Format: A1 (594 x 841mm/ 23.4 x 33.1 inch), Acrylic on water colour paper.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

Sometimes it feels as if spears of anger, rejection, or sadness are raining down on us constantly.

But this is life - we cannot control situations, but our reactions to them.

The first spear is the pain we experience; when we find ourselves struck by a storm of outside adversity.

The second spear is self-pity, anger, rage, and wallowing - this is where the true damage is done as this kind of thinking drains us of our mental strength.

So how can we bring out our inner warrior to fight off negative thinking?

We focus on what we CAN control.

It helps to put a limit on self-destructive thoughts; maybe spend an hour or two, a day perhaps, but not longer.
Because the things we think about determine the quality of our mind.

Every action is driven by it.

So let us not allow the second arrow to hit – as soon as we feel the first, let’s get back up on that horse with courage and
determination.

Remember Marcus Aurelius' very wise words:

“You have power over your mind — not outside events.
Realize this and you will find strength.”