Cognitive Shifting #3
Alignment and cognitive shifting are complementary moves. One necessarily involves the other.
First, imagine a situation in which you are out of alignment. You might think of spending time with a person whose sense of humor grates against your values. Or, you may bring to mind a day when you struggled to get past your own worst thoughts. No, I can’t, I don’t feel like it seemed to bully your better thoughts.
When the wheels of your car are out of alignment, the car pulls to one side making driving on the interstate quite unpleasant. But when the wheels are realigned, the car wants to drive straight and your experience as the driver is much easier.
If you can pinpoint an area of misalignment in your thoughts and your life, you can also work to realign. Remind yourself of your core beliefs. Get back in touch with love. Often the quickest path is to focus on being of service to another person.
Shifting from worry, misery, and angst can often seem impossible when you’re in the midst of it. See if you can generate one beautiful, loving thought. Hang on to it. Repeat it until you believe it. Resist the false notion that you must change everything for all time or for the whole day. Find one good and true thought for this moment. Stay close to it and allow it to grow.
The work of alignment never ends. Shifting back to your better thoughts with the tools that are most helpful, you will become more skilled in the practice of realignment.
Worth Repeating
When you live your life in alignment with a purpose that is centered on selflessly adding value for others, opportunities become abundant and your life becomes fulfilled.
-Hal Elrod
