What to Do When the Jellyfish Invade

Being a water lover, I was quick to notice a certain article on Yahoo! last week. It seems that large numbers of jellyfish are making their way on to popular beaches up and down the eastern coast and even appearing in countries that haven’t normally had so many in the past.

The article attributed the increase in these creatures to global warming, pollution and the run off from chemicals we use on a regular basis to preserve our lawns. The reporter also mentioned the overall declining health of our waterways.

This news both depressed and inspired me. I personally don’t like the state of the earth right now and am constantly seeking ways to do my part to preserve it.
But I was inspired to think of these poisonous creatures as a part of our everyday lives, whether we live by water or not.

What if these invading jellyfish were the negative thoughts we allow to ‘sting’ us on a regular basis? You know what I mean; thoughts like “I am so tired of worrying about things, I don’t know what I am going to do” or “Will I ever get over this heartache?"

So how do we protect the beaches of our mind and send the jellyfish of doubt, fear and anger back in to the water, never to sting us again?

First, ask yourself “does this thought support my life and health?” Do you really want to believe these negative thoughts you tell yourself? Of course not. So what do you want to believe about this experience?

Second, create a mantra for yourself that you can repeat when those slimey fish start to swim in to your mind. The recently-deceased Randy Pausch’s wife did this: whenever she would get overwhelmed with caring or heard information that upset her, she would tell herself “not helpful” and re-focus her energy and attention on her ill husband. What message can you create for yourself that will help you avoid the sting of a negative thought?

Third, create a realistic picture of what you do want. You’re not in denial about death. Whatever it is, picture what you want in detail, add how you feel about it and focus on that when a negative thought comes to call.

We all have a choice in how we respond to the thoughts we think. Just like the water lovers, we decide if we just want to float along or if we’re ready to swim laps or surf through the waves of stress and negativity. By making a decision to release negative thoughts, you’ll create a life worth loving.