Cultivating fond memories

We sometimes choose to visit the past to dredge up memories of events that justify our current mood or situation. "This reminds me of the time my father told me I'd never amount to anything" or "No one ever asked me what I wanted for my birthday." This type of thinking can snowball and take us further down the rabbit hole. You might want to replace these negative thoughts with ones such as, "I remember the time my father took time out of his busy day to treat us all to ice cream" or "I always wanted a shiny red bike for my birthday." Then focus on the feelings attached to those thoughts. Feel the love for your father or the exhilaration of what it would be like to be riding your bike. Watch the negativity melt away. And, if having the shiny red bike is still important to you, consider buying it for yourself for your next birthday. What fond memories are you cultivating today?