Have you ever stood in front of your closet for ten minutes, staring at a pile of clothes and feeling completely overwhelmed? We spend so much time deciding what to wear, making sure we pick something that feels comfortable, appropriate, and perhaps a little bit inspiring for the day ahead. Liz Gilbert offers us such a beautiful way to look at our inner lives when she suggests that we should treat our thoughts with that same level of intention. Just as we wouldn't walk out the door in something tattered or uncomfortable, we don't have to let every stray, negative, or heavy thought settle into our minds and stay there all day.
In our daily lives, our minds are constantly flooded with a stream of consciousness. Some thoughts are like a soft, cozy sweater—warm, comforting, and easy to carry. Others are like a scratchy, oversized wool coat that makes it hard to move or breathe. If we aren't careful, we end up wearing the heavy, itchy thoughts of self-doubt or criticism all day long, wondering why we feel so weighed down. Learning to select our thoughts means recognizing when a thought doesn't fit the person we are trying to be and having the courage to set it aside, just like we would hang up a garment that simply doesn't suit us.
I remember a morning not too long ago when I felt quite blue. I woke up with this heavy, grey thought looping in my head, telling me that I wasn't being productive enough or that I was falling behind. It felt like wearing a heavy, soaked raincoat in the middle of summer. I caught myself spiraling, and for a moment, I realized I was letting this thought dictate my entire mood. I had to pause and ask myself, 'Is this thought helping me? Does this thought make me feel capable?' I decided to 'change' my mental outfit. I chose instead to focus on the small joy of my warm tea and the sunlight hitting my desk. It didn't make the problem disappear, but it changed how I felt while facing it.
It takes practice, of course. You won't catch every uncomfortable thought before it settles in, and that is perfectly okay. The goal isn't to achieve a mind that is perfectly empty, but to become a more mindful curator of your own mental space. When you notice a thought that feels dark, heavy, or unkind, try to gently unbutton it and let it go. Instead, reach for a thought that feels light, empowering, or even just neutral and calm. You deserve to wear thoughts that make you feel bright and ready to face the world.
Today, I want to encourage you to take a little inventory of your mental wardrobe. As you move through your tasks, take a gentle breath and ask yourself which thoughts you are choosing to carry with you. If something feels too heavy, give yourself permission to take it off.