It’s not easy to explore and connect with gratitude for challenges and missteps, especially if we continue to carry the sting with us as regret or anger.

On this episode of the Flirting With Enlightenment podcast, I talk about the power of the stories we tell ourselves. When we mentally review them over and over and focus on how things are challenging, hard, or ways we “messed up”, it becomes habitual. Soon it’s hard to tell if we are operating from a place of truth, or just branching out from the same story that focuses on the challenges and missteps of life, rather than an intuitive decision-making place. It also helps us cling to a story out of fear or self-doubt of change.

I also discuss why it’s important to sit with emotions and experiences before jumping directly to positive story or platitude. Part of why we are on the planet is to have human experiences, and experiencing a range of emotions is all part of our growth. If we let the mind jump into explaining all the reasons why something is or isn’t true, we are allowing it to guide a heart-specific process and explain our feelings to us, rather than actually feeling the truth of them.

I also share insights and tips to help you manage day to day and reach a more balanced mindset.