This morning, while sipping my coffee and trying to convince myself that Fridays are the best (which they are, let’s be real), I listened to Headspace and stumbled upon a gem of wisdom that hit me right in the feels. It got me thinking about how much our thoughts control us daily, how they can paralyze us. Trust me, I’ve been there more times than I care to admit.

Here’s the nugget that caught my attention: *"A thought is just a thought. It’s us who make it into something more. A thought that simply appears in the mind is neither good nor bad. Only retrospectively, and only with judgment or comparison, can we say it’s good or bad."*

Mind-blowing, right? Just when you thought your thoughts were your best friends, it turns out they’re more like those annoying neighbors who drop by unannounced. I mean, who knew that a fleeting thought wasn’t inherently good or bad until we decided to slap a label on it?

Let’s get real. How often do we let a tiny, insignificant thought ruin our day? You wake up feeling fine, then suddenly remember that embarrassing thing you did five years ago, and boom – there goes your mood. Or you start doubting yourself because a random thought decided to take up residence in your mind, rent-free.

Imagine if we could see our thoughts for what they are – just thoughts. Not mini catastrophes in the making, not prophecies of doom, just neutral, fleeting moments. There’s something liberating about that, isn’t there? It's like realizing you’ve been carrying around a boulder, only to find out it’s actually a balloon.

Reflecting on this, I realized how many times I've been paralyzed by my own thoughts. Moments when a single doubt spiraled into a full-blown narrative of inadequacy. Times when a simple worry turned into an insurmountable obstacle. But understanding that a thought, in itself, has no power until we give it power – that’s a game-changer.

Even with this realization, I admit it’s still tough to put into practice. As a parent, thoughts easily spiral into worries. From the moment our kids are born, it’s a never-ending cycle of concern. Lately, I’ve been struggling with my son’s study habits. He’s an IB student in his last year of school, and the pressure is immense. I worry about whether he’s balancing his studies with his gaming and social media use.

Some days, it feels like I’m on repeat: “Have you done your homework? Shouldn’t you be studying?” I sound like a broken record, and I’m pretty sure my son is convinced I have a built-in nagging feature. I see him glued to his phone or gaming console, and my mind races with concerns – is he prepared for his exams? Is he managing his stress? Is he strategizing more for his future or his next online game level?

And then there’s my daughter. She’s a high achiever academically, always striving for perfection in her studies. But she’s always in her room, preferring to chat online with her friends rather than mingle with them in person. I worry about her social life, wondering if she’s missing out on the fun and spontaneity of teenage years. Is she feeling lonely? Is she truly happy spending so much time alone?

These thoughts, while natural, often take on a life of their own, consuming my mind and energy. It’s a never-ending cycle of what-ifs and worst-case scenarios that leave me feeling exhausted and sometimes helpless.

These thoughts, while natural, often take on a life of their own, consuming my mind and energy. It’s a never-ending cycle of what-ifs and worst-case scenarios that leave me feeling exhausted and sometimes helpless.

And let’s not even get started on perimenopause. Talk about a rollercoaster! One moment I’m perfectly fine, the next, my thoughts are spiraling into an abyss of anxiety. Thanks to the hormonal shifts, a single fleeting thought can explode into a full-blown crisis. Did I remember to turn off the stove? Why did my friend take an hour to reply to my text? Is my career where it should be? It’s like my brain is a drama queen on steroids, blowing everything out of proportion.

It’s amazing how perimenopause can turn the simplest thought into a catastrophe. One minute I’m calm, the next, my hormones decide to throw a wild party, and suddenly every little worry feels like the end of the world. And don’t even get me started on the mood swings. One minute I’m laughing at a cute cat video, and the next, I’m crying because I remembered something sad from ten years ago. These hormonal hijinks make managing my thoughts even more of a challenge, turning molehills into mountains with alarming efficiency.

How about you? Do you find yourself labeling your thoughts, even when you know you shouldn’t? Do you catch yourself in a cycle of worry that seems impossible to break? It’s like knowing you shouldn’t eat that extra slice of cake but doing it anyway because, hey, it’s cake!

I try to remind myself to be mindful and observe my thoughts without judgment. But let’s be real, some days I’m better at it than others. And that’s okay. The important thing is to keep trying, to keep reminding myself that a thought is just a thought, and to cut myself some slack when I fall short.

Can you relate to this? Do you find comfort in knowing that you're not alone in these struggles? Sometimes, just knowing that we all go through these mental gymnastics can be a relief.

In the end, it’s about finding balance and being kind to ourselves in the process. We’re all just doing our best, and that’s perfectly okay. What do you do to cope with your thoughts? Do you have any tips or tricks that help you navigate through the mental maze?

Let’s share our stories and support each other on this journey. Remember, you’re the gatekeeper of your mind. You decide which thoughts get to stay and which ones get shown the door. Together, we can find a sense of freedom and peace that comes from within, breaking free from the narratives that hold us back.

And by the way, there’s no today’s wisdom today because my jar of wisdom decided to take the day off. So, let’s make our own wisdom – maybe something like, "When in doubt, take a deep breath and laugh at the absurdity of it all."

Remember, keep whispering your truth—because it’s in those whispers that we find our strength, sanity, and occasionally, a good laugh.


Leila