Chel Hamilton 0:00

Stuck in a bad mood and can't seem to shake it, this meditation shows you exactly how to redirect your mind from that dark path to a brighter one and make it your new default.

Intro 0:10

This is the Meditation Minis podcast with your host, Hypnotist Shell Hamilton.

Chel Hamilton 0:17

Go ahead and close your eyes. Take those three deep breaths. And as you take those three deep breaths, letting a little sigh out on the exhales, I'd like you to imagine yourself walking into a movie theater. In this movie theater, you're all alone. This is your movie theater. And if you choose, you can have your favorite little snacks with you as you kick back and relax. And as you look up at that screen, you see another you who's in the movie, just living life, doing the things that you do. And imagine that other you in that movie up there on that screen is walking down this rambling path. And they come to a crossroads. One path turns to the left, the other path turns to the right, and that you up there on that screen is distracted, not really paying any attention. They just head off down one of the paths. And after a little while, they realize that they're on this very dark, difficult path, and they wonder, how did that happen to me? And you being the you in the movie theater who was paying attention the whole time, of course, it's easy for you to see, but that you who's up there on that screen, trapped on that path. It's hard for them to see with such clarity. And you may find yourself wanting to yell at them up there on that screen, hey, you go back to the crossroads. Pick that other path instead, the one that was full of light and butterflies and bird song. And so let them do that. Let them finally turn around and go back to the crossroads and pick that happier path instead. Or maybe you're the kind of person who really feels the need to beat your head against the wall until you're bloodied and bruised. But you can let that go now if you choose. As you imagine yourself being the you in the theater, stepping back. And letting that other you on that crappy path go back to the crossroads now. And take a deep breath. Because there are other things that you can think instead, those happier thoughts, sunshiny places. And sure, sometimes when you're doing this in your mind and you're choosing that brighter way, it may feel like, or there may be a voice in your head that says, this isn't real. But the other path isn't real either. It's just a habit that you've gotten into, a way of thinking that is not true. It is the stories that we tell ourselves, the meanings that we attribute to the world around us, to what we do, what other people say and do too. It's those meanings and stories that make us feel a certain way. And so stop, take a deep breath and choose that other path instead. And remember, you are not responsible for that first thought, but you are responsible for how long you stay in it, and no matter how long down that crappy path you may have walked before you look around and realize where you find yourself, no matter how far you are, you have the choice. You can keep walking that crappy path, hoping that maybe the light's going to shine again, or you can stop and turn around and just go back. You can change your mind, you can change your mood, you can do 50 jumping jacks, take a shower, go for a walk, whatever you need to do, maybe dance around to some music that you enjoy to help you change your state, to help you switch over in your mind. Or you may find that you can just kick back in your mind and imagine yourself in this theater once again, watching that other you up there on that screen, but having the distance that you need to make the choice to walk that brighter path. You choose for you. Locking it in. And when you come about of this meditative state today, you carry with you a little more of that I can do this attitude. I can't. Some days will be easier than others, that's true. And there may be voices inside your head that say, Oh, you don't deserve to be happy. You have to be on this other path. And you can stop right then, take a deep breath, and say, you know what? No, that's just an old habit. As you go back to the crossroads and choose that happier path again and again and again, until sometime down the line, you forget to have to think to even remember to do it anymore, because the happy path becomes your new default setting in your mind. That's not to say that you can't get on the crappy one from time to time, but that default setting is that brighter, more solution-focused way. As you breathe and be and bring that I can do this attitude out of this meditation with you and into your day today.