Where do you go when you want to get away from it all?
Where do you escape to when life gets too much?
Do you need to go to a physical place to get that sense of peace and quiet?
I used to love going to a particular beach and sit staring out at sea to contemplate life and think, when I needed that space. I no longer live right by the sea, so I have a particular spot in a park that I go to which is right by a river and some wonderful trees. For me whenever I feel I want to stop the world I feel I need to connect with nature. I feel being in nature I connect to my true self and can allow my thoughts to settle and gain some clarity and inner peace.
But we can also create this kind of space within us. We can create our own inner sanctuary where we can go when we need to escape at any time. It might be based on an actual place we have been or seen. Or we can be completely creative and create a space completely from our imagination.
What does the landscape of your inner sanctuary look like? Is it a beach, a lake, a river, a mountain or a desert? Or is it a city scene? Are there any other people around or you are alone? Are there birds or animals there?
You don’t even have to limit yourself to one sanctuary, you could have several depending on your mood and needs at the time you want to get away from it all. Or it could be one sanctuary where the seasons change the landscape around you.
The important thing is that you create a space where you feel calm and connected with yourself. A place where you can feel inner peace. A place where you can think and gain clarity. A place where you can go whenever you need to get away from it all. A place that is just yours.
inner sanctuary
Use this inner sanctuary at times of stress or anxiety. Use it whenever you feel overwhelmed by life and you need time alone. Use it when you need to make a decision or contemplate choices. Use it when you want to feel connected to yourself.
I love using my inner sanctuary to help me escape from the world and connect to myself.
I would love to hear about your experiences with your inner sanctuary.
How many times have you procrastinated or put things off because you have dreaded doing them? Or just found that other things keep getting in the way and stopping you doing that one thing you must do today? In my experience whenever I have done this, the thing I had to do has always been easier than I imagined it. Our imaginations are very good at creating the worst case scenario or making the task seem more difficult.
After the task is accomplished I often think that was easier than I though it would be. I’d imagined the task to be much more complicated, more time-consuming and to challenge me much more etc. The next time you find yourself putting something off, procrastinating or just outright avoiding doing something, ask yourself why?
Ask yourself if you have imagined it will take too long, be too complicated, cause you too much stress etc. Then do some gentle tapping to help you let go of these things your imagination is putting in the way of you completing your task.
Example tapping statements:
Even though I don’t have enough time to do this task, it’ll take way too long and demand too much of me, I accept my feelings anyway
Even though I’m procrastinating over this task, I choose to let go of all my worries and concerns about it
Even though I keep finding myself doing lots of other things instead of that one thing I know I really need to do, I accept myself anyway
Even though I know I really should do that task, I feel far too stressed to actually start it right now and I’m willing to accept all my feelings about this
Even though my imagination has made this task into a monster, I choose to go easy on myself and trust I can do it
Remember to tap using your own words whenever possible. Really tune in to how you feel and why you keep putting your tasks off. Keep tapping until you feel all your fears, worries, doubts etc have gone and you feel ready to do your task.
You can use your imagination to imagine your task is now really easy to complete. But always tap away any fears, doubts, worries and stress first.
Many people report that when they are upset, worried, scared, anxious etc they hold their breath. This is not something we do consciously but we often become aware of it after a little while. What we are less aware of is when we do it without realising it. We very often breathe too shallowly anyway and again most people aren’t aware of doing it. So a good practice to take up is to do some deep breathing every day.
Pick something that you will remember easily such as checking your breathing every time you go to the bathroom or answer the phone. Then just spend a minute or two focusing on your breathing. Breathing in and out slowly and deeply through your nose. Whenever you notice your breathing throughout your day, choose to breathe slowly and deeply.
Make it a habit to check your breath regularly throughout your day. This is an easy way to reduce stress and anxiety and increase our energy levels.
Have you ever felt too overwhelmed by your emotions? You feel like you can’t even admit to yourself that you have feelings about this situation because if you did they would all come flooding out and you just wouldn’t be able to cope.
When we feel this way we often stuff our emotions down because they feel too painful or overwhelming to deal with. But that can often lead to those feelings leaching out in other ways. Our shoulders become really tight and knotty, we have an ache in our stomach or we get bad headaches or migraines. This is our body’s way of telling us we need to deal with our feelings.
