--->>> OTT --- Old Thought Thoughts! <<<---

[SourceShield]

Greetings!

This post is about LIMITING-BELIEFS, or as me and my brother Matt now call them, Old Thought Thoughts - OTT.

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This post will most likely not appeal to many people, because I am writing about our beliefs that we have about life and ourselves, that we all have had for much of our life.

Our beliefs are personal, and yet oddly the 'same' as well.

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There is a school of thought that teaches us that when we identify the OTT i.e. I am unlovable.

Relate to the OTT, rather than from it.

We can then release the attachment to the OTT, as well as the aversion to the OTT.

For example -

A child is told that they are no good, useless and worthless, every other day.

-sadly, this is a story often told, by many.

As this child grows a set of OTT have been programmed into the mind-body of the now grown adult-child.

I am no good.

I am useless.

I am worthless.

etc etc etc

The adult-child now has an attachment to the OTT.

But also you would see an aversion to those OTT as well.

I am no good <- the attachment.

And, I hate that I am no good <- the aversion. The judgement for having the OTT in the first place, keeps us attached to the OTT.

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Not all beliefs are limiting.

All beliefs are fluid.

They are mutable - liable to change, as all things in existence are!

But...

How do we release the OTT?

Thats what we're most interested in!.

I am going to share a few things of how I am learning to release all of the OTT that once ruled my life, and would love to read yours as well!.

1) Refer to the OTT being in the past. If we keep on affirming the OTT in the present moment, it stays in the present moment. By writing and talking about the OTT being in the past, youre correcting the memory. REWIRE!

2) I AUGMENT positive memories. Whatever they are, whenever they happened. This is why I actively look for things to be thankful and grateful for. Appreciation, heals! And thats now science...if youre interested in the research about this, let me know!

3) I have learned to ask for help, and to RECEIVE it graciously, whenever it comes to me. And, it always does.

4) I SMILE and LAUGH more. Theres research for this too!

5) I have changed my eating habits. I EAT WELL now. I am now on the Guts and Psychology Syndrome foodplan GAPS. I used to be obese. No more.

6) I EXPRESS in healthy ways - dance, music, write..

7) I take time out to LOVE - my family, friends, my dog bundy, nature..

REMEMBERING to LOVE is a biggie!.

And, whatta 'bout you?...

[SourceShield]

Good for you, Shredder!

I like it.

MuchCourage

Kaitoa

[SourceShield]

Evening Folks,

OTT - "This is all too stressful. I can't cope. I never get anything right. I'm just a failure"

NTT - "No. That's just OTT!. I will continue to do my best. I have stumbled before, and I always manage to land back on my feet. I can do this. And this time, I am smarter and wiser. I am now more stronger of mind, and spirit, than I have ever been before. I feel good. I got this!."

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STRESS!.

What is stress?

The human body is designed to take much 'stress'.

Manipulating the hands and fingers as we type our posts for BB, for example, exert certain amounts of stress, in the joints of the hand etc etc.

The human body is awesome.

The thing with stress is that, it's like the word "love" - The word "stress" has been dumbed down.

Stress is a lot more serious than you probably think.

Remember that ANYTHING that causes 'stress' in the body, releases cortisol.

In other words, no matter the 'stress', you're producing and perhaps overproducing cortisol.

It is this overproduction of cortisol on the inside of your body, that creates inflammation in the body.

Inflammation - NOUN- "A localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection."

Most of us are so out whack with how to 'listen' to the body that we don't 'hear' the first cries for help from the body.

Learning to go with the body, and not against it, is a challenging path, for all people, but if you're living the 'disorderly or dysfunctional life, as I am, learning to listen to the body has become essential.

One of the side effects of an overproduction of cortisol, is the buildup of 'acid'.

Acid is hot.

Heat creates inflammation.

Inflammation will build up in the weaker parts of a person's body.

i.e.

Build up around the heart, weakens the heart, which could lead to a heart attack.

Build up around the brainstem, weakens the brain, which could lead to a stroke.

Inflammation, caused by 'stress', is not good!.

Do all that you can to work through, and release as much attachment to any stress OTT that you may have in place.

Start to take stress a lot more seriously.

It's a killer.

1) Learning to master the breath has become incredibly important to me.

2) Getting good, peaceful, restful sleep is vital.

3) Remembering to accept that life is what it is, and that I am the only one responsible for my health and happiness.

4) I count my blessings everyday.

Peace

MuchLove

Kaitoa

[girl_interrupted]

Hey Kaitoa,

I love your positive energy, your uplifting words of wisdom and your generosity and kindness. Thank you x

[SourceShield]

Thank you Gi!.

Morning folks.

I have a big day at work today.

Will check in with everyone later.

MuchLove

Kaitoa

[Kazzl]

Hiya Kaitoa, hope your day went well.

Kaz

xx

[SourceShield]

Hi Kaz, and all our other friends here!

The day was a toughie.

Really big event - Footy Union players, end of year party, a lot of drinking, and a lot of guys talking a lot of shizz!.

By the end of the day, I was grateful to knock off.

But, I made more friends today.

A very lovely Brazilian girl, asked me out on a date!

She knows I'm gay, we just 'vibed'.

She has a quirky sense of humour, and we can make fun of each other, the other workers, and the patrons too...all in good humour, of course!.

I'd be in like 'Flynn', if I was straight, but I have a very safe gay-brother vibe going on that many of the waitresses, and some of the waiters too, like about me.

I'd like to think that though I have many flaws, I genuinely accept all others - I feel that I am a very accepting person.

