The Start - Two sides of the same coin.

As we go through life - from birth to death, we go through a number of 
developmental stages. We usually start to become aware of this as we 
become conscious of our own thoughts and thinking process. 
This is when we start to ask questions like:

“Who am I? What am I? How did I get here? Am I happy? 
What do I want? How can I change things?”  

We ask these questions because we have developed enough as 
individuals to realize that we have some degree of control of our own lives
 and destinies. 
It is only natural to try and make sense of our lives. This can be very difficult 
because we usually end up lost between the thoughts we think we should have, 
and the thoughts we think shouldn’t have. This is a natural process we all 
experience. In order to not get lost in all the turmoil and confusion going through 
our thoughts, we can learn that being aware of our thoughts, 
can teach us how to accept ourselves.

Acceptance is where it all starts

The first step is accepting that there is a light, and a dark side within us all. 
A good me, 
and a bad me.

During some stage or another, we all experience that dark and depressed 
force inside us. 
It usually feels like it’s trying to take over or drag us down. The truth is that we 
all have this inside us, a good me, and a bad me. 
In order to become more balanced,
 we must learn to accept that both sides are part of us. 
Like the two sides of the same coin.

Don’t worry

This is only your “self” trying to tell you that it’s time for you to begin 
examining yourself more. At this stage it is important to remember to 
try and not control or guide your thoughts. However bad and negative they 
might seem, we need to start looking at them so that we can learn what they 
want to teach us. It is a case of breaking normal thought patterns.

Instead of ignoring or pushing aside certain thoughts when they arise, 
think of it as another part of you, trying to tell you that it needs 
your attention as well, that this is also important.

Remember, we do not have to react physically to these thoughts.

Our thoughts do not have to influence our behavior. 
We can also just be aware of them. 
Negative thoughts causes distress and pain because they are 
not being acknowledged. Once we acknowledge and accept this, 
we automatically open up space inside ourselves 
to experience more of life.

The fact that we classify thoughts into either good or bad,
means that without even knowing the true reason these thoughts 
are in our minds, we end up identifying them into something 
they might not be. We have become used to not allowing ourselves to 
think certain things because we convince ourselves 
that they are bad and wrong. 
It is very natural to have negative thoughts or feelings, 
just like it is natural that we 
have positive and good thoughts and feelings.

Just let your thoughts flow through your mind, sit and look at them.

They will tell you what they are and why they are there. 
If we don’t judge our thoughts, we do not classify them. 
This gives them the opportunity to just be, which creates an 
awareness of the actual underlying reasons as to why we might be 
experiencing these thoughts in the first place.

The path that we’re on now is one of self discovery. 
A path that isn’t only influenced by 
where we physically are and what we have experienced, 
but also by how much we learn to
let go of the control over our thoughts and feelings.

All the thoughts and feelings we fight against are part of us. 
They can help us find that quiet place, 
there where we are at peace, 
where we are balanced.