Gas Pedals and Brakes

Everyone develops habitual ways of interacting with life just as you develop habits in what you eat, how you schedule our time and who you hang out with.  It is easy to get comfortable with your habits and not fully realize how they are either supporting or undermining the quality of your life.

Some habits we call “brakes”.  “Brakes”, like those on a car, slow you down in your ability to build a high-quality life by limiting your capacity to create good things for yourself.  There are a number of “brakes” that are easy patterns to fall into.  Here is a list:

• Negativity-seeing life through the lens of what is wrong instead of what is right.
• Fear-being consumed with what can go wrong.
• Resentment-focusing on the slights and hurts you have received from others.
• Doubt-thinking of what you can’t do and how your efforts won’t succeed.
• Cynicism-casting doubt on others and downplaying good things people are attempting.

The more your thoughts are filled with such negative things, the harder it will be to create good things for yourself.  It is almost as if you are painting yourself into a corner by filling your thoughts with such negative things.

The “Gas Pedal” is simple belief.  Belief is a wonderful thing.  There is an innocence to belief.  Belief focuses on that which can occur and aligns with that which is possible with openness and wonder.  When you give yourself to simple belief you foster a connection with the power of creation in the world around you.  All kinds of new and amazing things can occur.

It takes awareness to notice whether your thoughts and emotions are filled with “brakes” or a “gas pedal”.  It takes discipline to shift from the negative to the positive when you become aware.