When my grandson was visiting recently, we went out to play soccer. I had a key in my pocket which managed to drop out somewhere in the grass. Later, when I became aware that I had lost the key, I immediately went out to look for it.

Since I had learned some lessons from cleaning up after my dogs, I scoured the grass in a very systematic way. I started a pattern vertically from my house going back and forth about 3 feet apart. When I had covered the whole yard and still hadn't found the key I changed my pattern to a horizontal one going across the back of the house. When I was half way through the last sweep,  I found the key.

Even in this simple exercise I realized there were lessons to be learned. I had to remain focused and cover as much area as possible. Since the key was hidden behind blades of grass, I had to come on it from a certain angle, or it would not be visible. I had to change my point-of-view.

As with much in life, we are not aware of what we are not focusing on or of what remains out of sight. We do not know what we do not know. But, we act as if we do. We make assumptions, we pass judgement and we act on those. We are basing our thinking from our limited point-of-view.

Sydney Banks, a philosopher-teacher, said that thoughts were the brush you use to paint your world. Some painters choose to paint sombre, sad and dark paintings while others choose to paint cheerful, sunny, bright paintings. You choose the brush you want to paint with.

Judgements and assumptions are nothing but ideas, thoughts and sometimes mindless brain chatter. We do not need to believe or act on all our thoughts. We do not need to react to what we feel as a result of what we think. We can choose what we do, how we act.  We can be deliberate in our actions and thoughts.

That is why it pays to give attention to your thoughts  in the moment, and the feelings that result. This is how you learn to direct your mind.

If you are unhappy, is it that you are thinking about being unhappy? What else could you think about? You can choose what you want to think about. You choose the thoughts you want to think and where you want to focus. You control your mind.