What's the Story?

The average person has 48.6 thoughts per minute, most of these are an analysis or running commentary on what is happening in each moment.
Our thoughts colour the facts of a situation–whatever is happening in the world can be made better or worse by the thoughts we have about it.
An example I can give from my work with clients is when someone is experiencing a depression or anxiety, a common thought can be: "There's something wrong with me, if I was normal I wouldn't be having this anxiety!". Imagine how much worse this thought makes the person feel. 
Even in small situations like the person in front of you at the coffee shop nabbing the last scone–you might be tempted to say to yourself "Oh that's typical, I never have any luck" - take a moment to see how it feels to tell yourself that. It doesn't make you feel good, does it?
What helps is to become more aware of what stories you're telling yourself during the day, here's a short practice to do several times a day to help:

1. Every now and then stop what you're doing and ask yourself "What story is my mind telling me about ________? (fill in the blank with whatever it is you're doing)
2. Is your mind complaining about something? Is it telling you it doesn't like what you're doing? Or who you're talking to? Is it telling you you're not doing something right? Is it judging you for how you're feeling?
3. Now ask yourself if this thought is helpful. (Is it improving the situation or making it worse?)
4. If it's not, let it go. After all, you wouldn't kick a friend when they're down, so why do it to yourself?
5. No need to replace it with a positive thought that you don't really feel, it's enough to let the negative go.

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"It's amazing to observe how much power we give unknowingly to uninvited thoughts: 'Do this, say that, remember, plan obsess, judge.' They have the potential to drive us quite crazy, and they often do!" - Joseph Goldstein

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