I like to think things through.  

 A LOT.   

Because there's a feeling of security when thought goes into something. The more we think, the more we think we understand. If we put our minds to it, we feel a bit of certainty, maybe even a sense of rightness.  

The trouble is, our thoughts--as thoughtful as they are--sometimes are just not right.  In fact, sometimes, you can't trust them at all.  They're sneaky buggers.

For a few weeks now, my thoughts have been lying to me. 

Lately, I've been noticing my staff has been really stand-offish at my restaurant.  It's been taking me down, mentally and emotionally. I'd even call myself depressed.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized that my team has lost respect for me, that they feel I'm not working hard enough, and that they just don't like me at all. 

Until they threw me a giant surprise party last night.   

So much for my damn logic. 

Reader, in the words of my dear friend Mike Werckle: we need to stop believing our thoughts. Just because we think them doesn't make them "right."  Bad thoughts can make us spin out of control, spiraling downward over something that may not even be true.  And that's because thoughts tend to intermingle with our fears and insecurities, making us draw faulty conclusions that feel very real. 

With that, this over-thinker is off to spend a little more time observing what's happening and a little less time trying to think about everything all the time.  I leave you with a picture of me on my FORTIETH birthday this week.  No make-up, no filter, no glamour, but I've got a good life, and I'm looking forward to the next 40.  See you next Monday. -Em