“A quiet mind makes way for the soul to speak.” (Me)

The mind is an abundant entity — spewing, spawning, spilling, speaking, squeaking, splaying, spraying, saying, replaying, spouting, sprouting, shouting, re-routing, doubting and outing our thoughts, often in ways that seem beyond our control.

Just today, I was about to run to the store, but thought about something I wanted to do beforehand. Then I rinsed out my coffee cup and my mind had already moved onto a whole new topic and I’d forgotten what task, exactly, I needed to do before leaving.

Perplexing.

You might say my thoughts got away from me.

It happens quite often. All the time. Especially at night and in the wee hours of the morning.

I battle against it but it is a constant battle. 

It’s almost as if my mind has a mind of its own. It’s working against me — or maybe for me. Or with me.

Or maybe a little of all three. I’m guessing none of you reading this can relate to this phenomenon — written with a wry sense of sarcasm.

All of you, surely, are always and totally in control of every one of your thoughts. They are orderly and they make sense. You never think of pink cotton candy when you are supposed to be considering whether to put orange or yellow cheese sauce atop the green broccoli. Your thoughts are always on point. I wish I could say the same.

The mind is a curious thing. It is part of you, but it seems to operate on its own. 

The rest of your physical body doesn’t operate under these terms. Your arms carry the grocery bags home from the store. When you have an itch on the tip of your nose, your fingers scratch that exact spot. Your legs walk, one foot in front of the other to get you from point A to point B.

But your mind? It wanders wherever it wants to go.

That’s why awareness is so important. Your mind will tell you things that, in all honesty, it shouldn’t. It will tell you people don’t like you. Or that you aren’t good enough, or nice enough or whatever enough. It will tell you to judge others for their ugly T-shirt or ugly hair or ugly car. It will lead in you places that are scary, threatening and dire. Your mind accentuates your faults. It dwells upon your weaknesses. It forces you into dark corners. Your mind will tell you things that are not true. 

This doesn’t always happen. But it can, and it often does when you least expect it. When you aren’t aware. 

Your thoughts are valuable. They are precious. They are priceless. They can sway off course and go off track without your ever noticing. And they can affect you in the most significant of ways.

That is why it is important to guard them. To guard your thoughts. To protect them like they are a treasured possession, because they are. 

You are your thoughts. It seems so simple, but negative thoughts breed negative actions and negative feelings. Positive thoughts have the opposite effect.

It may sound easy to choose positive thoughts. But remember, the mind has a mind of its own.

Choosing our thoughts is a minute by minute, moment by moment endeavor. It is never-ending. 24/7. Even in your sleep. 

But you know what? Thoughts can become habits. And habits become easier with time. Recognizing a negative thought is the first step into turning away from it and finding a positive one. The more you turn negative into positive, the more natural it will become. Say the positive out loud (even a whisper will do) if that makes it easier at first. Soon it won’t take any thought at all. 

Practice guarding your thoughts and soon that guard duty won’t seem so intensive. Soon it will come naturally. 

Negativity is all around us, waiting to pounce and it may seem overwhelming at times. One of the most valuable possessions we have to fight against any negativity is our own thoughts. Guard yours like the treasure they are and you will find the peace within that has been waiting patiently.

Then your mind will only wonder one thing:

What took me so long?

— Jill Pertler’s column Slices of Life appears regularly in the Times. She can be reached at 

slicescolumn@gmail.com.