Mind Control: Do Yourself A Favor And Learn To Control Your Mind
Are you often stressed or depressed? Do you get sick frequently? What if there’s something you can do to change all of that? Would you spend the time and effort to do it? The fact is that there is something you can do to improve your physical, mental and emotional health – not to mention every other aspect of your life. Though it is easier said than done, all you have to do is learn to control your own mind.
Consider that your body is a reflection of your mind. The thoughts you are aware of (conscious) and those thoughts you aren’t aware of (unconscious) all seek expression in your physical form and life. If you’ve thought about this, it’s pretty obvious; but most people simply don’t think about such things. If you haven’t ever considered this reality, I’m sure it seems far-fetched, unlikely, hard-to-believe or difficult to understand. Nonetheless, this is the truth. This is how reality works.
Coming to grips with the fact that your thoughts count is the first step in learning to control your mind. It is a difficult step for many; but, if you don’t understand or believe how your mind shapes and controls your life, health and body, you won’t have any reason to focus your time and energy on learning mental discipline. After all, if thoughts are simply things that come and go – without having any affect at all on our lives – why bother learning to control your mind?
If you’re religious, consider that all religious icons – in one way or another – have said, “As a man thinketh, so it is done unto him.” If you’re more scientific in the way you approach the world, you should already be familiar with Albert Einstein’s opinion on the subject – a view shared by quantum physicists all over the world for nearly a century. If your interests are more practical, or if you are business-minded, then consider the words of Henry Ford, “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right either way.” No matter who you are, or what your beliefs, there is someone you trust who has hinted at the great secret of life: “It’s the thought that counts!” Accept it and move on.
Step two involves developing concepts of how the mind operates so you can learn to work with it to produce the results you desire. If you can imagine a television randomly switching from one channel to the next, you have an idea of how the average person’s mind works. Most people “channel surf” in their minds. But, if you see a television behaving in that way, you can bet that there’s someone holding a remote control that’s causing the erratic behavior. Whether their surfing is the result of boredom and lack of concentration, or they’re simply sitting on the remote control unconsciously changing the channel, the outcome is still the same – chaotic signals creating a chaotic experience.
You hold the remote control to your mind. You can use your brain to focus on the signals (thoughts) in your mind that you want to watch on the screen of your mind, or the screen of your life. It isn’t easy at first; but it is possible. Imagine trying to pick up a very heavy weight. You may not be able to at first; but, after some period of exercise – where you gradually increase the amount of weight you lift – you will eventually find that you can lift that heavy weight. Where your mind and thoughts are concerned, meditation is the “exercise” that increases your mental endurance. People meditate so that they can learn to focus for greater and greater periods of time – controlling distraction such as stray thoughts or extraneous noise and activity.
When you learn to control the thoughts you think, you will be able to control your life, emotions and health. Think about it, if you are stressed or depressed, you’re thinking about stressful and depressing things. If you could control your thoughts, why would you continue to think about depressing things? You can indeed learn to control your life by learning to control the mind. It takes effort, but it’s worth it.
Health And Wellness: Negative Thinking Makes You Sick
The more I study the mind and human behavior, the more amazed I am with humanity. I am amazed at our potential for greatness; and I am equally amazed at our potential for ignorance. The mind is a great ally or a powerful foe — depending, of course, on how you use it. This phenomenon is far reaching; but it is most evident in our many expressions of health. Plain and simple: Your mind can make you sick or well; it can kill you or heal you. The choice is yours.
In the past, I’ve understood the resistance most people have to this concept. But now, the effects of thinking on our health are so well-documented, well-known and so obvious that the typical skeptic seems not only ignorant, but bent on self-destruction. Religious people balk at scientific findings that our mind controls our health; while more scientific minds balk at religious notions of faith healing and health through prayer. No matter who you are or how your mind is arranged, there is no way around common sense.
Every religion teaches — in one way or another — that we are the products of our thoughts. “As a man thinketh, so it is done to him…” is but one of the ways religions teach us that our thoughts are important. And for those who have little use for religion, you still have a mind you are responsible for; so I’ll make it as simple as I can:
- When you think negative thoughts (worry, fear, anger, resentment, grief, etc…), you feel bad.
