When people say “It’s mind over matter” they usually follow it with declarative statements
like:
“I don’t get sick.
I just decide not to.”
”Just push through it… you can make it if you really want to.”
”If you want it bad enough, you can make it happen.”
”Just push through it… you can make it if you really want to.”
”If you want it bad enough, you can make it happen.”
Maybe instead of looking at
mind over matter as a way for us to control our environment and create desired
outcomes, instead of looking at it as a way to force the universe to conform to
our wants, we could see it as an opportunity to use our minds to make good
choices regardless of the “matter.”
My mind has chosen, regardless
of circumstance, to find joy in the little things. I can’t
control the physical, I can’t control the
outcomes, I can’t control others’ actions… but I can control my response.
I guess that’s my version of mind over matter.
I had a number of times this
past week where my exhaustion and pain has hit hard. It puts me in what I call
a “coma sleep,” where I'm aware of what's going on around me but just
can't move or open my eyes for the life of me. I will literally say in my mind,
“Open
your eyes!”
and nothing happens. My mind has no physical control over the matter.
But my mind does have the
choice to stop struggling and fighting against it, which only exhausts me more.
My mind has the choice to not be frustrated by all I could not do in those
hours, but instead be grateful during the times when I am rested and my energy
comes back.
My limitations continue to
teach me valuable lessons. I have learned not to live under the illusion that I
have control over any part of my life… I’m happy to leave
all of that to God. But I will continue to choose to be grateful, to be happy,
and to be content in my earthly dwelling.
I do this because my mind, and
everything else in my life, is a gift from Him.
And that matters.
Learn more on Choosing Joy in Sara's book...Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts.