It's A Good Thing

I was thinking this morning, and like Martha Stewart says "That's a good thing," and the good thing is not necessarily for the content of the thought, but that fact that I was fortunate enough to have a thought at all.

I get a little wimpy about this subject, so those of you who don't like wimps, should look for the sports postings on this site, but I just marvel at the concept that I can think.

this thing called called "free will" just floats my boat as they say when I apply it to thoughts. It is a very simple idea that says we get to control our thoughts, and in doing so we then control whether we are happy or sad.

I used to think that happiness or sadness was an uncontrolled response to what was happening around me: Cut off by an erratic driver on the freeway brought anger. Being hugged by my wife brought pleasure. And reading the daily news brought angst. In effect the actions of others determined how I felt, and of course how I felt controlled my thoughts, because feelings are just thoughts.

this morning I was reminded how much I have changed by knowing the simple fact that I really have the choice on whether to feel good or to feel bad during just about every minute of my day. If I think a disconcerting thought I can actually chose what I think next. Wow!

Free will -- Try it. Because as Martha says, "It's a good thing."

Comments: 20

JOHN BECK Mar 1, 2013, 9:45am UTC

Yes, thinking is a good thing. Choosing what we think is a good thing. Free will can be a good thing, depending upon how we use it. For 6 hours per week I see the contrast between how nurses use their free will (within the constrains of contracts, policies and professional ethics) and the way the inmates use and have used theirs.

Richard Thuss Mar 1, 2013, 7:35pm UTC

I of course do not know this, John, but I suspect that many of the inmates reacted to stimulus, and did not really consciously decide their actions in the way I am suggesting, they simply reacted. It is the same as anger a person feels when cut off in a car, and the next moment that person can choose to react and flip the bird, hit the horn, or chase the person and shoot them, or they can consciously choose to not react. Many reactions are programmed in us by
Parents, society and friends, but we have the choice to say no to many of those and live a more fulfilling life.

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Len Maxwell Mar 1, 2013, 1:45pm UTC

I don't understand your reference to being wimpy on the subject because most of the writers on Gather actually think. From what I read, most of them actually think fairly cogently and use those thoughts to come up with pieces that make the rest of us think -- kinda, sorta, like you've done with this piece.

Keep thinking while I feature this on the Wall of Thoughts on The Triple Name Club.

Crin Forbes Mar 1, 2013, 2:52pm UTC

"most of the writers on Gather actually think"

Ha, ha, ha Len, it all depends on how you define "writers"; as in those who write because there is no other way to communicate on Gather, or those who write, because they have what it takes to write, and whatever they write about is full of thoughts?!?!?

Using the second alternative the number of the thinking contributors on Gather is really, really... SMALL!

Len Maxwell Mar 1, 2013, 3:50pm UTC

You're right, Crin, it all depends on how you define "writers." When you look at the political, entertainment, and social posts, there are tons of writers.

I like to look at the writing side of Gather where "writers" are those who are trying to polish their skills in either prose or poetry and you're right -- those numbers are small compared to the rest of Gather.

Crin Forbes Mar 1, 2013, 8:49pm UTC

I am really happy that we are on the same weave length!

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Crin Forbes Mar 1, 2013, 2:41pm UTC

How in the world can Martha Stewart say "it's a good thing". Does she know what a good thing is, when she saw one? She is a thief!

Richard, you are really blessed. Most of the people who can think are never happy, because... they think!!!

Richard Thuss Mar 1, 2013, 7:41pm UTC

everyone has the choice to be happy or sad every moment of the day, Crin, Independant of what they are externally experiencing. when sick we can choose hope or despair, and hope makes us happy and dispair makes us unhappy. We get to choose our thoughts. In the next moment you get to choose the thought that Thuss is an idiot or Thuss is brilliant. You get to choose , and choose the answer that makes you the happiest.

Crin Forbes Mar 1, 2013, 9:02pm UTC

Well, I am not so sure about the choices in thinking when it comes down to documented reality. Thinking that Thuss is anything but brilliant is a good proof of who the idiot is, whether one is happy or not!

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Pam Brittain Mar 1, 2013, 3:42pm UTC

I think I might make some chocolate chip cookies.

Richard Thuss Mar 1, 2013, 4:33pm UTC

And that definitely is a good thing, pam

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stephen berwaldt Mar 1, 2013, 11:07pm UTC

Oh, but that is so much work...its much easier to let everyone else determine our moods...
Tell me how that works for you...I might give it a try...
Great reminder for us to grow a pair...

Thank you for submitting to Gathers Luminous Writers and Artists.

Richard Thuss Mar 2, 2013, 8:55am UTC

It actually works very well, Stephen. Last night I had a conversation with a relative that pulled me down, and I was there this morning when I woke.
This idea of my ability to choose a happier thought, is always active in my mind now, and each time I practice it I feel better able, and more in power to control my mood. You can't go from depressed to happy in one thought, but you can keep working up the ladder by moving one step at a time.

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wendy st. john-devereaux Mar 2, 2013, 9:07am UTC

i loved this post!

we all have freedom of thought and freedom of action

we all have the ability to decide how we will react to things....choosing to be happy often takes an effort, but that effort brings great rewards......it brings in positive energy and positive changes.....

blessings

Richard Thuss Mar 2, 2013, 11:39am UTC

I could not agree with you more, Wendy

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Irina Dimitric Mar 2, 2013, 4:49pm UTC

Richard, you're spot on. We can choose what to think, what to read, what to watch on tv. We don't need to accept other poeple's negativity. We can choose happy thoughts. I've been practising this for some time and feel so much better.

Excellent post!

Richard Thuss Mar 2, 2013, 5:22pm UTC

Glad it works for you too, Irina.

Crin Forbes Mar 2, 2013, 7:39pm UTC

Ha, ha, ha, Irina they say that some birds, in the face of danger bury their heads in the sand...

One may chose to ignore unpleasant things, yet they don't go away. There is poverty around the world, people are killed every day. We can ignore all those things, however, just because we ignore them, that does not mean they don't happen...

Richard Thuss Mar 2, 2013, 8:13pm UTC

If you looked constantly at the bad things in the world, Crin, you can be constantly sad and unhappy, If you focus on the good things in this world, then you can be constantly happy. You get to choose, and when you are happy, it is amazing how creative you can be in helping solve some of the bad things. You cannot get poor enough or unhappy enough to solve poverty, but you can get happy enough and wealthy enough to help anyone that wants to accept your help.

Irina Dimitric Mar 3, 2013, 1:46am UTC

Richard, you have answered Crin for me too. Thank you.

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It's A Good Thing

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