- What you’re feeling are the effects of the stress response that is activated whenever you think thoughts of a negative nature.
- When you think negative thoughts, you turn on your stress response.
- When your stress response is turned on, it turns off your immune system.
- The only thing that heals you or keeps you from getting sick is your immune system.
- When you think negative thoughts, you experience stress, your immune system shuts down, and you not only feel bad, but you open yourself up to illness.
It really is as simple as that: Negative thinking activates the stress response and suppresses the immune system; Positive thinking turns off the stress response and stimulates the immune system. You can argue, disagree, or simply refuse to believe your mind has so much power, but this isn’t a matter of opinion; this is common sense and a matter of basic science that is within the grasp of the average middle-school aged child. Science or faith, your job is the same: Master your thoughts and you will master your life. This may be easier said than done (after all, we have always referred to those who have achieved this level of self-control as, “Masters”), but there is very real value in making an effort to think more positively. Give it a try; you’ve got nothing to lose and potentially everything to gain.
Prayer: Questions and Answers about Prayer
Everyone knows something about prayer – whether they realize it or not. Even if you don’t use the word, “prayer,” the concept is an inescapable part of your daily life. Some people think they know how to pray and some think they don’t; but most people have only the understanding of prayer they were given as children. And that’s not a very clear – or deep – understanding of what prayer really is. Here are some of the more common questions and misconceptions I hear regarding prayer – along with some answers that might help you find a more useful or practical understanding of our spiritual nature and what and who we truly are.
Q. Do you have to be religious to pray?
A. Absolutely not. Prayer is thought; specifically, prayer is focused thought. And, we typically only focus our thoughts on those things that are truly important to us. Humans have always done this and, as a result, they’ve always found answers, guidance, deliverance, etc. The act of directing your thoughts inward – into your heart and mind – in order to change your situation in one way or another is older than any religion. Prayer isn’t the result of religion, in other words, religion is the result of prayer.
Prayer And Religion: Prayer Isn’t A Religious Thing, It’s Thought
Have you ever really thought about prayer – what it is, or why and how it might work? Most people don’t; they simply live their lives with the same simple understanding they were given as children: “Prayer is when you talk to God.” The biggest problem with that is the limited understanding of a child. Children don’t consider that “talking” is a way of converting our thoughts into vibrations in order to share those thoughts with others; nor do they truly understand the concept of a God that is “All things.” Consequently, most children grow up to be adults with childlike understanding and unfulfilled lives – simply because they don’t understand the most basic principle of life: “As you think, so it is done to you.” Prayer isn’t a religious thing, it is thought; and the way you think will determine the life you live – no matter what religion you subscribe to.
I once had a conversation about prayer with a very religious young man who, after a great deal of discussion about the mind and the power of our thoughts, asked to me, “But you do believe your prayers are answered because of your personal relationship with Jesus Christ, don’t you?” I grew up in a Christian household, going to Christian churches; and I understand the importance of a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ” to the Christian church and those who are invested in it. But the complete lack of conscious thought and understanding in that way of thinking never hit me as strongly as it did that day. At first I thought, “Have you not heard anything I said?” and then I realized that most devoutly religious people are relying on their memory of the things they have been told before – at home and in religious settings – by people they trusted and believed (or were afraid not to believe).
My answer to this man’s question is something that all Christians should consider. Believe what you wish to believe; but don’t let your beliefs blind you to the truth of who you are. Christians aren’t the only people who pray. Prayer was not invented by Christians; nor was it invented by the Church or any religion or religious establishment. Prayer takes many forms – even inside a Christian church. If God is Omnipresent (All things and all places), where exactly are you directing your words or thoughts? If God is Omniscient (All knowing), why vainly repeat the same rituals – or continue to state the obvious? Jesus taught, “As a man thinketh, so it is done to him,” and, “It is done to you according to your beliefs.” If you don’t believe the words He said, you will only get what the world around you gives you. Unfortunately, we have been led to believe that, “Believe in me,” means, “Believe the stories others tell about me,” rather than, “Believe the things I say and the stories I tell about YOU.” Jesus said, “You will do these things and much greater,” and, “All things are possible to he who believes.” Do you really believe this?
