Something happened and I ended up feeling I was paying a high price for being honest. It worked against me, or so I thought. It certainly put me in a position where I then had more work on my plate. 

Right after this particular event, the voices in my head started up. Lots of self-blaming, should-ing, could-ing… I started to feel bad. Really bad. Plus frustrated and impatient.

Instantly I remembered an interview between Oprah and  Maya Angelou. Oprah was upset. Maya said: “Say Thank You.”

So I tried it.

Again and again until I believed it. 

Until I believed that what was happening was fixable.
Until I believed I could handle it.
Until I believed that nothing ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’ had happened.

Essentially, until I was back in the present moment, no longer railing on myself, and feeling open and at peace.

Part of the reason it worked is because I’m officially tired of regret, shame and blame. They suck the good stuff out of life,

When we say Thank You, we’re saying;

“I trust that all is as it’s meant to be”
“I let go of attachment to my agenda”
“I know if I’m in the present moment I’ll handle this better”

Thank You is an act of Trust. And when you say it, you drown out / interrupt less helpful self-talk that’s pushing the lie that something should have been different. By doing this, from a heartfelt place, you end up thinking straighter, and putting yourself in a better mood.

Blame, shame and regret live in all of us. And for many people they’re habitual, and can be scary to let go of. Of course it doesn’t make rational sense that they would be – but they can be.

So the next time you’re being hard on yourself, try opening your heart, embracing some willingness to feel differently,  and say Thank You.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You !

Then you can get on with sorting out the mess you’re in 🙂