S.E.L.F. Reflection: Stability - One Mind Pivot Away
- rejuvecise
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
This morning, during my walk with Yogi, I found myself looking at the houses and lawns in my neighborhood that aren't being kept up very well. The grass was overgrown. The edges weren't trimmed. Trees and shrubs had been left to grow wild.
And I found myself getting frustrated.
I was annoyed at the homeowners—or in some cases the renters—who seemed to be letting things go. The more I focused on it, the more irritated I became.
Then I caught myself.
I looked around again and realized there were far more homes that were being cared for than those that weren't. Beautiful gardens. Freshly mowed lawns. Colorful flowers. Homes that reflected the time, effort, and pride people were putting into their surroundings. (i.e., the beautifully tended garden in my neighborhood in the picture above)
That's when it hit me.
I was one mind pivot away from having a completely different experience of my morning.
How easy it is to focus on what's wrong.
Our brains are incredibly good at spotting problems. In many ways, that's exactly what they're designed to do. The brain is constantly scanning for things that don't seem right so it can protect us from potential threats or challenges.
But while the brain may be wired that way, we don't have to stay there. This is where the mind comes in. We have the power to pivot our thinking away from negative thoughts.
As I continued my walk, I noticed how focusing on the negative had affected me physically. My body felt heavy. My mood had shifted. I wasn't excited about the day ahead. I wasn't feeling inspired or energized.
I was carrying around the weight of my thoughts.
Now, to be clear, this isn't really about lawns.
What bothered me wasn't simply that some people weren't maintaining their property. It was the larger thought that perhaps they weren't considering how their choices affect the community around them.
And honestly? That still bothers me.
But I don't have to allow those thoughts to consume me.
None of us does.
We have the ability to notice what we're thinking, recognize how those thoughts are making us feel, and then consciously shift our attention toward something more constructive.
That's not denial. It's awareness.
And I think it's especially important right now.
We live in a time when negativity seems to be everywhere. It often feels like we've become a culture of "you're either with us or against us." We judge people by whether they agree with us politically, culturally, or socially. We focus on what divides us rather than what connects us.
The result is a constant stream of thoughts that can leave us feeling angry, disappointed, fearful, or hopeless.
I'm not suggesting we become Pollyanna and pretend everything is wonderful when it isn't.
There are real challenges in our world.
But if we allow negative thoughts and emotions to dominate our minds, they eventually dominate our lives.
Mental stability begins with awareness.
Awareness of what we're thinking. Awareness of how those thoughts affect our emotions, our energy, and even our bodies. And then making a conscious choice about where we place our attention.
Sometimes we're only one mind pivot away from seeing something entirely different.
One mind pivot away from gratitude.
One mind pivot away from possibility.
One mind pivot away from peace.
So today, I invite you to pause and ask yourself:
What are you thinking about? How does it make you feel? Joyful? Heavy? Is there another way to look at it?
And is that thought helping you create the kind of life—and the kind of world—you want to experience?
One way to get some clarity to help you make that mind pivot is to step away from it all and join me and my co-facilitator, Mary Gooden, for our life-changing yoga and S.E.L.F. Empowerment retreat in Sedona, Arizona. Click the button below to learn more and register. Only a few spots remain, so claim yours while you can.
Phyllis Smith is the Founder & CEO of Rejuvecise. She is a Yoga Instructor and S.E.L.F Leadership Guide in the Dallas, Texas area. She is also the creator of the S.E.L.F. Empowerment framework, which develops SELF Leadership through the principles of Stability (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual), Environment, Love (self-compassion), and Friendship. Her life's work is helping others discover a sense of inner steadiness, self-trust, and serenity. She believes serenity is not about having a perfect life. It is about learning how to meet life with grace, courage, and clarity—no matter what arises. Click HERE to learn more about the variety of services offered and/or contact Phyllis at Phyllis@Rejuvecise.com for a FREE 30-minute discovery call today. (Services offered both in-person and online)
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