The Law of Habit Forming
Written by Jerry on February 3, 2010 – 4:02 am -
by Ralph Waldo Trine
Have we it within our power to determine at all times what types of habits shall take form in our lives? In other words, is habit-forming, character-building, a matter of mere chance, or have we it within our own control? We have, entirely and absolutely.
For there is a simple, natural, and thoroughly scientific method that all should know. A method whereby old, undesirable, earth-binding habits can be broken, and new, desirable, heaven-lifting habits can be acquired, — a method whereby life in part or in its totality can be changed, provided one is sufficiently in earnest to know, and, knowing it, to apply the law.
Thought is the force underlying all. And what do we mean by this? Simply this: Your every act — every conscious act — is preceded by a thought. Your dominating thoughts determine your dominating actions. The acts repeated crystallize themselves into the habit. The aggregate of your habits is your character. Whatever, then, you would have your acts, you must look well to the character of the thought you entertain. Whatever act you would not do, –habit you would not acquire you must look well to it that you do not entertain the type of thought that will give birth to this act, this habit . It is a simple psychological law that any type of thought, if entertained for a sufficient length of time, will, by and by, reach the motor tracks of the brain, and finally burst forth into action. Murder can be and many times is committed in this way, the same as all undesirable things are done. On the other hand, the greatest powers are grown, the most God-like characteristics are engendered, the most heroic acts are performed in the same way.
The thing clearly to understand is this: That the thought is always parent to the act. Now, we have it entirely in our own hands to determine exactly what thoughts we entertain. In the realm of our own minds we have absolute control, or we should have, and if at any time we have not, then there is a method by which we can gain control, and in the realm of the mind become thorough masters. Read more »
Tags: Absolute Control, Aggregate, Brain, Character Building, Conscious Act, Earth, god, Habit, Heaven, Heroic Acts, Length Of Time, Nbsp, Psychological Law, Ralph Waldo, Scientific Method, Totality
Posted in Laws of Attraction | No Comments »
Live Consciously
Written by Jerry on January 30, 2010 – 1:08 am -
Have you ever seen ants searching for food? They just follow one another in an almost endless game that seems to drone on and on. Are you living ants life – going from day to day, doing the same thing, the same way, and nothing ever changes?
If so, you’re not living consciously.
Conscious living is being aware of your life and the things you’re doing, moment by moment. It’s about taking the time to stop and smell the roses so you can see where you fit into the big picture. Besides adding more beauty and peace in your life, living consciously helps you live with a passion and purpose that few ever realize.
Small Steps to Living More Consciously
Transforming your humdrum life into one filled with passion is easier than you may think! There are dozens of little things, you can do almost effortlessly and that take just a minute or two, to live more consciously starting today!
Here are a few:
1. Stop. Take some time to stop throughout the day and look around. Be aware of where you are and what’s around you. Become conscious of your surroundings and notice how you fit into them.
2. Notice. Really see the details such as the green leaves on the trees, or the condensation dripping down the side of the cup.
3. Feel. Get in tune with what your body feels and actually search out the sensations of your fingers touching a glass or your toes touching inside your socks. Feel your chest rise and fall with each breath.
4. Be in the Now. Take deep breaths and be in the moment. Don’t think about what you’ve done or what you still have to do, just take a minute or two to just breathe!
5. Learn. Take a few minutes each day to try something new. Pick up a book you’ve always wanted to read or learn a new skill. You will find yourself being more conscious when trying something new than when doing something you already know very well.
There are so many things you can do to create a better life. Living consciously is one of the easiest changes to make because it takes so little time, can be done spontaneously and has great rewards. Take a few of these ideas, add a few of your own, integrate them into your routine, and begin enjoying the benefits of living consciously today!
Never Stop Exploring Life!
Jerry L Saunders, RM
Tags: Ants, Better Life, Big Picture, Chest Rise, Condensation, Conscious Living, Deep Breaths, Drone, Endless Game, Green Leaves, Humdrum Life, Many Things, Moment By Moment, Passion And Purpose, Rise And Fall, Sensations, Small Steps, Socks, Taking The Time, Toes
Posted in Everyday Spirituality | No Comments »
Let Bygones Be Bygones
Written by Jerry on January 26, 2010 – 4:57 am -Deep down you know that there is simply nothing you can do to change the past. No matter how many times you wish you’d done something differently, the past will always remain unchanged.
You need to find a way to deal with your regret. When you continue to anguish over the past, you allow your own negative feelings to consume more and more of your life. It’s time to put a stop to it, so you can think positively again and your future will be brighter.
Getting Caught Up In The Past
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the past. Nobody’s perfect and, no matter how hard you try, you’ll still to make mistakes. It’s how you deal the mistakes that will make the true difference in your life.
If you’ve made a mistake or suffered a tragedy in the recent past, don’t allow the tragedy to replay in your mind over and over again. Don’t keep talking about it or telling your story over and over. You don’t want to relive the negative feels as if you were continually going through the tragedy. No one deserves that!
Instead, you have two choices, you can actively work on correcting your mistake, or you can let the feelings go because they’re not helpful to you in that moment. Or even better, do both.
