Gratitude vs. Fear: A Tale of Two Walks

Welcome to the Anturas newsletter, where I share my thoughts, learnings, and failures to help you think, learn, and grow. If you enjoy it, please feel free to forward along to friends.

Quote I Loved: 

“Be where you are; otherwise, you will miss your life.” - Buddha

Things I Am Thinking About:

Yesterday morning I took a walk with Kel. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the mountains looked stunning. I paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and was overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude. I felt incredibly fortunate and in love with my life.

This sense of gratitude stayed with me throughout the walk and when I returned home. I went back to work and had an exceptionally productive day, completing tasks I'd been eager to finish.

In the afternoon, still enjoying the sunny 70-degree weather, I decided to take another walk. Despite the same beautiful conditions, this walk felt entirely different. When I returned home, I was filled with anxiety, second-guessing recent decisions, and worrying about my car making a strange noise.

Reflecting on these contrasting experiences, I realized one walk was filled with gratitude, while the other was overshadowed by FEAR (False Expectations Appearing Real). During the second walk, I was focused on future problems and projecting a negative outcome, letting my mind spiral into worst-case scenarios.

It’s remarkable how our brains can shift states so quickly. The only difference between these walks was my focus. When I focused on gratitude and nature, I felt content. When I fixated on potential problems, anxiety took over.

This is just a friendly reminder to myself that my mindset shapes my reality. Keep focusing on the present moment and appreciating what you have.

Questions I'm Asking Myself: 

What are three things I am grateful for today?

Favorite Photo From the Week:

Last week Katie, Kel's sister, visited! It's tough living so far from home but being able to show our loved ones the place we love makes it all worth it!

Till next week, be kind, be curious and work hard. 

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