I posted a short, optimistic meme in our local community group recently and most people were appreciative. Our area is in Stage 4 lockdown and we’re not permitted to leave our own postcode unless for the approved few reasons so I was posting to help brighten people’s spirits. It was interesting to observe those that came back with negative comments. One guy even said, ‘will that pay the mortgage?’ Someone else commented, ‘yeah right, but I’d rather stay angry thanks’. (plus a few other sarcastic words suggesting I was an idiot for being hopeful and optimistic).
Humans – when will they realise it’s a choice how we think and feel – no matter what’s going on around us! Yes, it takes vigilance and practice – after all our brains are conditioned from an early age to fear things that are different or things we don’t understand. We fear change, even if there’s a possibility it could bring results we are desiring.
No, of course choosing to think and feel hopeful and optimistic won’t pay the mortgage – right now – but science has demonstrated, beyond doubt, the power we have to change our brains and as we focus on what we want and not what we don’t want, our brains change accordingly and what we’re focusing on eventually becomes our reality, one day at a time.
If you’d like to follow up on more about this, check out Mark Waldman, https://markrobertwaldman.com or Dr Norman Doige, who wrote ‘The Brain That Changes Itself’, http://www.normandoidge.com
You may like Dr Joe Dispenza or Dr Wayne Dyer. Many people love Esther Hicks for a more spiritual and less scientific education. Find those you resonate with, that perhaps challenge you a little and keep exploring. Of course, there are many, many others who are involved in or discuss the research that is being done on the brain and how it functions, but these are just a few suggestions I like. I also love the Buddhist teachings on the power of our mind.
So now we know that we can choose to change our brains to bring about more of what we want and less (or none) of what we don’t want in our own personal lives, why wouldn’t we study up on this and put the suggested practices in place every single day?
I suffered with anxiety, depression and feelings of despair since childhood, but I’m fortunate to have had a mother who taught me to focus on and be thankful for every single blessing in my own life and everything around me. I’m grateful that with diligent practice – which is ongoing daily, I rarely have times of anxiety or depression now. They pop up when I’m run down, overtired or ill, but because I’ve learnt and practiced specific, appropriate methods of calm acceptance and how to maintain a peaceful mind, most stuff that happens ‘out there’ doesn’t change how I feel – which is grateful, joyful and at peace. Of course I still have times when I get into old states of thinking and being, but I notice what’s going on really quickly and change back to peace and happiness even quicker.
We sometimes can’t (immediately) change our outer conditions and the bigger issues in the world are mostly beyond our control, but we can always change our own thinking and feelings. To operate from a place of love, peace and kindness means we are more clear minded and more productive to do what we want to do and make a positive difference in our world.
Right now, what every individual needs is to be given hope, reassurance, positive uplifting support and a belief that they can cope with and handle the changes we’re seeing around us. Ask yourself – are you contributing in a helpful manner to your own and others’ well-being or are you spreading even more fear and pessimism?
The Buddhist teachings say ‘learn to make ourselves happy, develop and maintain a peaceful mind and make a good example for others’. It’s so easy to let our minds run riot getting into anger, resentment and fear but thinking optimistic, hopeful and loving thoughts takes courage, practice and a strong desire and goodwill to help others. Sadly, the huge amount of negative social media posts suggest many people can’t be bothered making the effort and would rather remain angry and fearful.
Which state of being will you choose?
Learn to understand your mind, spread kindness and hope and Every Day Gets Better for you, your loved ones and those who’s lives you touch daily.
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