Imagine holding a handful of balloons.Some are bright and full of air. Others are burst or slowly deflating.

Life’s experiences are very much the same.

I feel good every time I think about…

The snowdrops I spotted in the grass verge. The spring sun shining on my face yesterday. The fact that the days are getting longer.

I feel bad every time I think about… what?

All my joints aching (including some new ones), the sadness I feel for my friend whose mum has just fallen and broken her hips, and the annoying fact that I still have not de-cluttered that room!

I have a choice. Pretty obvious, right?

I know that my thoughts definitely affect my mood, feelings and state of mind. You know this too—so why do you keep choosing the unhelpful, painful thoughts? Why do that to yourself?

Life’s experiences are like a bunch of balloons. They can be great fun to have and play with (and the cause of much laughter!), but they can also burst suddenly, making you jump out of your skin, or leave you feeling sad as you watch them slowly shrivel up and deflate.

Would you try to blow up a deflated balloon or piece together a burst one? No?

Well, those burst balloons are the same as your negative thoughts—the ones created from bad or sad experiences.

If you have some burst balloon pieces or shrivelled-up balloons (a.k.a. negative thoughts), stop trying to fix them together or blow them up again. Instead, go out and find some new balloons and new experiences to enjoy.

One way of attracting them is to fill in the blanks:

“I feel good every time I think about…”

I challenge you: go out and buy some balloons today and have some fun!

Life is meant to be fun.

Mandy

www.mandybrwon.co.uk

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