“No exercise is urged except a deep relinquishment of everything that clutters up the mind, and makes it deaf to reason, sanity and simple truth.”—A Course in Miracles
Since 2012, Jimmy Kimmel has run a “Mean Tweets” segment on his late night talk show.
Celebrities ranging from Julia Roberts to Bette Midler to Barack Obama read aloud tweets sent by real internet trolls. George Clooney, for example, read, “If that gross, ratty old man can get a girl, the rest of you regular guys must be swimming in…” well, the tweet in question used a synonym for a small cat.
I use the same approach for the “mean tweets” in my head. Laughing is the only way to deal.
Because if I try to fix a “problem” I’m ragging to myself about (say, I notice my ego telling me I’m being lazy or getting fat or some other such nonsense), I only make it real. It gives my brain the message “this is dangerous,” “this is wrong.”
It actually takes a temporary reality and turns it into a problem. In quantum speak, it collapses the wave of a particular superposition, turns it into a material particle, makes it true.
When I believe some jerk “done me wrong” or that I’m in danger in some way, I literally pitch a tent in a “field” that’s not in my best interest. When I decide I’d better “fix this thing,” I add heft to the reality that something’s wrong.
Self-help, as it turns out, is anything but helpful.
If, like George Clooney, I read the “tweet” out loud and poke fun at its ridiculousness, it deactivates the brain’s danger signal. It says, “oh, that’s interesting,” allowing me to remain free, flexible, open and available for a more pleasant reality.
Pam Grout is the author of 19 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her latest book, Art & Soul,Reloaded: A Year-Long Apprenticeship to Summon the Muses and Ignite Your Daring, Audacious, Creative Side.
38 Responses
I really love this Pam, thank you so much for explaining it this way.
The amazing horse trainer John Lyons teaches that if a horse is likely to be scared of an object as you ride by it, then you don’t look at it or even acknowledge its existence. By keeping your focus off of the scary object it sends a message to the horse of ‘nothing to see here, nothing to worry about’. If instead you look at it and think to yourself ‘uh oh, he might spook at this’ that then directs the horses energy to the object because he has picked up on your energy and he’s much more likely to spook. I love that what you have written and what my horse training guru teaches mesh!
Thanks Danielle,
I love the truth your passing along the road.
Now every time I let a particular unpleasant thought irritate me in the least I will now picture Leslie Neilson in Naked Gun.
You see the thought itself does’t actually irritate me it’s my reaction to it. So this will forever be my reminder to remind myself that it’s …..Just. A. Thought.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKnX5wci404
Bless you all,
Michael A. Stilinovich
Love the movie clip!
What a great story! Thank you, John Lyons, and thanks, Danielle, for sharing it here.
Thanks for this small article. It made me think and brightened my day.
Glad your day is brightened.
Thanks for this short, ever so clear summation of an extremely important point. 😍
Short and sweet
Maybe I need to tweet.
Ha–I’m a poet!
Thank you, Pam! Negativity and anger breeds negativity and anger. Period! gives new meaning to “laugh it off!” 😉 I love you!!
And I love you!!!
💖 Thanks for the reminder 💖
Always my pleasure!
Thank you Pam, I love this. ❤️👀 That pic of Julia Robert’s laughing is so on target and contagious!! 🤣 When I find myself wearing the “ass hat” I will think of Julia Roberts laughing at its absurdity, ditch the hat and get back on my unicorn!
🤷♀️🎩🦄
Thanks Virginia! Ass Hat—you gave me a visual to laugh at and flee!!
Hi Cathy! You are so welcome! I first learned about the Ass Hat 🎩 in one of Pam’s earlier blogs a few years ago and it has stuck with me lol 😂! I have gotten a lot of good mileage out of that visual! Pam also talks about Thank And Grow Rich in that post. (she graciously put my bird story in one of the chapters 🤓✍️.) ..I will repost the blog to FB and tag you. It is one of my favorites!
And thanks again, Pam! Your gifts are the kind that keep on giving!
💪❤️🎩
Here’s to unicorns!
Thank you Pam! I needed this! Love you!!!
Love you, too!
I agree on all levels but one. What do you do when you learn that your grandsons are being abused once again after authorities refusal to rectify situation to begin with? Also, same perpetrator has abused another persons child & has been arrested for that. These are things that seem like they need fixing. At least to me.
Peace and love to you always. You are a spirit of light and much appreciated.
Jennifer
Sent from my iPhone
Thanks for the peace and light!
Thanks Pam… this is INTERESTING! Wishing you EXTRAORDINARILY EPIC SUCCESS… to quote you & I do! Elle💕
Extraordinarily epic success to all! Thanks, Elle!
So, so good! There’s nothing to Fix!
So, so grateful!
We are not to know the Journey we signed up for. Ditto those of others. We label things as Right and Wrong. They just ‘are’. All we need to do is keep our own vibration clear as much as we can
We are not privy to the bigger picture or to another’s karma. This is an agreement on a Soul level. A pact made on a Divine level. Just send Love to those involved. It conquers all.
And those involved may go in to do great things based on their painful experiences.
This is hard for our human minds to comprehend. But when we surrender, let Go and Let God, we can find our Peace.
Wow, Jane. That is beautiful. I am keeping your words. Thank you for that.
You took the words right out of my mouth! Thanks, my friend!
Thanks Pam!!! Boy did I need to hear that today!! I’ve been waaay overthinking a recent situation and conversation. It’s laughable and that’s what I intend to do….. laugh it off and move on!! Thank you! I’m so grateful for the shift!!
Love, Lauren
Shifting. It’s what we do! Sometimes, thousands of times in a day.
Love this so hard, Pam!!! YESSSSSSS to this!!
Excellent Pam, thank you.
I love this Pam! Thankyou 💛
PS I’m so grateful to have your wisdom, humour and beauty first thing in my morning ☺️ Big hugs and much love to you 🤗❤️😘
Oh my gosh Pam! Thank you. This is exactly what I needed to receive this morning. What a great way to look at the colony of trolls that inhabit my head! 😂🤣 huge love
Kate xx
Ps, bit late but happy songs…walking on sunshine, tap your troubles away, and the whole of Crazy for You, a musical by Gershwin. 😊💕
Boy, did l need this today! Thank you so much Pam. Got my focus back and looking forward to a great day now. Wishing the same for you xx
❤️
Sent from my iPhone
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Here’s to hefting – it is powerful!
Thank you Pam. Your perspective always starts my day on a positive note!!
We’re speaking the same language!! In fact, There is Nothing to Fix is the name of my book, you can check it out here. https://www.amazon.com/There-Nothing-Fix-Becoming-Self-Acceptance-ebook/dp/B07YGT3W9Q/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=