Mentoring Healthy Thoughts

I wrapped myself into the soft comforter as the warmth traveled from my ears to my toes. The days’ events ushered by as my eyes fluttered. Thinking still thinking. Some reflecting. Looking at the upsets as well as the accomplishments, leaving the angst and choosing the better portion. A flush of gratitude warmed the promise to do even better come morning. Sleep embraced with stillness as the snoring from my husband faded.

Dreamland visits and surrounds. A reality unto itself. Yes, the brain continues to wire its inroads as I dream of surfing a huge wave or am lost trying to find where to take the college final. Dreaming can be a crazy roller coaster-ride leaving you smiling, breathless, or wary. That is if you remember anything at all.

Rays of sunlight pierced the curtains as I put on a heavy housecoat and debated which slipper to slip into first. It was time to figure which coffee to brew and the style of eggs to fry, what outfit to wear, and what time to make the difficult phone call to my boss. And, oh yes, lots of stuff to add to the grocery list.

Yes, that’s a lot of thinking after just rolling out of bed.

But the brain doesn’t stop—thoughts ramble on. Some authorities claim that one may experience up to 80,000 thoughts a day or about 3,000 per hour. Other experts say that, it really is about 50,000 a day with 2,100 an hour. Then another researcher states it is more like 6,000 per day. Who is right? Perhaps a composite of all three depending on the person. Yet, our brains process a lot of thoughts.

But as humans, a thought generally doesn’t stand alone. It works along with emotions and mindful responses that result in an action. The thought, ‘I’m starved,” faces the just- ordered platter of a favorite burger and fries. It's savory aroma tickles the taste buds as you hungrily chow down … and later pat a full stomach. A satisfying action. Hearing that a best friend is moving away brings sad feelings and a teary jag that may prompt you to call and offer to help pack. A helpful action.

Mundane thoughts also fill the mind with such actions of brushing teeth and washing the car. And sometimes you may even talk aloud to yourself as a task is completed. There are those moments where a thought can seemingly pop out of nowhere, either positive or negative. And we ponder—should this kind of thinking be maintained and become a viable behavior or discarded? You can foster negative thoughts all day or embrace positive ones. Or perhaps consider a mixture of both with a spiral of uplifting and downcast emotions. It is your choice.

All because of a thought. It is a challenge to make good with all this brain energy. Most of the time, I embrace the positive view, but there are situations that can be heavy on the heart. A reasonable solution is lagging. What to do? Mull in depressing thoughts all day? Maybe change the picture by taking a walk or listening to upbeat tunes.

One afternoon I decided to pull out the watercolors and ample array of brushes. I placed the watercolor paper on the art table and pondered. No ideas. No possible themes that could create a masterpiece. Just me and the brush and clean paper. Loading the brush brilliant color, there was a long pause as the dripping emerald paint halted mid-air. Then with abandon the richness of alizarin crimson, cerulean blue, lemon yellow and orange flowed and danced, haunting in its formation. Quickly it was finished. A medley of exciting color...perhaps not award winning but very pleasing.

Michelangelo comes to mind. He was an Italian sculptor who carved many works. There is one that is a favorite, called the David. Exhibited in Florence, Italy, this magnificent statue of the young would-be King of Israel, left me staring and wondering. How with chisel and hammer had this artist taken a block of marble and crafted such fineness of line fashioning the human form? And it probably had begun with a thought, a strong focus of vision, emotion and talent to carve such a delightful piece.

Yes, a single thought can lead towards greatness, the best side of us. It can also lead to cloudy roads that trek into dense forests.

There is the daily experience of our brains constantly thinking … so much to consider, some much to decide upon. All essential in choosing and realizing a satisfying lifestyle.

…and that’s how I live it.