Obviously, if your efforts to create or find happiness in your life have been thwarted, or unsuccessful thus far, it is probably easier to cling to a dogma you were given by others than it is to ponder the mysteries of the mind as taught by Jesus and other great spiritual leaders who have always told us, “Man often becomes what he believes himself to be.” It is easier to memorize stories and follow rules than it is to accept personal responsibility for your own life and the thoughts that create it. It is easier because the world is full of people willing to tell you what to think, what to believe, what to say and what to do. But it is also more difficult – more painful and unfulfilling. Thoughts are things; and you are responsible for yours and the things they create. All wise people know this. All religions teach this. This wisdom, in fact, predates religion and has always been taught by the wisest among us.
If you want to keep believing that, in order to have your prayers (thoughts/desires) “heard” and answered, you must believe certain stories or have a personal relationship with a specific entity, then do that. Likewise, if you want to believe that, even if you meet the above criteria, there’s no guarantee that your prayer will be answered, and if it is, there’s no guarantee that the answer will be, “Yes,” then by all means do that. But, if you’re doing all of this because you are a Christian, consider that Jesus was a Jew and He was speaking to and teaching Jews and Gentiles alike the same wisdom that had been taught in their holy texts for thousands of years before anyone could have had a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Prayer works because it is thought. Good thoughts are seeds for good fruits; which is why Jesus said things such as, “Fear not; be of good cheer,” “Judge not,” “Do unto others…,” and “As you thinketh, so it is done to you.” Consider these things. Then, consider your constant mind set and the life that it has created. Finally, if you want to change your life, simply change your mind and the thoughts you entertain.
If these words have upset you, angered you, or caused you fear or consternation, just remember that Jesus had the same effect on most of the people he shared this wisdom with; they already had a religion and religious beliefs they lived by, and these words were shockingly different from the interpretations they had been taught their entire lives by their own religious leaders. In fact, the very people Jesus was trying to help and enlighten sought to harm him many of the times He spoke these words. Further, it was this “clarification” of ancient holy teachings that caused the church leaders to have Jesus put to death. Then consider that Truth always goes through 3-stages: Ridicule; Violent opposition; and, finally, Acceptance. Judgment, fear, anger and violence are always signs that the truth has not yet been realized and accepted. Think about it; then take charge of your life by accepting responsibility for your thoughts.
Don’t Worry; Be Happy — Rewrite The Way You Think And Feel
You don’t have to be unhappy. Happiness is truly a choice; it is a choice of thoughts and perceptions. If you think happy thoughts, you will be happy. If you think sad thoughts, you will be sad. If you think angry thoughts, you will be angry. If you think worrisome thoughts, you will experience anxiety and worry. You choose your thoughts. You can only think one thought at a time, so your choice of thoughts determines whether you are happy, sad, angry, etc…
The wisest men throughout history have always reminded us that we are the product of our thoughts. “As you thinketh,” said Jesus, “so it is done to you.” Not a Christian? No problem. Buddha said, “Man often becomes what he believes himself to be.” Gandhi, along with prophets, priests, monks, and icons from every other religion have echoed this same wisdom — in every culture and religion on the planet. You simply have to think about it and learn to apply it in your own life.
Not religious or spiritual? No problem. Henry Ford said, “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right either way!” And we’ve all heard saying such as, “It’s the thought that counts,” or “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” You choose your thoughts and your thoughts determine how you feel and what you do. It is simple — whether we like it or not. You can carry on as if other people and their actions determine how you think and feel; but your lack of understanding or focus doesn’t change natural law.
