Mindfulness

Are you ready for some Mindfulness?   

Yes, that is definitely a buzzword these days. In fact, you might call “mindfulness” a trend, a fad, or even WOO WOO MUMBO JUMBO. I have been studying mindfulness lately and I want to tell you how being mindful has helped change my quilting journey for the better!  What does mindfulness have to do with quilting?

THE STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES

How many times have you said (in your head or out loud)…

“I am too busy to sew”
“I can’t do applique”
“Machine quilting is too hard, I just can’t do it!”

These are stories we tell ourselves…

Just because thoughts like these pop into your head, it doesn’t mean they are true.

When you find yourself having those thoughts and repeating these phrases over and over to yourself, your brain’s job is to confirm that you are right! Your mind looks for evidence to support these incorrect beliefs. You get stuck in these thoughts and you make them real.  Negative thoughts produce negative actions.  Negative thoughts sometimes cause paralysis!  We are so afraid of doing something wrong, we do nothing at all. We get stuck.  

Every thought is not real.

Every thought is not true.

They are just thoughts!

HOW CAN I SHIFT MY MINDSET?

Only you can change the story inside your head. You can train your brain to look at your thoughts critically, and ask, “Is this true?”. That ability you have to train your brain…that is mindfulness.  

Once you recognize that some thoughts are not real or true, you can now change the story that you tell yourself.  

“I can’t applique” becomes: “I’m capable of learning anything when I make the time for it.” 

“I am too busy to sew” becomes: “I deserve to take 22 minutes a day…every day…for me!”

“Machine quilting is too hard” becomes: “Learning a new quilting motif is a fun way to spend an afternoon.”

When you tell your brain a more positive story, your mind finds all kinds of ways to confirm that you are right!  Positive thoughts create positive action.  That is mindfulness. Being aware of your thoughts and shaping them to help you move from “stuck” to “progress”.    

Train your brain to look for opportunities and opportunities appear.
Train your brain to look for hidden nuggets of time and you will use your time more wisely.
Train your brain to be a lifelong learner and you give yourself the grace and the courage to learn something new.

So I’m going to challenge you to listen to the stories you are telling yourself.  Are you repeating stories that are not true? If you are, take a few moments this weekend to rewrite your story.

A year from now, you will be thankful that you took the time to TRAIN YOUR BRAIN. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish when you get UNSTUCK and you stop believing that every thought is true.  Just imagine the possibilities!

For more positive thoughts that lead to positive results, I would love to have you in one of my workshops!  Train your brain to fall in love with Applique, and let me be your guide!  

Wishing you Positive Thoughts and Progress!  Sue Pelland