State of Mind

"Can I help you Ma'am?"

There are times when I hear that phrase from a teenager and I think, "How wonderful. Now there's a young person who knows how to show respect." There's a joyful glow that settles on that moment and I smile in response.

"Feelings of confusion, fear, doubt, insecurity, anxiety - feel free to fill in the blank - are clues that your thinking is not clear. . ."

There are other times when I hear, "Can I help you Ma'am?" and I think, "I must be looking old today. He actually called me Ma'am!" The worry lines deepen in my forehead and I may even begin to feel insecure about my image.

Interesting, isn't it? Same phrase; the only thing that changes my experience of those words is my state of mind.

Our natural state of mind is wise, certain, unbiased, and non-contingent - ideal capacities to produce clear effective thinking and wise and timely decisions.

The good news is we can learn to recognize the clues that tell us when we are operating in a wise and clear state of mind. We can also learn to recognize the clues that tell us when we are not thinking clearly. The key is to pay attention to our feelings and follow the clues. The clues help us "see" our thinking.

Clues You Can Use

Feelings of confusion, fear, doubt, insecurity, anxiety - feel free to fill in the blank - are clues that your thinking is not clear and you are in no condition to do anything.
If you feel you have to make a decision, give yourself a moment to reflect.
Take a breath and clear your thoughts. Now you can tap in to those innate capacities of wisdom and common sense.
Insight is what you're seeking.
Perspective and a clear state of mind is the grand prize.
Pay attention to those new feelings of gratitude and certainty - more clues.
Laugh at all that chaos you've created and restore your wise and certain state of mind.

". . .recognition is your first clue that you've once again accessed your innate wisdom. . ."

You don't have to change your thinking to change your experience of life. You simply have to recognize when your thinking is off. That recognition is your first clue that you've once again accessed your innate wisdom and the rest, as long as you maintain faith in its power, is automatic.

In a clear state of mind, deciding what to do or what to say is an effortless product of clear effective thinking. Options and solutions readily appear and usually lead to even more insights and discoveries.

In a clear state of mind "Yes Ma'am, Thank you Ma'am and Can I help you Ma'am?" are all phrases of respect and courtesy and my experience of life could use a lot more of that.

©2012 Tracey E. Carruthers
Note: Tracey E. Carruthers is an executive coach and founder of CoachCarruthers...www.coachcarruthers.com...You may "reprint" copies of Clues You Can Use Articles on-line as long as they remain complete and unaltered including this note. Please send links to your reprints below.

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