So get with the program. If you’re unhappy, you now only have yourself to blame. Before you read this, you may have been able to blame others; but now that you’ve heard this, you are responsible for your thoughts and emotions. Even if you don’t believe this, it still falls on you to investigate any possibility that you could be controlling the way you feel and act by the way you control — or fail to control — your thought processes. It may seem difficult at first — mental laziness is indeed a difficult habit to break — but you can choose your thoughts.
So, if you’re prone to worry, anger, unhappiness, and other negative or depressing emotions, take an honest inventory of your thoughts and beliefs. You can add to, or delete from, this list any thoughts you chose to — just like the programs in a computer. I guarantee that, if you are chronically unhappy and stressed out, your thoughts are chronically unhappy and stressful. Make a conscious effort every day to rewrite the way you think; and, before you know it, you’ll change the way you feel. Change your mind; change your life. It really is your choice.
Prayer Works For Everyone: The Secret Is In Learning How To Think
It may seem like an odd thing to say; but prayer truly does work for everyone. This isn’t to say that everyone is using this innate faculty to their benefit, or to its fullest potential; but all thoughts truly do become manifest in one way or another – at some point in time. The secret to using prayer effectively in your own life lies in fully understanding the nature of prayer; and, to do that, you must consider the fact that all of us – good, bad, Christian, Jew, Muslim, etc – have access to prayer and it isn’t only the “good” people who are able to use their thoughts to create their futures.
When I speak of prayer, I’m speaking of the ability to silently – in your thoughts – issue forth imagery or concepts that you wish to experience in the future. We “transmit” these ideas to some version of a creative agency that was determined for us by our upbringing: If we are Christian, this agency is called, “God,” “Jesus,” or one of many Saints; if we are Muslim, we issue these requests to “Allah;” while other groups visualize, imagine, and otherwise name this same agency according to their own understanding, beliefs, upbringing, programming, etc. In other words, most people believe – in one way or another – that their thoughts have some bearing on their future.
Even those who aren’t religious, or oriented in any particularly religious way, are aware of the creative nature of their thoughts. Scientist are often limited by their own rigid belief systems that tell them what is and is not possible based on what they have read or been told before. Some scientist, however, have glimpsed the creative nature of thought; we call these people inventors, visionaries, and inventors among other things. These are the scientists who, rather than being blinded or limited by their thoughts, are driven and guided by their thoughts. They use their thoughts to ask questions and receive answers – and then to translate the answer into actions that shape their thoughts into a firm reality.
The world, in other words, isn’t divided into religious people and non-religious people so much as it is divided into those who understand their thoughts and beliefs and how to direct and use them – and those who do not. The vast majority of the world is driven by fears and superstitions and is far too busy thinking about what they should and shouldn’t do to concentrate their thoughts into a pure form that is truly productive and creative. The vast majority of “religious people” are more focused on what to think rather than how to think – placing importance in stories they were told as children rather than searching the stories for grains of true wisdom. Is it more important, for instance, to memorize a story about Jesus than it is to understand what He may have meant when He said, “As a man thinketh, so it is done to him…”?
Good people pray for things that happen and good people pray for things that don’t happen. Bad people are also thwarted in their thoughts and prayers; but some “bad” people are quite adept at formulating ideas that come to fruition. The world, in fact, has always been run by such people – people who do things considered morally and ethically wrong, but who are able to translate their thoughts and plans into physical reality as promised and taught by every holy text ever written in any religious tradition. You see, prayer works for everyone; you need only understand what prayer is and how to use your thoughts effectively. Your prayers, however, are always answered – even if you have little understanding and very sloppy habits and patterns of thinking. Your answers may simply be difficult to understand or recognize as the product of your scattered, fearful, or chaotic thinking. All thoughts produce something – no matter who is doing the thinking.
Secrets of Prayer: Making Prayer Work For You
If you’re like me, then there are things in life that you’d like to change. In fact, most people spend their lives trying to change things in one way or another. Throughout history, some people have intuited their ability to use their own thought processes to engage a creative agency and influence changes. Many of these same people have contemplated and perfected the use of their thoughts — though it is not the easiest thing for human beings to master. Though there are many names for this innate human ability, many people simply call it, “prayer.” And you can indeed use your thoughts to effectively create practically any change you truly desire — if you understand some things very few people ever think about.
