Surely, the mental
energy you're giving current or old issues is accomplishing something, right?
It depends on if you're thinking or processing.
When Bob Proctor and
Leslie Householder met, he told her she was fairly balanced between right and
left brain but was more of a creative type. She disagreed and informed him she
was a math major, analytical, and that she constantly thought about her life and
everything; that she was always in thinking mode. She admitted she was a
processor. (Processing is when you hash out data and details, real and
imaginary, whether to others or to yourself, more than once—often WAY more than
once.) Bob responded: “You're not thinking. You're mind is busy; but you're not
thinking.” Leslie said she, at first, wondered if she'd just been insulted then
went on to process his comment for a
year, until she could see the difference: “When
you THINK, you create a NEW idea.”
A new idea. Not a
rehashed old one. New means you've
never thought of this particular “something” or thought of it in quite this
way, or had this idea or seen whatever in this new light. Leslie added that Bob
said her tendency to process instead of think was what prevented her desired
positive changes from happening. And so it is for us all.
Shifting this can be a
challenge because your mind may be well-practiced to replay and replay and
replay (ad nauseum) what happened,
how it might have gone (but didn't), a worse-case scenario, moments from the
past, conversations you've had or wish you'd had or plan to have. And in all
that mental activity, you never once focus on a new way to approach the issue
or allow in an original idea.
You might also replay
core beliefs and contrasts at the same time you strive to affirm new ones. Your
conscious mind may affirm: “I attract/match my vibration with abundance,
prosperity, and well-being.” Your subconscious, however, is attuned to deep-level
programs running, evidenced by what you've experienced (your experiences “prove”
something, don't they?). As author
Barbara Berger points out, every thought
you think is an affirmation. That should give us all pause.
The ego-aspect of your
conscious mind says things like, “But, I don't see what I want right now. I
want it yesterday. How long do I have
to wait?!” or “I never have original ideas” and “EVERYTHING IS A STRUGGLE!” You
begin to process, based on appearances, and your past, rather than think a new
thought, which leads you to charge these thoughts with LOTS of emotion. Emotion
is a signal you send out that gets matched with (attracts) an experience.
And your subconscious
mind and the aspect of the spiritual Universe that manifests align with these
thoughts you’re holding: “Okay; got it. You don't see what you want, even if
it's in the room with you; and if IT is right outside your door, you'll keep
the door closed. If it wasn't here yesterday, it's never coming. You want to
know how long you have to wait. Let's find out how long because ‘Waiting’ and ‘Have
Unlimited Access to It/Are It’ are two different programs (emotionally-charged
feelings); and the one you believe more gets fulfilled. You're not open to
receive original ideas, so we’ll replay old ones because that's what's
available; and if we need to, we'll borrow thoughts and beliefs from others;
because you never have original ideas. Everything is a struggle for you. I'll
get to work on making sure you're proved right because I'm programmed to
believe you are and act on it.” Yikes!
A new thought or idea
comes to a calm mind, a mind open and receptive to new thoughts because it's
uncluttered, free of the wasteful energy of processing and (gulp) panicking.
This includes transforming an old idea that pops into mind into a new idea then
charging it up with feeling it as your potential reality (it really could be).
If your old thoughts haven't changed your reality experience yet, why not try
new ones. What might happen if you thought about your life the way you prefer
it to be?
Processing is wearing;
it's exhausting. It tells you lies such as the ones listed above. I could say, “Hey,
if you're going to lie to yourself, do it in your favor;” but you'd have to
release processing and embrace thinking. And, you'd have to do this
deliberately every time you head toward busy-mind rather than mindfulness.
One reason we struggle
with this is demonstrated by a quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes: "The
mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its
original size." Your inner self knows what's described here is true. It
also knows what it takes to make it true for you consistently: Practice. It's
natural to be inclined to revert to the "usual" ways. But, once
you've so much as entertained the idea of a new and better way, old ways no
longer feel like a good fit: they cease to feel like a "comfort"
zone. And, the idea that if you deliberately calm down and shift your energy,
you create change or a more positive experience just seems ridiculous when
you're stressed, even if you know what kind of results to expect if you follow
the "usual" approach.
For the rest of today,
pay attention to the conversations you have with yourself (and others). If you
find that you slip into processing, pause and say to yourself, “Your mind is busy, but you're not thinking.”
Higher awareness applied to anything creates different, improved experiences
and results. If you've ever looked for a successful way to quiet your mind,
this will help you do it. It’s a good practice, one you’ll
appreciate.
Practice makes progress.
© Joyce L. Shafer
You are welcome to use this article in your
newsletter or on your blog/website as long as you use my complete bio with it.
Joyce L. Shafer is a Life Empowerment
Coach dedicated to helping people feel, be, and live their true inner power.
She’s author of “I Don’t Want to be Your Guru, But I Have Something to Say” and
other books/e-books, and publishes a free weekly online newsletter that offers
empowering articles. See all that’s offered by Joyce and on her site at http://stateofappreciation.weebly.com
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