Buying a ticket to Neverland

The mind works in black and white. There’s no subtlety to it at all; no shades of grey.

When it sees something, it draws a line and says,

Which has led to a saying here at Casa Croft,

“Don’t take a trip to Neverland!”

Because whenever my daughter is faced with some inconvenient truth (e.g. no, you can’t start a massive new crafting project at bedtime; no, I’m not going to be popping into town tomorrow and buying you a mobile phone 🙄) her mind automatically slips into binary mode—always/never—and makes her life hell.

• “I’ll NEVER be able to make that thing!!” 😩
• “You’ll NEVER let me have a phone, ever!!” 😩

Ring any bells?

(And when I say “Ring any bells?” I’m not talking about your kids, I’m talking about your mind, silly! 😂)

Because yeah, mine does that too! As does yours.

There are universal principles at play here. Faced with what is, when it doesn’t match up to what the mind thinks it needs “in order to” secure its happiness, it goes all binary on us.

• “This injury will NEVER heal!” 😩
• “I’ll ALWAYS be triggered by that situation!” 😩
• “I’ll NEVER be able to make this business work!” 😩
• “I’ll ALWAYS be alone!” 😩

Of course, when we hear anyone else’s mind blibber-blabbering on like this, it seems faintly ridiculous. We’re like, “Jeez, calm down, get some perspective!”

But when it’s ours… oh, now that’s different.

😆

No, it isn’t.

All you have to do is spot it.

And decide that today, no thanks, you’re not buying a ticket to Neverland.

Give it a go. I guarantee your day will improve.

💟

Giles

Related

Always

This natural bedfellow of ‘never’ is another of the mind’s greatest hits ⌛️

The Daily RemindersGiles P Croft