It can feel too scary to begin to address these feelings because we don’t want to feel out of control or overwhelmed by them. So firstly, please be very gentle with yourself.
You might find the following tapping helpful:
Even though it feels too painful to begin to deal with {this situation/these emotions}, I’m willing to be very gentle with myself
Even though I feel too overwhelmed by these emotions to begin dealing with them, I’m open to feeling safe and in control
Even though I can’t even admit to myself that I have these feelings, I’m willing to be kind and gentle with myself
Tap a few rounds of these type of statements until you feel calmer and more in control. Then try:
Even though I know I’ve been suppressing all these emotions, I choose to be able to let them out slowly in a way I can handle
Even though my body has been holding these emotions for me, I choose to be able to calmly let them be heard now
Even though these emotions have felt too painful and I’ve been scared of being overwhelmed by them, I choose to allow them out in a safe way now
Once you feel calmer about being able to deal with the situation/emotions then you can start tapping on them. You don’t have to dive right in and start tapping on them straightaway. You can even start by using very generic tapping statements like:
Even though I have all these emotions, I accept myself and my feelings
Even though these emotions have been difficult to face, I’m ready to deal with them now
Keep tapping using these generic statements until you feel you are ready to be more specific and get into the emotions themselves. Remember you are in control and can stop anytime if they start to feel too painful or overwhelming. You can of course tap on the feelings being too overwhelming and painful again.
EFT can be very gentle if used in this way. EFT is not designed to help us tough it out and push us on when we don’t feel ready. It is there to help us feel we can deal with our emotions safely and at a rate we can handle.
Remember to keep breathing and drink plenty of water.
With life rushing by us at such a hectic pace, it is hard to take time out. But we can all manage to find 5 minutes for ourselves in a day. What to do with that 5 minutes?
You can sit quietly and just breathe – watch your breath going in and out
You can tap several rounds on an issue that bothering you
You can just tap – don’t tune in to anything in particular and don’t say anything – just tap
You can tap in some positive affirmations
You can tap in some gratitude – speak out loud all the things you are grateful for
You see, you don’t need an hour. Most people would struggle to find that amount of time for themselves every day. Even the busiest of people can find 5 minutes a day.
Take 5
I hope this encourages you to take some much-needed time for yourself. We all face so many pressures, demands and stress. It is so important to do something to combat that every day. Doing something that takes just 5 minutes is one way of ensuring we do something beneficial.
What suggestions do you have for doing something for yourself in just 5 minutes a day?
For the first time in two months I feel like my old self again. I have moved into a temporary home whilst mine is refurbished post fire. I am finally back into my old routine and it feels so good! It feels like I have returned back to reality. Whilst things are not progressing as fast as I would like with my house, I am at least back to functioning on a day-to-day basis like I was before. I am so grateful to have had EFT in my life to help me through this difficult period.
This got me thinking about routines in general and how they affect us when they are changed (whether by choice or otherwise). Many teachers struggle at this time of year, having had 6 weeks off it can be difficult getting back into the new term routine.
Routine
Here is a tapping script that can help you if you are struggling to get back into your old routine or even start a new one!
Tap on the Karate Chop whilst repeating three times:
Even though I’m struggling to get into my routine, I’m open to accepting myself anyway
Even though I can’t seem to get into the flow of things, I’m ok
Even though I’m finding it hard to get going again, I accept my feelings about this
Eyebrow: I’m struggling to get into this routine Side of Eye: I can’t seem to get going again Under Eye: I’m feeling stressed about my routine Under Nose: Why does it seem so hard? Chin: I feel anxious because my routine doesn’t feel right Collarbone: Why is it so hard to get back into it? Under Arm: I can’t seem to slip back into my routine Top of Head: This routine feels so difficult
Eyebrow: I’m open to allowing it to happen at its own pace Side of Eye: Maybe it will get easier Under Eye: Maybe I’m thinking about it too much Under Nose: What if I took the pressure off myself a bit Chin: I know this is a good routine for me Collarbone: Maybe it will feel more natural soon Under Arm: What if I just relaxed more Top of Head: I wonder if I can enjoy this transition period
Remember to use your words where they are more appropriate and keep tapping to clear out any negative feelings you have before you try the positive reframes.