These girls like to tell me about the boyfriend issues, and blah blah blah, and they know I hear them, respect them, and listen to what they are 'really' wanting to convey.

They don't actually want me to fix their 'problem', they just want to be heard, seen, and to get things off their proverbial chest.

Sometimes that may come out with tears, and sometimes, a little angry or frustrated.

Took me a while to work out, that they weren't aiming their feelings at me.

They didn't need me to be their hero, nor their whipping boy...just be there.

Be present with them.

For a person with Autism, like me, that's actually not that easy.

I struggle sometimes, to take other people's feelings into account...not that I'm heartless.

My go to mode is always gonna be the 'cerebral' mode, as you've all noticed!

That doesn't mean that I can't empathise...I've just had to teach myself how to!.

I've mentioned that when I am low, I get rather misanthropic.

The opposite of this is...philanthropic.

If I had two 'polar' opposite sides, this would be mine.

I hate all humans.

And, I love them all too!.

We are capable of such atrocities.

I'm not just writing about world wars...I'm writing about the stuff that happens at home too.

In our neighborhoods, behind closed doors.

The 'weak' and 'vulnerable', all over the world are 'terrorized', in our homes.

We are capable of such beauty and joy as well...right in our backyard.

I received some bad news when I got home, nothing life threatening.

I'm all good.

And, I'm already being proactive in-spite of the bad news, I'm good like that.

Resilient.

Plus, I have icecream!

How are you all doin?

MuchLove Lovelies

Kaitoa

[Dust_Dirt]

Dear Kaitoa,

I couldn't read your post without replying. I'm sorry to see that you've received some bad news today. You're onto it though my boy. You know that this must be that the almighty universe has something more in store for you. Because you're awesome like that, eh?

I hear you as well, people can be so hurtful to each other. I was a very rough Mum to my kids, when the were younger. I never knew I could behave in another way. But we can unlearn all the ways that don't work for us anymore, as you've been rightfully sharing. I learned that I could bring more peace into my home.Had to get rid of some of the toxic people in my life to, like their dad. That's what we needed, my kids and me, to live our best life.

But we can be beautiful too. My kids are a living testament to that.

You are gifted and truly talented son.

And don't you forget it!

Hello to GoldenBoy and Panther, and to all the many beautiful souls that visit and share. You're all doing so well. I'm here with you all too. You have my support.

This thread has become an integral part of my day. No pressure on you of course Wolfie! hehehe

I do look forward to reading what you're all doing to release your OTT. I've been too shy, but I think that I will share more of mine too.

Stay strong but also stay at ease as well. Be like the reed that bends with the wind, but does not break!.

Kaitoa, I just think that you're great, and you're going to do great things. You already are!.

Lots and lots of love.

DD

[blondguy]

Hey Kaitoa

Thankyou for your kind wishes 🙂

Im sorry about you getting some bad news....Life threatening or not I hope you are doing okay

I love the clarity and thought you possess

Power to you Warrior

Paul

[SourceShield]

Thank you Mumma DD, and Big Pappa Paul!.

DD - You said what I would want my Mum to say, to encourage me, to keep on going. And that she believed in me no matter what!. I am so thankful for your kindness right now.

Paul - Can I be honest?

Thanks! 🙂

I was a very proud man in the past, that can make a man very weak.

Emotionally weak.

It actually took me a lot to even 'admit' that I had received some bad news.

This is how I know that releasing the attachment to the OTT is working in me.

I'm changing.

I would have flipped out usually.

Or got on BB, and ranted about it all.

But, I didn't.

I was actually very mindful of all the OTT that fired off in my mind.

"This is because you're no good. You don't deserve any good in your life. You're a useless idiot!".

I'd like to tell you that this was an exaggeration, but the OTT will always know when you're feeling weak, and stressed.

OTT love stress. They feed off it.

You know what?

I swear this to the gods.

This time I actually, walked my own walk, and talked my own talk, and I said to myself -

"No, that's just an OTT thought. That's not who I am. This isn't the end of the world. I'm okay".

I'm not saying that I'm mega-happy, right now.

But, I'm okay.

I'm not getting stupid drunk - which I would've in the past, after getting bad news.

I'm not trying to hook-up with some random guy, just to get a quick fix.

I'm here at home, with Bundy...and I'm okay.

I'm grateful for being just okay, for now!.

After a good night's rest...I'll be back to being awesome again.

I know now for sure that releasing the attachment to the OTT works, for me.

I know this for sure now.

Even writing this post to you...I already feel so much better.

Thank you Paul.

Thank you DD.

Paul - I also wanted to tell you that right from the start, when I made my very first post, you've always be kind to me...even when I've been low and moody!.

I truly appreciate that, Paul.

I'd also like to thank Kaz, for reaching out to me tonight, just writing - "I hope your day went well". That means a lot to me. Thank you Kaz.

Matt already knows that I love him. He is a great brother!.

And thanks again GI, I hope you stick around and chat with us more!.

And, big hugs to all the other lovelies here too!

I've learned that when I just accept that I am weak at times, and be okay with that, the vulnerability that I feel, actually has an awesome power all of its own.

MuchMuchMuchLove&MuchMuchMuchThankfulness.

Kaitoa

[Kazzl]

Hey Kaitoa - you know mate, you are a gift to those girls. It is very special and wonderful to have a gay-brother-type friend. (I've got one and I love him heaps.) You make us feel safe and valued for who we are as people, not potential conquests or trophies or threats.

Never underestimate what you offer the gals. It's gold. (Though I'm sure they would have jumped your bones if it was an option). 😄

xx