Thoughts of Pain and Thoughts of Love
Thoughts of pain are thoughts we are all familiar with.
Some painful thoughts are more obvious. These are the thoughts where criticism, anger, and pain are clear and direct:
* I’m not good enough.
* Why did I do that again??
* I don’t stand a chance.
* I am beyond hope.
* I deserve this treatment.
Then, there are the more subtle thoughts of pain—thoughts disguised as something else, making it easy to mistake them for a different type of thinking:
* How did I make this happen?
* Maybe I’ll succeed in my next lifetime.
* When will things stop happening to me?
* I never learn.
Thoughts of love, on the other hand, are thoughts we are less accustomed to:
* It’s okay to feel this way.
* I am allowed to receive what I want.
* This is happening because of me.
* It’s worth continuing.
* I have a place in this world / There is enough for me.
Thoughts of love don’t pretend to be something else, because they have nothing to hide. They are clear, simple, and soothing.
When we love ourselves, our thoughts reflect that love. When we are in pain or angry with ourselves, our thoughts reflect that as well.
It is often said that if we change our thoughts, our feelings will change. I belong to those who see emotions as the key to everything—when I feel good, my thoughts align with that feeling, and vice versa. Thoughts are like the steam rising from our emotions. Instead of treating the steam, it’s wiser to address the source that creates it.
If emotions are the key, why write about thoughts? Because it’s important to distinguish between thoughts of love and thoughts of pain. It’s important to learn how to recognize when we are hurting (and angry or self-critical), and when we are truly thinking from a place of love for ourselves. Recognizing this allows us to understand what is really happening within us, what we feel, and whether there is something that needs healing.
