This is part of a letter written by Mavis Karn to kids and former kids:
“I have a secret to tell you. Nobody meant to keep it from you … it’s just been one of those things that’s so obvious that people couldn’t see it…like looking all over for the key that you have in your hand.
The secret is that you are already a completely whole, perfect person. You are not damaged goods, you are not incomplete, you are not flawed, you are not unfinished, you do not need remodeling, fixing, polishing, or major rehabilitation. You already have within you everything you need to live a wonderful life. You have common sense, wisdom, genius, creativity, humor, self esteem…you are pure potential…you are missing nothing.
The only thing that can keep you from enjoying all that you already are is a thought. One thought. Your thought. Not someone else’s thought. Your thought…whatever thought you are thinking at the moment that feels more important to think than being grateful, alive, content, joyful, optimistic, loving, and at peace…that’s the only thing that’s between you and happiness. (emphasis mine)
And guess who’s in charge of your thinking…guess who gets to write, produce, direct, and star in the moment you’re in the middle of…you. Just you. Not your past (stored thought), not the future (did you ever notice that it never, ever shows up?), not your parents (they all think their own thoughts), or your friends (ditto), or school or television or situations or circumstances or anything else. Just you.
Thinking is an awesome capability. Like any capability, it can be used either as a tool or as a weapon against ourselves and others. And just like with any other tool, we can tell whether we’re using it for or against ourselves by how it feels. When we think against ourselves or others, we get in trouble. When we don’t we usually stay out of trouble.”
– Mavis Karn
What do you think? Leave a comment below.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post! I love it! I particularly love this part: “Thinking is an awesome capability. Like any capability, it can be used either as a tool or as a weapon against ourselves and others. And just like with any other tool, we can tell whether we’re using it for or against ourselves by how it feels. When we think against ourselves or others, we get in trouble. When we don’t we usually stay out of trouble.” So true!!!
.-= Positively Present´s last blog ..happy anniversary, positively present! =-.
Stephen,
I really liked this line: “Thinking is an awesome capability.” In fact, I suspect most of us don’t realise quite how awesomely powerful our thoughts, and therefore we, are. And too many people, myself included, often use this power against ourselves. Great reminder to check our thoughts and make sure they are self-serving and not self-defeating.
.-= Daphne @ Joyful Days´s last blog ..Can We Grow into Selflessness? =-.
This is a wonderful post, Steven.
These words need to reach so many people!!!! So inspiring ~
.-= BunnygotBlog´s last blog ..Eleanor Roosevelt: Speaking Volumes, Part 2 =-.
This is really inspiring. I think many people tend to forget this, including myself. Thank you for such a great reminder of our true nature!
.-= Jay Schryer´s last blog ..The Big Easy =-.
Beautiful secret, and I think it’s wonderful it’s dedicated to children. If you can learn and discover that at a young age, your life can be so much more enjoyable. Or I think kids already know that, they just forget about it growing up
I’m printing this out, I loved it!
.-= Rosa´s last blog ..“Keep Moving Forward” =-.
Such a wonderful post! Yes, I believe we search high and low, day and night for something outside of our selves that we all possess internally. Thanks for sharing.
.-= Michael “Mike Zen” Stagg´s last blog ..Worth the Wait =-.