it by placing your attention on the feeling in your body. 

  • Follow sensations with your awareness until they begin to dissipate. Then add another joyful thought or observation (e.g. light coming through leaves) and feel into that.

  • If, after 10 minutes, you have not succeeded in rerouting your thoughts, try a different practice for joy.

  • After several minutes of mostly positive thinking and feeling, celebrate that you switched tracks, but briefly!

    • Take care not to allow your attention to linger on where you were (it’s a slippery slope) … direct your attention to where you are going instead.

 

Blessings and great joy to you in this and all adventures!


[1] This practice is an excerpt from the Collier Connections Core Alignment with Joy Series. It may not be shared without permission and is offered here out of context of the course, which could further support understanding. 

 

I trust that you will approach this practice with care and awareness for your mind, body, and heart. This is an opportunity for personal empowerment and trust-building with many parts of your being as you feel into and do only what’s right for you. While this practice may be experienced as therapeutic, it is in no way intended to replace appropriate professional mental health care.