At different times our energy levels change and sometimes activities flow easily and at other times they seem like a struggle. Acknowledge things around you that could be influencing you, e.g. your energy levels, other people’s moods, the weather etc.
Keep tapping until you feel like you are in the swing of things!
Anxiety feels awful. You know that thinking about it makes it worse. You dread the anxiety escalating into a panic attack. You end up worrying about having anxiety or having a panic attack. Which in itself can bring on an attack!
Then you start to avoid certain situations and spend more time at home because it is easier than going through all that anxiety. The anxiety or worrying about the anxiety is very draining. It literally wears you out and you feel exhausted. Life becomes less enjoyable.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Learning EFT can really help you take control of your life again. You can use EFT to relax and calm your mind and body. You can reduce your symptoms e.g. fast beating heart, sweating, churning or knotty stomach, feeling sick, feeling like you will pass out etc. You can work on the triggers of your anxiety. This part is key. Working with a Practitioner can help you get to the underlying cause of the anxiety.
Figuring out when it started, what was going on in your life then etc. We can work very gently with any traumatic memories from your past with the movie technique. Working on these past memories helps clear out this stuck energy. Your body can then learn that it is safe now and let these symptoms go.
Tapping every day, helps restore calm and puts you back in control. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Even though I hate this anxiety and it feels so awful, I’m willing to accept myself anyway
Even though I hate feeling so sick because of this anxiety, I’m ok right now
Even though I can’t even go out for a meal without feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, I’m open to accepting myself anyway
Even though I shake like a leaf and my stomach churns in knots, every time I go out shopping, I love and accept myself anyway
Even though I worry about having a panic attack every time I have to go out and I feel so exhausted afterwards that I just want to lie down and go to sleep, I accept myself anyway
Tapping really can help as long as you are persistent and work on both your symptoms and the triggers that cause the anxiety. It is possible to enjoy life again and plan things that you avoided in the past.
It was reported this week that depression rates are up in the UK by 40% since 2007. Wow! More and more people are turning to antidepressants, many of which have side effects.
Antidepressants can help you feel better initially but often the effect wears off and the dosage needs to be increased. Whilst I am not anti antidepressants per say, they do not address the underlying issues. This is where EFT can help. Working with an experienced practitioner is highly recommended for issues like depression. With help you can discover the underlying issues and work through them to create lasting changes.
EFT as a technique is always there for you when you need it, so it is perfect to use by yourself at home in between sessions with your practitioner. There is a great article about ways of helping tackle depression by Dr. Mercola. He recommends among other things exercise (important for boosting your endorphins), diet and getting enough sunshine (for Vitamin D levels).
If you are suffering from depression, do get help. It doesn’t have to be a journey you do alone.
I had a chat with my Mum last weekend. She said that she can tell when my Dad is not tapping because he becomes short-tempered. He is much more mellow when he does regularly tap. I then chatted to my Dad and he said that sometimes when he is working away he is just too busy to tap or he forgets, as he is not in his normal routine.
I told my Dad about finger tapping and several ways to fit in some EFT that won’t take up much of his time. I’m personally a big fan of finger tapping and fitting in some tapping whilst doing other activities e.g. tapping whilst walking or waiting in a queue.
We only benefit from EFT when we make the time to do it. If we can find ways that don’t take up much time and are convenient we are more likely to do it regularly and to gain from the benefits.
Feeling calmer, being more mellow, not getting so stressed are all wonderful benefits. Personally I feel more balanced and centered and able to handle life’s challenges much easier when I tap every day. So I make it a priority to do so every day. I don’t always manage it but most of the time I do. Making a note of the benefits you get when you do tap can also help you make the time to tap. Noticing the downsides like being more short-tempered can also motivate you to tap regularly!
Whatever does it for you – being aware of the downsides or the benefits, I hope that you continue to tap every day.
Lately I feel I am being pulled in lots of different directions. I don’t feel I am giving anything 100% because so many different things are trying my attention. I am feeling the pressure and don’t quite know what to do next. So instead of doing anything, I am going to just sit down and tap. Sometimes you need to give yourself some space and time to reflect on things rather than jumping in and doing something!
