Thought for the Week

Timothy D. Stein, MFT, CSAT

January 2, 2017

“You can’t keep birds from flying over your head but you can sure keep them from building a nest in your hair.” –Chinese Proverb

We do not have control over the thoughts that pop into our heads.  They come as reactions or reflexes.  However, we are not our thoughts; they are like the birds that fly over our heads.  If I embrace my thoughts, I provide them with nesting space.  If I move away from them and focus elsewhere, I make it more difficult for them to stay in my head.  What thoughts I embrace and what thoughts I move away from are important choices.  Making an active decision to move away from thoughts that do not serve our well being is an important step in recovery.

What thoughts have I allowed to “nest in my hair?”  What thoughts have I actively resisted?  What gifts await me as I make recovery choices about which thoughts I embrace and which thoughts I move away from?