How many of these serpents slither into your thoughts?

I just finished reading The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, a can't-put-it-down tale about the effect of a rumored Victorian-era serpent on a town and the people who live there.

No matter where you are stuck or overwhelmed, how does remembering that thoughts are not facts support your optimal health?

As the town people focused their attention and energy on these rumors, which injected terror into their tranquility, they grew and grew until they were very powerful. They caused people to draw conclusions that affected the trajectory of their lives, forever.

Eventually, more information came to light and the town people realized that their unsubstantiated beliefs weren't even true. Dang. All that time and energy and relationship damage based on something that wasn't even true.

Who believes in serpents, though? That is crazy.

But then I started considering the "serpents" that slither their way into our own lives and relationships and suddenly it didn't seem crazy at all. We all have unsubstantiated thoughts that inject terror into our own tranquility and damage relationships with ourselves and others.

Which of these serpents do you recognize?

"I'm not good enough..."

"I won't be able to survive without..."

"I will never have enough..."

"This challenge will never end..."

"It was all my fault..."

Shine light on these unsubstantiated beliefs and take away their power to damage your life and relationships by remembering that thoughts are not facts. They are thoughts.

Evaluate them, clarify what is important to you. Then take action.

When I remember that thoughts are not facts, it feels super healthy.

Make remembering that thoughts are not facts, on a regular basis, a healthy habit.