Would you rather?

“Would you rather be chased by a horse-sized duck, or by one hundred duck-sized horses?”  Thus says one of the ‘Would you rather?’ challenges from the wrappers round a famous brand of ‘Take a Break’ chocolate snack.  I’d be curious to hear your answer – then I’ll reveal my choice in the comments!

“Would you rather?” reminds me of one of my favourite sayings from Wayne Dyer: “I can choose peace rather than this.”  Would you rather have peace or conflict?  Isn’t it surprising, shocking even, that some people would genuinely prefer conflict?  This is particularly so in the area of forgiveness vs unforgiveness.  Many people would rather hold on to their sense of outrage, injury, and pain rather than let it go.

Somewhere last week I read a story about two monks – an elderly and a younger – climbing and walking down the steep mountain sides of wild country.  Their Order did not permit them to touch a woman (I know, how ridiculous!), but when their path crossed a mighty rushing stream in one of the gullies, they found a young woman in distress.  She needed to cross the stream to get home but the flood-waters were flowing too fast for her to cross safely.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the mature monk respectfully lifted the woman onto his back, and waded across the raging waters, safely to the other side.  The woman thanked him and then ran on happily her way home.

The two monks went ahead on in silence for hours, but the older, wiser, monk could tell that the younger was very agitated.  Eventually, the younger burst out, “Our Order does not permit us to engage with women, let alone touch one – and yet you carried one across that mountain stream!”

The older, wiser monk gently observed, “Ah, that’s true… and I put her down on the other side, as easily and as rapidly as I had picked her up… I notice that you are still carrying her.”

There is so much we all carry in life that is so past its “Carry-Until” Date – its “Best Before” Date.  These burdens are way beyond the point in time that caused the injury.  In many cases, the ‘guilty’ party is no longer aware of the offence.  Today is a great day to ask ourselves, “Would we rather keep carrying this, or would we prefer to be liberated from this hard burden?”

I finish with Wayne Dyer’s inviting affirmation again, “I can choose peace, rather than this…”

Podcast for Moodscope and Purbeck Coast: "Would You Rather?"

Intermission
 
Mark my words, there are many powerful ways to transform our lives… and here is the first.
 
Have you ever tried to stay cross in the middle of an argument when someone makes you laugh – perhaps by pulling a face?  In truth, it’s really annoying when you’re angry and someone interrupts that feeling by making you smile or giggle… but once you grin, they win!
 
And so do you.
 
The spell is broken.
 
The cycle is too.
 
Psychologists call this a ‘pattern interrupt’ and it’s a brilliant way to get yourself out of a pickle if you feel your emotions are heading in a direction you want to change.  Your emotions are designed to serve you, not the other way around, and if you feel you’re losing control, call for an intermission.
 
This is surprisingly easy to do.
 
Why?  Because your brain believes your body.  As soon as you change your physical position, your mental posture automatically follows.  I noticed a lovely Mum last night running to catch up with her two young children, and this reminded me of one of my grandchildren who runs everywhere!  There’s an energy and enthusiasm to his life that is very engaging.  Lambs do it too.  And calves.  And puppies.  And kids… baby goats!
 
Then something happens as we mature.  We begin to slow down.  Boring.
 
Action plan: when you feel stuck or out of control, do something different with your posture and pace.  Dare you!  Here’s what happened to me next…
 
Making sure no one was looking, I decided to run back to the house - just like a kid.  My capacity was poor – about 5 yards, but it was all I needed – I was grinning - out of breath but grinning.  And when you’re grinning, you’re winning.

Intermission Blog For Moodscope 22nd January

I Am En-thusiastic
I Am Excited 
I Am Attentive
I Am Strong
I Am Proud
I Am Inspired 
I Am Determined
I Am Alert
I Am Interested
I Am Active

Moodscope makes my day
In three most practical ways:
A scientific mood test
That I can share with others
A community that are like 
Sisters and brothers
Nominated Buddies that can receive my score
Keeping me on the path of wellbeing
And so much more.

showing eagerness:
I Am En-thusiastic

looking forward to things:
I Am Excited

paying close attention:
I Am Attentive

able to cope with difficulties
I Am Strong

feeling a sense of achievement:
I Am Proud

feeling the desire to do something:
I Am Inspired

showing determination:
I Am Determined – resolute

being quick to notice and act:
I Am Alert

wanting to be involved:
I Am Interested

feeling full of energy:
I Am Active

You Too Can Raise Your Mood with Moodscope

The Moodscope Blog gets a musical makeover!

Polish Your Lens, Change Your World

Your Inner Narrative is Your Superpower. It's Time to Tune It, Edit It, Rewrite It!

I loved this thought for the day, "Your inner narrative is the lens you live through; polishing it can change the whole landscape."

Together, let’s read that again. Let’s let it sink in. Let it marinate.

This isn't just a nice idea. This is a seismic truth. That voice in your head? It’s not just background noise. It’s the operating system for your entire life – especially for your future what happens next. It’s the colour grader for your reality, the director of your personal movie.

And if that soundtrack is full of static, distortion, and crackles of self-doubt, the whole picture looks dim. But here's the revolutionary part: you are the sound engineer. You have your hands on the mixing desk. It's time to turn down the noise and turn up the signal.

So, how do we polish this lens? How do we go from a scratchy, skipping record to a high-definition, surround-sound experience? Grab your toolkit. Here are the practical steps.

Step 1: CATCH THE CRITIC (The Art of Spotting the Static)

You can't change what you don't notice. The first and most crucial step is to become a detached observer of your own thoughts.

This is a "soundcheck." You're identifying the feedback, the hum, the off-key notes before the main performance begins. You're mapping the noise.

Step 2: CHALLENGE THE EVIDENCE (The Cross-Examination)

Your inner critic is a terrible lawyer - it presents speculation as fact and past failures as eternal truth. It's time for you to become the prosecuting attorney.

The Practice: When you catch a critical thought, "I always fail at this," stop and challenge it.

Step 3: CHANGE THE CHANNEL (The Re-framing)

Once you've challenged the faulty evidence, you must consciously install a new, more accurate narrative. This is the active act of polishing.

The Practice: Re-write the thought. Make it kinder, truer, and more useful.

Step 4: CURATE YOUR INPUTS (The Signal Chain)

A guitarist knows that the sound starts with the guitar and the cables. Garbage in, garbage out. Your mind is the same. What you feed it directly shapes the inner narrative.

The Practice: Audit your inputs for a week.

Polishing your lens isn't a one-off gig. It's a daily soundcheck. It's a lifelong tour.

Some days the feedback will scream. Other days, the harmony will be perfect. But every time you Catch, Challenge, Change, and Curate, you are taking control of the mix. You are moving from being a passive listener to the lead guitarist, the producer, and the engineer of your own life's soundtrack.

Lex

A Moodscope member

Polish the Lens - Monday Moodscope Blog

"Becoming Heroes," is the podcast for the Hero inside of you.  Every Hero needs a Guide to help them become the best version of themselves.  Our podcast brings you the best Guides and guidance in bite-sized chunks of awesomeness!

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