Who Will You Let Control Your State of Mind?

Anybody who lives on the island knows ferry travel is inevitable. I have to be honest, I have never really minded the trip over. It can be challenging as a walk on passenger with a toddler and carrying all our stuff for the trip, but travel by myself I see as a beautiful opportunity for a break or extreme productivity! Think about it, you are on a boat and stuck for a couple hours. You are surrounded by some of the most stunning natural features possible...possibly traveling side by side with awe inspiring mammals. It's tough NOT to be motivated to create!

My trip yesterday was planned as a creative break. I had in my bag a couple crafts, letter writing materials, my journal and idea book. The thing is, I arrived on the boat absolutely exhausted. I had stayed up WAY to late the night before, determined to finish a purging project before bed and got up very early to make the ferry. I had really overdone it the day before so was also physically drained. I was looking forward to a couple hours of solitude and quiet. I even indulged in a visit to the on-board "seawest lounge". A space on-board where quiet is strongly encouraged, the chairs are big and comfortable and there are lovely nibblies of fresh fruit and cheeses, plus teas and coffee. Definitely a space that is off limits when traveling with an energetic yogini so even more a solo mumma's indulgence!

I found a spot with the perfect view of the ocean and got myself all set up for a quiet trip over catching up on some of my favourite podcasts. About 5 minutes into my happy little snack and listen, a group of women arrived and settled in a couple rows in front of me. They clearly had a different plan for the trip...a LOUD visit catching up on the latest celebrity gossip, magazines included for reference and giggles. I noticed how quickly my frustration rose. My whole mood shifted and physically I felt anxiety rising and all the muscles in my body tensing. How DARE they enjoy themselves so loudly in a public place, when I need peacefulness! {please note the sarcasm!}

Just then in my podcast, as a little treat, the person being interviewed offered to guide a short meditation and I realized with a flash that I had a choice in that moment. Stay frustrated and give those women the permission to effect my mood and allow them to take away my opportunity for restoration. Or, change my focus. Draw it inward and make the choice not to allow them in. I chose the latter, and I am not sure if they quieted down or whether I had chosen to no longer hear them. Either way, I realized as we neared the end of our voyage, I had taken the power back to decide my state of mind.

There are many times in life that we allow others to decide how we feel, how we feel about ourselves, how we feel about others, how we feel about things around us...but do they deserve that power? I say no! And those loud women reminded me how easy it is to forget to make the choice to take responsibility for what we allow in.

Do you give others the power to decide your state of mind? Look for little reminders {like, perhaps, a group of loud women, for example} that you have the choice and opportunity in every moment to take that power back! And maybe load your iPod with some podcasts/happy songs/meditations for when you need a little assistance tuning out the 'reminder'!

Photo Props: mlleclo via Flickr