One of the first things you need to understand is that prayer is not a “magic trick” to be used to conjure unlikely circumstances or unbelievable events. Prayer is a function of human thought that requires certain elements in order to be used effectively and reliably. There are many ways humans use their faculties of thought and belief; but most people do not use their thoughts and awareness in such a way as to create the changes they desire in their lives. Most people use their thoughts to create worry and stress and to sabotage themselves by dwelling on negativity rather than focusing on their goals and desires.
It is not my desire to convince you to trade your belief systems for mine; I am only encouraging you to look more deeply into the details of your own though processes — specifically those you have been calling, “prayer.” Most people grow into adults with the same basic beliefs they were GIVEN as children — with little thought ever given to the reality that, if they had been born in a different place, they would have been given different beliefs. Reality is not a function of geography or culture; only belief systems depend on where you were born or enculturated. If you were born to different parents, you would believe different things; but that doesn’t change the underlying nature of reality. The wise ones in every culture have always realized the limitations of the stories we tell to try and make sense of creation and reality. You can also transcend the limitations you were given as a child and consciously become more aware of the power of your own thoughts.
Every religion and culture has a basic understanding that, “Man often becomes what he believes himself to be,” as Buddha said, or, to quote the words of Jesus, “As a man thinketh, so it is done unto him.” Every society has had its wise men who have always reminded us that, “It’s the thought that counts,” and that “If you can believe it, you can achieve it.” Yet how much time do you spend contemplating the nature of your thoughts? If you’re like most people, you invest a great deal of time thinking about the problems in your life but very little time shaping your thoughts or considering their creative power. This tendency to focus on the negative is often attributed to our innate human nature; but creativity is also innate to humans. We need only spend time learning to consciously direct our thoughts, and actually doing it, if we wish to take more active control over the circumstances and events in our lives.
Consider what most people call, “prayer.” They close their eyes, bow their heads, and mentally dialogue with an unseen agency they hope will act on their thoughts in such a way as to form something new in their lives. Most people do this habitually at certain times of day, or ritualistically in certain circumstances or environments — such as church, etc. However, even people who pray quite regularly often spend much more time using their same mind and thought processes to ponder, contemplate, imagine, or otherwise dwell on negativity and things they don’t want in their lives. Has it ever occurred to you that a thought is a thought? Have you always believed that the creative agency you send your prayers to simply ignores the rest of your thoughts — discarding all messages originating from you except those you only occasionally give your attention to? What does your life tell you? Does the evidence you are surrounded by look more like your occasional prayers, or does it more closely resemble the thoughts you are constantly thinking? Be honest with yourself; I’ve already discovered the answer for myself.
If you want to make prayer work for you, all you need to do is learn to pay attention to yourself — your desires, your surroundings, your thoughts, and your tendencies. Learn to dwell on positive things; and learn to stay focused on the things you desire until you can truly feel a belief in those things growing within you. Things are done to you according to your beliefs; but you must truly believe in your dreams in order to make them become reality. Of course there may be other things you need to do — other actions you must take in order to realize your goals and dreams — but you must pay attention to your thoughts in order to hear your inner guidance; and you must pay attention to the world around you in order to see the answers to your prayers unfold for you. Prayer is thought we give special attention to. Why not learn to think more effectively and give special attention to the things you want?
"Common Knowledge" Hides The Truth
“Well, everyone knows that’s not possible! The experts say so!” We’ve all heard words like these before; they’re usually heard just before someone does something new and innovative. When you hear people saying such things, saying what isn’t possible, or citing “common knowledge,” run the other way. “Parrots” and nay-sayers are a dime-a-dozen; but creative minds — geniuses and innovators — are rare indeed. Seek the “Fifth Expert;” not the 4-out-of-5 who agree that they all heard the same thing in the same place from the same people.
