3-2-1 Get Balanced Wednesday

by Dr. Donnie

“Helping you align your daily behaviors with your priorities in life.”

3-2-1: Trash or Recycle

read on DONNIEHUTCHINSON.COM | August 23, 2023

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3 Ideas from me, 2 Quotes from others, and 1 Question to help you reflect on your work-life wellness and balance habits this week.

3 Ideas from Me

I’m sitting at gate A11 at JFK airport. I prayed, asking God to give me an idea for this newsletter. As soon as I finished my request, I glanced at two bins labeled trash and recycling in the aisle.

The thoughts we think can be divided into two groups. Yes, you guessed it, trash and recycle. I practice two forms of thought management that generally provide solid results. My first thought management practice is to ask myself, “Is this thought life-enhancing or life-detracting?” If the thought enhances my life, I enjoy the thought and put it in the recycle bin. If it detracts, I trash it.

II.

My second thought management practice is to hold strict standards on what enters my mind. Just as a recycle bin has labels for clean glass, plastic, and cardboard items only, my inner being has rules for which thoughts can go into my recycle bin.

Sometimes, thoughts can pop into our thinking undetected. It’s like they are entering our recycle bin yet have not reached the bottom of the bin. Before we know it, we might catch ourselves battling unpleasant or fearful thoughts. Once detected, we can grab these thoughts midstream in our recycle bin by saying, “I reject these thoughts!”

III.

Once we reject a thought from our mental recycle bin, it’s important to trash the thought. We can do that by flipping the thought upside down and beginning to think of the opposite.

For example, “If we don’t depart soon from this airport, I will miss my connection and disappoint my family by arriving late. I reject that thought, and I’m trashing it.” I then flip it. “Everything is going smoothly, just as it does most of the time. I’m going to enjoy seeing my family this evening.” I recycle that thought and begin thinking about the good times we will have when I arrive home tonight. I encourage you to try and practice the trash and recycle thought management process.

2 Quotes from Others

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.

– Proverbs 4:23 GNT

II.

“Don’t let negative thoughts rent space in your mind. Evict them and make room for optimism.”

– Unknown

1 Question for You

Would you be willing to give “Trash and Recycle a try? Every time you trash and recycle, it will get easier. Give it a try. You’ve got this!

Dr. Donnie’s Answer: Expressed above in the writing.

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Until next week, may God bless you, your family and may the Glory be to God.

– Dr. Donnie Hutchinson

The format and style of this newsletter were inspired and highly influenced by James Clear 3-2-1 Newsletter. The content is strictly Dr. Donnie’s.