[To listen to an audio version of this blog: https://soundcloud.com/lex-mckee/blog-vinne-the-bouncer]

Like many of us, I have a passion for writing. Many writers hope that some of their sayings will become quoted by others - something we call a "signature quote". Like the "Just Do Its" of the World - our sayings can become part of our brand - part of our legacy. One of my favourite sayings is, "'Reality' leaves much to the imagination." I'm hoping that's deeply profound! And I hope it captures your imagination!

This saying reflects not only my experience but also my understanding of perception. The brain 'makes up' a lot of information in order to make sense of World about us fast enough to make split-second decisions. We 'fill in the gaps' in what we really sense in order to function effectively.

This works amazingly most of the time, but sometimes we can have an over-active imagination. Feeling low, is often an aspect of over-imagining that happens to us - and what will happen next. We use imagination to fill-in-the-gaps and extrapolate our assessment of circumstances into possible future scenarios - few of them being happy ones! We make up meanings too!

It's almost impossible to stop this but I'd like to introduce you to Vinnie, The Bouncer (or Boncer?) Vinnie, modelled on Vinnie Jones, is the Bouncer in my Bonce. Sometimes I have to throw out some of the imaginations from the Nightclub of my Mind. Vinnie acts as an interrupter of unhelpful thoughts. He says, "Oi! You! That's not my thaut! [tought], get arrrt! [out] of me 'ed!"

Of course, this is ridiculous, but it's actually the interruption I'm after - to interfere with an unhelpful pattern of thinking. And it works.

Vinnie's for hire. If you'd like to borrow my Bouncer and let him allow only best-dressed thoughts into your mind, go ahead, be my guest!

All the bestest.

Lex xx

A Moodscope member.