Common knowledge blinds people to the truth. When the Wright brothers said we could fly in airplanes, common knowledge boldly declared otherwise. What was the truth? Time always reveals the answer to that question: The masses are almost ALWAYS wrong. Why? Because the masses believe what they’re told and look no further; that’s what common knowledge is — whatever the masses have been told. If you find yourself in a large group — who are in agreement on something — you are probably in the wrong group. When there are two large groups who disagree with each other, they are probably all wrong. Think about it.
Consider presidential elections. “My guy is better than your guy.” “No, my guy is better than your guy!” Both are wrong. Nobody is better than anybody else; and, whoever wins the election will still be a politician — there’s no way around that. Some do more good than others, but in the end, we have politicians serving the interests that installed them in their seats of power. Half of the people are going to be displeased because the system is simply designed that way; and politicians who seek the highest seats are typically cut from the same cloth. True seekers of knowledge and enlightenment don’t seek high office, power, or control. Think about it.
But the television and other media tell us what to think about these people; they tell us who they are, what they’re going to do, etc, etc, etc. And the masses believe it. “Everyone knows…” The truth is that everyone simply THINKS they know; and, out of fear of the unknown, they turn those thoughts into beliefs. Common knowledge is nothing more than common belief systems. This is how media and advertising work: The more people you tell, the more people you will be able to convince. It’s the law of averages and it works. We are bombarded with information and the person with the most money and technology usually wins. These are the people who sway public opinion; this is the greatest source of common knowledge.
But there is also the element of ignorance built into common knowledge. Common minds typically think that a thing is impossible simply because it has never happened before and they don’t understand how to make it happen. Just think about the Wright brothers, space travel, cellular phones, computers, etc… Everyone knows such things aren’t possible until they see them with their own eyes. That’s common knowledge. Of course, it is obvious — if you take the time to think about it — that all of these things were indeed possible before anyone saw them with their own eyes. Otherwise, none of them would have happened. All things are possible.
In 1899, the director of the U.S. Patent office said that the office should be closed because everything that could possibly be invented had already been invented. Think about the ignorance that is so prevalent — even at the highest levels of government. Common knowledge would have agreed with this statement. But it couldn’t have been further from the truth. More things have been invented since that statement was made than had been invented in all human history leading up to that statement. Now, who’s to say what’s possible, or what may or may not be invented or discovered in the future? Common knowledge — that’s who.
Common Sense Is NOT Common Knowledge; And It Isn’t Really Common
“Everyone knows humans can’t fly!”
That statement is an example of what was once common knowledge. A much more accurate statement would have been: “As far as I know, humans have not yet flown in powered airplanes.” As a species, we humans have an incredible ability to intuit what is possible and a very bad habit of declaring what is not. From the beginning, wise men have told us, “All things are possible;” yet the more “common” humans cling to the smallness of their own awareness as if it were some kind of truth — even though common sense tells us that there is that which has been done and that which has simply not been done YET. It takes common sense to find the truth that is not yet common knowledge.
The point I wish to make is this: Common knowledge is common; but common sense is not. And what does this mean? It simply means that most people are “common,” ordinary, not that remarkable, and prone to fear and ignorance — the emotions that cause us to cling desperately to what we’ve been told as if it were the truth and our lives depended on it. The “common” person is in debt, unhappy (most of the time), unhealthy, in a typical, unfulfilling relationship, un-creative and living a life of mediocrity — by their own observation and definition (not simply my judgments). Just look around and you’ll see what I mean.
If any of those things are true for you, then consider that some of us — like the Wright brothers, for instance — are able to transcend mediocrity by ignoring common knowledge, common “wisdom,” and popular beliefs. The individuals I am referring to tune-in to a much higher source of intelligence — a source we all have access to. Each one of us has a common link to a sense, or “knowing,” that will answer our questions and guide us to our destination if we only establish that destination firmly in our minds. I am referring to a common sense all humans have but few ever use. We each have the ability to ponder — to say, “I wonder how…” And, we each have the ability to tune-out the everyday mundane world that keeps us from hearing the answers that always come when questions are asked. Most of us, however, simply live our lives on auto-pilot — following the herd wherever common knowledge leads them.
