''The power of negative thinking....''
''...I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment, I never knew myself. ''
Thus writes an ashamed Elizabeth, in Jane Austen's wonderful book 'Pride & Prejudice' after reading and mentally digesting a letter from Mr Darcy.
She felt 'ashamed..blind..partial..prejudiced..absurd', as demonstrated by her previous thoughts and actions in connection with Mr Darcy and Mr Wickham .
Of course it is all too simple to believe ourselves to be infallible and discerning.
I recall a pottery mug with the wise guidance ''Please ensure brain is engaged before opening mouth'' and yet that's only half the story and reason for the title of this blog.
Thinking is not always good and constructive, any more than is achieved by acting without thought, it seems to me.
We 'think' to drive forward decisions, actions, processes or sometimes to reinforce our sense of being right in our earlier actions and thoughts.
''Who dares, wins''..''When the going gets tough, the tough get going'' both have edges of truth but also do not exclude unpredictable consequences. If you doubt that sentiment then history has many examples to choose from. Compare the consequences of the ''Apollo 13'' mission with ''the Charge of the Light Brigade''.
Luck, information, resources, support from others, all drive the outcome to a lesser or greater extent, whether it turns out to be fair or foul.
Returning to my own life I find, on recent discussion with my SO and others, that whilst my life has had it's successes I have wasted a lot of time and years in thinking that I was right or knew about things.. when I really didn't. Things like relationships, emotions, self, morals, races, history... 'people' things.
How that arose from my early years is neither here nor there, but part of it's result has been a tendency to dream and think revolving thoughts, scenes and prejudices fuelled by emotions, insecurity and more than a bit of ignorance.
I have done this instead of doing something about it and moving forward or binning the redundant or irreconcilable, to give my 'to do' list more truth.
So, here's what I plan to do.
I plan to be more disciplined with my time. Less time on social media.
Engage more of my time in productive studies and tasks, increasing my achievements and sense of purpose.
Try and recognise when I've drifted back into the land of dreamy thoughts or emotional turmoil..
and STOP!
It's a plan. A plan to support me and give less power to my negative thinking!
I hope self confidence will increase, too.
Thanks for reading. :)
Thus writes an ashamed Elizabeth, in Jane Austen's wonderful book 'Pride & Prejudice' after reading and mentally digesting a letter from Mr Darcy.
She felt 'ashamed..blind..partial..prejudiced..absurd', as demonstrated by her previous thoughts and actions in connection with Mr Darcy and Mr Wickham .
Of course it is all too simple to believe ourselves to be infallible and discerning.
I recall a pottery mug with the wise guidance ''Please ensure brain is engaged before opening mouth'' and yet that's only half the story and reason for the title of this blog.
Thinking is not always good and constructive, any more than is achieved by acting without thought, it seems to me.
We 'think' to drive forward decisions, actions, processes or sometimes to reinforce our sense of being right in our earlier actions and thoughts.
''Who dares, wins''..''When the going gets tough, the tough get going'' both have edges of truth but also do not exclude unpredictable consequences. If you doubt that sentiment then history has many examples to choose from. Compare the consequences of the ''Apollo 13'' mission with ''the Charge of the Light Brigade''.
Luck, information, resources, support from others, all drive the outcome to a lesser or greater extent, whether it turns out to be fair or foul.
Returning to my own life I find, on recent discussion with my SO and others, that whilst my life has had it's successes I have wasted a lot of time and years in thinking that I was right or knew about things.. when I really didn't. Things like relationships, emotions, self, morals, races, history... 'people' things.
How that arose from my early years is neither here nor there, but part of it's result has been a tendency to dream and think revolving thoughts, scenes and prejudices fuelled by emotions, insecurity and more than a bit of ignorance.
I have done this instead of doing something about it and moving forward or binning the redundant or irreconcilable, to give my 'to do' list more truth.
So, here's what I plan to do.
I plan to be more disciplined with my time. Less time on social media.
Engage more of my time in productive studies and tasks, increasing my achievements and sense of purpose.
Try and recognise when I've drifted back into the land of dreamy thoughts or emotional turmoil..
and STOP!
It's a plan. A plan to support me and give less power to my negative thinking!
I hope self confidence will increase, too.
Thanks for reading. :)
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