Here are some phrases you can try if you are feeling this way too:
Even though I feel under pressure and I don’t know how to deal with all this stuff, I’m willing to accept myself anyway
Even though I feel under pressure and pulled in so many different directions, I’m ok anyway
Even though I feel so much pressure from so many different things, I accept myself anyway
Even though I feel all this pressure and I don’t feel I am doing anything 100%, and I really want to do so much more, I just don’t have enough energy for everything, I’m willing to look at this differently
Just keep tapping until you feel calmer and under less pressure. Remember to repeat the tapping any time you feel the pressure building again. Tap for all the different things pulling you in different directions.
You can also throw in some positives once the main negative pressure feelings have subsided.
Many people learn EFT and use it successfully to create a big shift in their life, e.g. overcome a fear, give up smoking or lose weight. Once they have achieved their goal they tend to forget about EFT. EFT is not just a tool for issues such as those already mentioned. It is very much a tool for everyday use. Most people face stress every day. Most people have some sort of challenge every day. It doesn’t matter what the size of the challenge or the stress, it is usually best to deal with it there and then if you can so that you can let it go. By not clearing our daily stress and emotions they tend to build up and build up. Eventually we start to feel overwhelmed. Think of a situation where you “lost it” over something trivial – e.g. dropping the milk. We know it’s not dropping the milk that has caused us to “lose it”, but all the other challenges, stress, niggles and emotions leading up to dropping the milk. So rather than waiting to deal with things until they seem overwhelming, it is much better for us to deal with them on a daily basis and prevent the overwhelm.
My advice is to make EFT a part of every day. Every day we wash and brush our teeth and hair etc. Making EFT a part of your daily routine can really help you reduce your overwhelm, stress and help you handle things much more calmly and easily. So make EFT a part of your daily routine and enjoy the benefits!
Ever have one of those weeks when everything seems to happen at once? It can seem like things are quiet for months and then suddenly loads of stuff seems to happen in the same week. What is that all about? I’m having one of those weeks this week! I am moving house and have also taken on extra work and had extra clients. How am I coping? Well, I’ll admit I’ve had the odd “wobbly” moment. But I’ve also had EFT to help me too. I know looking back at other times I’ve had like this that I had a tendency to have lots of “wobbly” moments and collapse in a big heap at the end of it! Burnt out and battered would be a good description of how I felt at the end of those busy periods.
Thankfully that doesn’t happen any more because I now use EFT to help me cope. Ok I can’t actually change things so that they are less busy (I would if I could!) but I can tap to help me stay calm and centered. It helps me put things into perspective and see the bigger picture. It can be useful to tap before things get too busy to prepare the way as it were for the busy times ahead. Then you can tap during your busy times when things start to feel like they are getting too much.
I often tap in the car whilst I am driving. In addition to helping me let go of any stress, anxiety and feeling snowed under etc, it helps me focus on my journey more easily. As I tap I can feel my body relax, my shoulders drop, my breathing get deeper and slower. I use finger tapping normally as this allows me to keep both hands on the wheel and tap the fingertips of one hand safely. In addition to this I will also tap at home working through all the emotions I am feeling and the physical sensations in my body (e.g tense, tight shoulders).
So, remember we can’t always change our circumstances but we can always choose how we handle them!
It is that busy time of year again! There is always lots to do – presents to buy and wrap, food to prepare, parties to attend, work to complete, family to visit etc. We can feel like we are being pulled in all different directions and like there is not enough hours in the day! We often feel overwhelmed and stressed and can get so caught up in the material things that we forget the spirit of Christmas (and I’m not talking about the alcoholic variety).
Christmas tree
So take some time out, sit down for a few minutes and do some tapping. Here is a tapping script that can help you. Write down your score on a scale of 0 – 10 first (where 10 is maximum stress/overwhelm etc).