Rare are the individuals who quite their minds and ask great questions, wait for answers and guidance, and then act boldly on the inspiration that follows. These people are often called, “mad,” or “insane,” by the average person; after all, everyone knows the impossible is impossible! But the impossible doesn’t really exist. There is only that which has not yet been attempted or achieved. The un-reachable goals are not really unreachable; they are simply reserved for the extraordinary person who uses their common sense to achieve them. These are the people history remembers for their actions and accomplishments. But, as you watch helicopters fly overhead, or jet your way across the Atlantic ocean, it isn’t the rickety flying machines built in a bicycle shop that are so important and so worth remembering; what’s important to remember is that common knowledge declared these things impossible until very uncommon people tapped into common sense and made these things real.
Don’t be afraid to simply stop doing what you’ve always done — or stop believing what you’ve always believed — especially if it isn’t working for you. When 4-out-of-5 experts declare a thing to be true, seek out the 5th expert — the one who dares to be uncommon! You can be that expert. You don’t need to go to school to learn things everyone else knows; you need only go inside to the place where your common sense lives, and listen to it. “Ask and you shall receive;” but you must be listening to hear. Common sense is not a commonly-used commodity; but that isn’t common knowledge. You can fly! Everyone knows that — now; it’s common knowledge. But just remember: There was a time when it wasn’t.
When You Complain, You Remain
If you aren’t happy with your life or some aspect of it, consider the way you typically think and talk about your problems. How often do your remind yourself and others of the burdens you are carrying? How often do you think about how unhappy you are or how much you hate your life — or some part of it? When you seek answers to life’s “problems,” or guidance to living a happier life, the advice and wisdom you will most often find reminds you that your life will change when your thoughts change: “Don’t worry, be happy;” or “As you think, so it will be done to you.” It may not have occurred to you, but you cannot think of more than one thing at a time; so try asking yourself how you plan on creating a new, happy life by continuing to dwell on the “old, unhappy life” you have been experiencing. How can you complain about problems without remaining in that state of negativity?
The simple answer is: YOU CAN’T! It is impossible to make yourself happy, or create new happy circumstances in your life, by thinking, talking, and otherwise dwelling on the negative aspects of your life — what’s wrong with life, what this person should do differently, how that person offended you, why you are justified in your anger or misery, etc… You may be right about all of your judgments and opinions. Good for you! But would you rather be RIGHT, or HAPPY? I know lots of miserable people who think that their beliefs are the only RIGHT beliefs, and their actions are the RIGHT actions, etc. But I also know lots of HAPPY people who don’t care so much about who’s right and wrong; they’re too busy living happy lives to complain and ruin things for themselves. How many HAPPY “complainers” do you know? That’s right; me neither. Did it ever occur to you that perhaps the complaining has something to do with their problems and continued suffering? That’s right; it does. No matter how bad your life is, or how justified you are complaining about your current situation, just remember: When you complain, you remain.
If you are a complainer, you may hear yourself saying something like, “Well, yeah, but he really DID do that thing and gave me a reason to complain. I didn’t start complaining until I had a reason to! My complaints about what he did aren’t what caused him to do it!” Zoom your focus out a little and dial-up your honesty. Is that really all you have to complain about? Is that really the first thing you’ve complained about? Are you saying that you’ve been happy up until this one event and now you have suddenly forgotten how to be happy? If you complain about things, you complain about things. That has very little to do with what is outside of you; complainers have a knack of finding things to complain about. Go back to the old wisdom and logic; and start now focusing your thoughts on happy things and things you wish to experience. It may be some time before your life makes a dramatic turn for the better; but joyfully remind yourself that you are just burning-through all of the negativity you ordered-up in the past — with past complaints that simply haven’t been delivered yet. And be grateful for those “negative events” and for the fact that those things are reminding you how powerfully creative your thoughts are; they are reminders to be diligent in your positivity in order to create a more positive life.
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The Belief Formula
