Training the Mind Toward Possibility

(gentle music) Headspace Studio. (gentle music) Hi, it's Andy here, and welcome to Radio Headspace into Wednesday morning. So I wonder whether you are more of an optimistic person or a pessimistic person. We'll have days where we're more one or the other, but generally we tend to develop a pattern of one type of thinking over the course of a lifetime. Not so long ago, a few years back, I was with, he's an elderly chap who needed to go into town to get some things. And he experienced definitely I would say a long period of time, of negative cycles of thinking. Got very caught up in his mind and in sort of almost depressive type thoughts. And as we were driving into town, I was gonna help him with some things, carry some stuff. As we were driving in, I suggested a place to park, and immediately his answer was "there's no point in going there. We'll never get a parking space there. It's always full". And I said, "well, yeah, maybe, but maybe not. Maybe there will be a space. Let's just drive past and have a look". And we drove there and almost I would say to his frustration, there was a space. As we were just sort of driving in there, it started to rain a little bit and immediately he said, "ah, it's just my luck. Here comes the rain and we're gonna get wet, gonna have to use the umbrella". I'm like, "okay, but you have an umbrella and it's okay. Come on, let's go and find the things you need and I'll help you back with them". And one of the things he needed was a new computer, a new laptop, not far away from the car, it's probably sort of about a five minute walk, there was a sign outside a computer shop saying "win a laptop today". I mean, you couldn't have created something more compelling for someone who needed a laptop and was planning to get a laptop that day. For me, you know as signs go, I mean it was a literal sign on the sidewalk. Anyway, so I suggested to him that just go in, put your name down and then while we're walking around today and get your other things, you can come back and and see. And he looked at me and no joke, no sort of humor in his voice. He looked at me and he said "knowing my luck I'll probably win and I'll have to carry it back to the car". And I said "well that's what I'm here for today, just to help. I can carry it back to the car". But the idea that that would somehow be unlucky to win and therefore have to carry it back, I think demonstrates just how sometimes the mind can create a narrative so strong, that no matter how well life is going, no matter what presents itself in our path, we...