Setup:
Tap on the Karate Chop whilst repeating three times:
Even though I’m so stressed about Christmas and everything I have to do, I still deeply and completely accept myself
Even though I still have loads of shopping to do, I deeply and completely accept myself anyway
Even though I feel overwhelmed by my to-do list, I love and accept myself anyway
Eyebrow: I’m stressed about Christmas Side of Eye: I’m so overwhelmed by my to-do list Under Eye: I’ve got way too much to do Under Nose: And not enough hours in the day Chin: I’ll never get it all done Collarbone: Why didn’t I start earlier? Under Arm: I always leave it to the last minute Top of Head: It’s always a rush and panic at the end
Eyebrow: I wish I could plan things better Side of Eye: Why do I have to do everything anyway? Under Eye: I feel so stressed, I’ve got so much to do Under Nose: I don’t have the time to buy all the presents, Chin: all the food, prepare the house, do the wrapping Collarbone: It’s all too much for me to do Under Arm: I hate feeling so stressed about Christmas Top of Head: I can’t enjoy myself because I’ve got too much to do
Eyebrow: I’m open to thinking about this differently Side of Eye: What if could prioritise my to-do list Under Eye: Maybe I can get some help off my family Under Nose: Maybe I can take some time out to prioritise Chin: What if I can feel calmer about my to-do list Collarbone: Maybe I can get it all done if my family helps me Under Arm: What if I enjoyed getting some help Top of Head: I’m open to enjoying myself as I do all these things
Use your words where appropriate to really tune in to how you feel. Keep tapping until you feel calmer and more centered.
EFT is always there for us right at our fingertips, ready to help us when we need it. Remember that you need to look after yourself this Christmas. Making some time every day (even for 5 minutes) will help you stay calm and able to cope with all the extra things you need to do at this busy time of year.
It is that busy time of year again! There is always lots to do – presents to buy and wrap, food to prepare, parties to attend, work to complete, family to visit etc. We can feel like we are being pulled in all different directions and like there is not enough hours in the day! We often feel overwhelmed and stressed and can get so caught up in the material things that we forget the spirit of Christmas (and I’m not talking about the alcoholic variety).
So take some time out, sit down for a few minutes and do some tapping. Here is a tapping script that can help you. Write down your score on a scale of 0 – 10 first (where 10 is maximum stress/overwhelm etc).
Setup:
Tap on the Karate Chop whilst repeating three times:
Even though I’m so stressed about Christmas and everything I have to do, I still deeply and completely accept myself
Even though I still have loads of shopping to do, I deeply and completely accept myself anyway
Even though I feel overwhelmed by my to-do list, I love and accept myself anyway
Eyebrow: I’m stressed about Christmas
Side of Eye: I’m so overwhelmed by my to-do list
Under Eye: I’ve got way too much to do Under Nose: And not enough hours in the day
Chin: I’ll never get it all done Collarbone: Why didn’t I start earlier?
Under Arm: I always leave it to the last minute
Top of Head: It’s always a rush and panic at the end
Eyebrow: I wish I could plan things better Side of Eye: Why do I have to do everything anyway?
Under Eye: I feel so stressed, I’ve got so much to do Under Nose: I don’t have the time to buy all the presents,
Chin: all the food, prepare the house, do the wrapping
Collarbone: It’s all too much for me to do
Under Arm: I hate feeling so stressed about Christmas
Top of Head: I can’t enjoy myself because I’ve got too much to do
Eyebrow: I’m open to thinking about this differently Side of Eye: What if could prioritise my to-do list Under Eye: Maybe I can get some help off my family Under Nose: Maybe I can take some time out to prioritise
Chin: What if I can feel calmer about my to-do list
Collarbone: Maybe I can get it all done if my family helps me Under Arm: What if I enjoyed getting some help
Top of Head: I’m open to enjoying myself as I do all these things
Use your words where appropriate to really tune in to how you feel. Keep tapping until you feel calmer and more centered.
One thing that is guaranteed in this world is change. Sometimes it’s a change that we want and welcome. Other times we have changes forced upon us and we fight them. Even when it’s a change we want, we can experience resistance and negative emotions. How do we deal with all of that? EFT is there for us as usual, right at our fingertips. Here’s a tapping script that you might find useful to help you cope with change.
Tap on the Karate Chop spot on either hand whilst repeating out loud these 3 setups (or change the words to suit your situation):
Even though this change feels so hard and uncomfortable, I deeply and completely accept myself anyway
Even though I didn’t want this change and I don’t want to have to deal with it, I deeply and completely accept who I am and how I feel
Even though this change feels so difficult and I want things to stay the way they are, I choose to accept who I am and how I feel
Eyebrow: This change is so difficult and uncomfortable Side of eye: I’m so upset by this change Under eye: I don’t want this change Under nose: I didn’t choose this change Chin: Changes never work out for me Collarbone: I’m so resistant to this change Under arm: I wish this change didn’t have to happen Top of head: Why can’t things stay the same?
