Did you know the brain uses 25% of the body’s energy? That’s why when I write all day I get up and feel like I ran a marathon! I had no idea until recently that the brain needs attention the same way the body does. I eat a certain way to maintain my health; I exercise my body for the same reason. My task of late has been to learn how to manage my brain.

The obvious question here is, well, who’s doing the managing? That would be my higher self, the loving parent who’s infinite and eternal, totally forgiving, compassionate and kind. The part of God that’s in me, as me, as Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray Love fame would say. The eternal Now, as Eckardt Tolle of The Power of Now would say. God, Higher Power, the Universe, the Great Spirit, Our Father Who Art in Heaven, Higher Self, I’d say.

So my first task is to connect with that loving, strong, spacious God, through regular prayer and meditation. Lately I’ve come to understand that some physical movement–a walk; yoga; just some stretching, is a good way to start. So much tension, sadness and negativity is held in the muscles and joints. If I only apply mind-effort to those states, I’m probably going to have a harder time getting where I’m going. But if I attend the body kinks, aches and blockages, I’m far better off.

Then, during the day, I need to keep choosing healthy thoughts. We all have in us what the Jungians call the shadow side, a side that talks trash and pushes us to do stuff that’s not in our best interest. But we don’t have to let that side rule us, or even manifest in destructive ways. One way this saboteur comes through is in extreme negativity towards self. But, as Jill Bolte Taylor says in My Stroke of Insight, “the decision that internal verbal abuse is not acceptable behavior is the first step toward finding deep inner peace.”

But we can’t unthink a thought, or tell ourselves what not to think. (Don’t think about trees. See? You’re thinking about trees!) What we can do is think new, loving, wonderful thoughts. That sweet man Eknath Easwaran, who wrote Words to Live By, suggests finding and using a mantra whenever troubled thoughts strike (as well as for meditation focus). I’m struggling to try to remember that, but progress not perfection, right? I find it helpful to memorize and recite prayers and Bible verses to myself, first as part of morning worship time, but then, throughout the day, as a way to keep my wild negative mind on a peaceful, kind, loving, useful track. The more I use them during the morning time, the more they spontaneously kick in during the day. Consciously doing this is building the mental habit of positive outlook, which in turn opens me to God’s graces. Which is where I need to live, just for today, that I may be of maximum use to do the things my higher power has sent me here to do. Strong body, strong mind, strong spirit. Does it get any better than that? I think not!