Learn From Your Mistakes
There are lessons to be learned from every mistake you make no matter how small. The objective is to work on find out what these lessons are.
When negative feelings surround your past, focus on the lesson that can be learned. You might have never learned that lesson without the mistake. And now that you’ve gained this wisdom you can avoid making that mistake again in the future.
You might even take it a step further and do more with the lessons you’ve learned. Maybe you could raise awareness by telling others about your experience. If you can help others avoid the same mistakes, you’ll be doing something great for them and it will also help you feel better about the situation.
Avoid Resentment
You need to do your best to avoid resentment (and all negative emotions). Resentment is a poisonous emotion if you don’t deal with it quickly. You may even know somebody who had a falling out with a family member and resentment keeps them apart for years? Think about all the good times they’ve missed out on because of this bitterness!
Let It Go
Depending on what you’ve gone through, there may be a mourning period associated with your situation, but you’ll eventually have to let it go.
When you finally do let it go, you learn to forgive yourself and forgive others. Forgiveness is such an important element of a healthy life. It allows you to grow as a person and move forward to enjoy all that life has to offer. You weren’t meant to sit around mourning the past no matter how tragic it’s been for you.
How Negative Thinking Hurts You
Sometimes you keep telling yourself you’re over it but the negative thinking keeps creeping back into your life. You need to realize that the only person you’re hurting is yourself.
Let’s say you’ve said or done something to hurt someone’s feelings. You may think about it for days until you can’t take it anymore, and you feel you have to find this person to apologize. Many times the person may not even remember what happened, or they may just accept your apology. The point is you suffered with negative thoughts until you sought forgiveness.
There’s no need to cause yourself ongoing suffering because you made a mistake. instead seek peace and resolution, then move forward with your head held high.
And don’t forget to start a daily meditation practice if you haven’t already.
Never Stop Exploring Life!
Jerry L Saunders, RM
Tags: Anguish, Lessons Learned, Mistake, Negative Emotions, Negative Feelings, Objective, Replay, Resentment, Telling Your Story, Tragedy, True Difference, Two Choices, Wisdom
Posted in PME - Positive Mental Enviroment | No Comments »
Brain Wave States
Written by Jerry on January 25, 2010 – 5:02 am -Jonathan Goldman discusses our brain wave pulsations and vibrations. Jonathan demonstrates the beta brain wave state, discusses the alpha wave state and other states of consciousness.
Never Stop Exploring Life!
Jerry L Saunders, RM
Tags: Alpha Wave, Beta, Brain Wave, Jerry L, Jonathan, Jonathan Goldman, Pulsations, Rm, Saunders, States Of Consciousness, Vibrations
Posted in Sculpt Your Mind | No Comments »
Who Am I?
Written by Jerry on January 23, 2010 – 3:19 am -Who am I?
What comes to mind when you ask yourself this? How many different memories, ideas, and things seem like a part of you? What do you identify with? Does this process of identification help you, or cause suffering? Get ready to find out.
Maybe when your favorite baseball team loses, you suffer as though YOU lost. When your bank balance is low, you feel low. When somebody attacks what you say, it seems as though they actually attacking your true inner self.
How can you escape personalizing everything?
By seeing who and what you are not. Understanding the process of identification clearly can free you from the ego attachments that cause you to suffer. Meditation that can help you with this.
"Who Am I" Meditation
Sit or lay comfortably in a quiet place.
Relax, close your eyes, and take several slow deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, eventually letting your breathing fall into a natural pattern. Let breathing just happen on its own now, but pay attention to the air moving in and out of your lungs. Let the tension drain from your body.
Ask the question in your mind. "Who am I?"
Then ask, "What am I?"
Just let these questions rest for a moment in your mind.
Become aware of your body, and consider your leg. Would you cease to exist if you lost it? Are you your leg?
Continue through several parts of your body, asking of each part, "Is this what I am?"
Then open your eyes and look around. Are you any of these things? You might feel mental pain when your favorite CD breaks, as if it were you, but you are not that CD. Are any of the things you own YOU?
Ask, "Am I this?"
Now close your eyes again and say your own name in your mind. Is there a sense of identity? And if you had no name? Would you still exist if you had no name? Ask yourself "Am I really…" and say your name again. Consider the answer.
Try saying "I am…" and insert any other name. Note how, when you call yourself by another name, you feel differently.
Let feelings arise, and ask "Am I this fear?… this pain, desire, pleasure, or anger? You can see that your feelings are not you – they just pass through you.
Clothes, body, reputation – none of them are your true identity, is it?
Take a deep breath and get up, noticing if you feel different – maybe less worried or less attached to things, feelings and thoughts.Try this meditation for 5 or 10 minutes the few times and when you are comfortable with it continue this meditation for twenty minutes or so.
After you have done this meditation maybe a dozen times over a week or two, you might want to practice this meditation about one a month just to remind you of what you are not.
By the way, you really don’t need to answer the question, "Who am I?"
Never Stop Exploring Life!
Jerry L Saunders, RM
Tags: Attachments, Bank Balance, Deep Breaths, Ego, Favorite Baseball Team, Lungs, Meditation, Memories, Quiet Place, Quot, Sit, Tension Drain, True Inner Self
Posted in Meditation | No Comments »