Not long ago, the news reported that two inmates in an East Coast prison had escaped by digging their way through a wall with a toothbrush and a piece of metal. They were caught the next day eating at an IHOP restaurant nearby.
What were those escapees thinking? What were those builders thinking when they built that prison? It seems there were so many choices and consequences that obviously were not thought out.
Have you ever said to yourself, “What was I thinking?”
For me, that is after I would have benefited by slowing down my reaction to something and creating even a small space for reflection. Then I could have made a choice from a place of clarity rather than by impulse.
It is good to know that we are not the thoughts we think, but we do experience the results of the ones we act upon.
Country singer Willie Nelson dropped a new song in 2022 called “Energy Follows Thought” – basically saying that what we think about we will put our energy into, so don’t dwell on thoughts of distrust and disgust and follow them impulsively.
Taking time to shape our thoughts toward the consequences we desire will guide us to positive interactions with life.
Viktor Frankl wrote, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
When we find ourselves overwhelmed or stressed, we can take a mindful pause. Notice our thoughts and emotions without judgment and observe any physical sensations in our body. This can help us respond with greater clarity and calm.
When we are in touch with our feelings, we once again have a choice. “Is this the best way for me to respond? Will this response serve me?”
I am sure those inmates were only thinking of getting beyond the walls that held them prisoner.
We can step beyond the walls of impulsive action when we know that our energy will follow our thoughts. Being mindful means simply paying attention to and assessing the possibilities of our thoughts and actions.
Getting out of our unwanted reactions will set us free to choose the life we want.
The Rev. Linda McNamar is a Laguna Woods Village resident.
