When am I “in the flow?” How does this make me more available to life?

Hi Kelly,
I believe most of us can relate to the feelings you are feeling. Everyone has ups and downs in life.
As far as the negative self talk in your head it is actually good enough to simply become aware of the fact that your even doing it! Many people don’t even know they have an attacking mind which completely monopolizes their thoughts.
It’s our ego which does this to us. It sounds like you have read the Power of Now, being that you spoke about being in the NOW.
If so, then you know or have accepted that being in the present moment is a place where our mind can relax.
once you become awake and aware that you were off in your thoughts which were perhaps in the past or flinging you into the future creating anxiety you are in the moment.
By being aware of your breath and taking three full inhalations and exhalations it helps to calm your mind.
As far as what I wrote about which is mostly directly from Brother David’s article: To Be Awake, Aware and Alert.
He talks all about how these three are the beginning, middle, and end of gratitude.
Gratitude is essential to happiness. I believe that an attitude of gratitude has helped me through some very hard times maybe the type you’re going through now.
So, I think of life like anything and everything can be taken away from us but our attitude is the one thing we can choose. Like Victor Frankie’s Man’s Search for Meaning talks about exercising your freedom to choose your attitude. Often we are unaware of our attitudes toward someone or something. So ask yourself the question: Am I aware of my current attitude and if necessary am I willing to change it? I have also tired his idea of, list 10 positive things out of something that just happened. It is amazing how it can work wonders to shift something you maybe label “bad” and see what life’s possibilities are offering you!
I even tried this in some truly awful situations and found things that helped me! 🙂
By taking some risks and coming out of our comfort zones to try these little life “tips” we can see that life becomes less serious, if you know what I mean?
I tried it just the other day on myself, and decided to put saying “yes” to life to the test. Rather than have my defense up reddy to play the blame game or be ready to see someone or something as an attack, I opened up.
I went to a meeting which I was really worried about going to but I decided beforehand to allow whatever was going to happen be ok. Knowing that I have done everything in my power already and nothing more could be done, I just accepted whatever the outcome would be.
I felt so much better about life! It was a total relief to know that I was already safe and that I controlled my attitude. My attitude of gratitude which accepted the news delivered.
Implementing some of the life tips like: Stop, Look, and Go, as well as having an attitude of gratitude has really helped me.
I hope this was helpful.
Looking forward to hearing from you again.
Sending loving kindness to you.
Peace,
Antoinette