Repeat the above several times or change the words to suit how you feel, until you feel a reduction in the intensity. If you feel ready you can tap on these statements which focus on the solution:
Eyebrow: Maybe this change will be easier Side of eye: Maybe this time the change is for the best Under eye: What if this time it’ll be easier Under nose: What if things work out ok for me this time Chin: What if things go my way Collarbone: What if it turns out even better than I expected Under arm: What if it does work out for me Top of head: What if this change turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to me
Repeat the tapping as necessary and use your own words where appropriate. Tap on the specific changes that are happening in your life and how you feel about them, until you feel calmer and able to handle the situation.
Even though I’m worried of having a panic attack and not being able to handle it I choose to know I can get through it and feel normal again quickly
Even though I can’t handle having a panic attack and just want to take a tablet and go to bed to sleep it off, I choose to know it will pass and I can get through it
Even though I hate the feeling in my legs when I’m feeling anxious and having a panic attack I choose to get through it quickly and feel calm and normal again easily and quickly
Eyebrow: I worry I’ll have a panic attack
Side of Eye: I hate having these panic attacks
Under Eye: I wish I didn’t have these panic attacks
Under Nose: I hate feeling anxious
Chin: I can’t stand my legs feeling like jelly
Collarbone: I want to take a tablet and sleep it off when it starts
Under Arm: I just want to get away from these feelings
Crown of head: I just want it to be over
Now tap on the positives:
Eyebrow: I choose to be able to handle these strange feelings
Side of Eye: I know I’m ok even though I feel like this
Under Eye: I can get through this easily
Under Nose: My legs will feel normal again quickly
Chin: I know these feelings will pass quickly
Collarbone: It’ll all be over soon and I’m ok anyway
Under Arm: I choose to be able to handle these panic attacks
Crown of head: I can get through these panic attacks easily and quickly
I’m referring to listening to our inner talk. Those repetitive thoughts that we have day in day out. If things aren’t the way you want them to be, you can bet that your thoughts are repetitively focusing on what you don’t want, not what you do want.
So just take the time to listen to your inner talk. Make some notes about the thoughts that you are having. It is very important to not beat yourself up because you are having ‘negative’ thoughts. Just listen and observe them. Remember that what we resist persists!
So learn your inner dialogue first. Once you know what thoughts are repeatedly going on in your mind you can focus instead on the kind of thoughts you would like to have. Write a list of the kind of thoughts that are the opposite to your negative thoughts. Write them out in a positive way.
Any time one of those old negative thoughts pops into your mind just thank it and let it go. Be gentle with yourself. Then bring to mind one of your positive thoughts for a few moments. The more you focus on those positive thoughts the more the negative ones will turn up less often.
If you find it difficult to focus on the positive and negative thoughts seem to dominate your mind then tap along with this script.
Even though I’m so negative all the time, I accept my feelings anyway
Even though my thoughts are so negative all the time, it’s a life long habit, I still accept myself anyway
Even though I just can’t have positive thoughts, they’re always negative, I deeply and completely accept myself anyway
Eyebrow: I can’t have positive thoughts Side of eye: My thoughts are always negative Under eye: I’ve always had very negative thoughts Under nose: I’ve tried to be positive before Chin: It just didn’t work Collarbone: My mind just brought up more negatives Under arm: It feels like too much hard work Top of head: It’s just easier to think negative thoughts
Eyebrow: It takes too much energy to think positively Side of eye: It’s so hard to think positively Under eye: I just don’t have the energy to change my thinking Under nose: Negative thoughts are easy to me Chin: I find it really hard to have positive thoughts Collarbone: My mind is always negative Under arm: It’s natural for me to think negatively Top of head: I feels like I have to force myself to be positive
Eyebrow: I’m open to the possibility of changing this today Side of eye: I could just try this Under eye: Maybe it will work this time Under nose: What if it was easier this time Chin: I could be kinder to myself Collarbone: I could just let those negative thoughts go Under arm: Maybe I can practice this every day Top of head: I could be kind and patient with myself
Remember to keep tapping until you feel at ease with changing your thoughts to be more positive. If you still find yourself having a lot of negative thoughts then do some more tapping, focusing on the cause of your negative thoughts.
Practice makes perfect!
Remember the words of Buddha:
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.”
