Monthly Archives: January 2016

REDIRECT YOUR THOUGHT

 

Expand me. 

What if I have a limited capacity, like a water balloon, and overfilling me might make me burst?

What if I am an earthen pot that can be cracked and broken, made useless for any purpose.  I am afraid to say, “Expand me”.  Some part of me resists this.

 

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It can only be the ego. That cliché, “some part of me” is a recognizable part of the ego’s armory. “Some part of me” comes into conversations that feature drama and difficulties. Beloved ego territory. When you hear, “some part of me”, listen.

You are hearing the ego making its arguments, roiling you up, leaving you unsure and questioning. Some part?  Which part?  Then you get sidetracked into thinking of yourself as parts that can cause different things.

 

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You are one thing

 

The ego knows this, but desperately needs for you not to know. Hence its need for diversions, distractions and drama. Whenever you feel these things, hesitate.  Withdraw.

 

Some part of me resists saying, “Expand me”.

 

 

You are looking at the situation from a human perspective. You believe you are a human, but want to be changed.  This is followed by intense fears because you really fear change and don’t know what it means.

Instead of wasting time, think about how you might rather use time. What would you use time for? Another way to ask that is to say, what would you pay attention to? Because what you pay attention to is how you are using time.

 

What would you pay attention to?

 

Well, of course, peace. Personal peace,  world peace, complete peace.

 

Can you take five minutes now to devote to your ideas about peace? That is all you need to do.  Redirect your thought.

 

 

 

The ego has many tricks to keep you afraid.

You have the power to redirect your thought at any time.

There is no reason to feel afraid. It is needless and meaningless suffering.

 

 

Stillness and tranquility set things in order in the universe

Lao Tzu, the Tao Te Ching

 

 

 

WORRIED? WHAT WERE YOU SO WORRIED ABOUT?

 

The mind likes to dwell on frightening outcomes.  That is its default position.  It doesn’t matter what the frightening outcomes are.  If one becomes obsolete, or, as you think, solved, the mind can choose from among fifty others.  There is never any shortage of frightening outcomes.

 

Statue of a cherub, chin in hand, looking skyward, as if disgusted or resigned.

 

But what becomes of any of them? What were you so worried about five years ago? Did you cause anything good to happen with your worry? Was all the stress and anxiety worth it? Do you think it was a good strategy?  If you could talk to the person you were then, what would you tell her?

 

Photo of a 10 year old girl, eyes closed, thumbs joined to forefingers on both hands, meditating.

 

Relax and let go.  Find activities that induce relaxation: running, yoga, swimming, walking, meditation, reading a book.

Be wholly grateful for any instant of peace.

 

What were you so worried about ten years ago?

 

Image by Jack Hamilton on Unsplash

 

That they would discover my lack of worth. There was little joy in being that unhappy, insignificant, self-loathing person. 

 

What would you tell that person?

 

Desire change, wish for change, ask for change, be alive and mad for change.  I am willing to be changed. I allow it. I allow change.

 

How?

 

By letting that concept occupy your mind for at least seventeen seconds, letting a new neural connection form. Do that now.

 

Photo by Bankim Desai on Unsplash

 

What were you so worried about twenty years ago?

 

I was completely taken up with status and wanting. I admired fancy houses and cars. I wanted everything to look good, but I didn’t know what good was. I had so little contact with good, and thought of it so infrequently, that I couldn’t recognize it.

But now I can: by giving thanks. There is so much to give thanks for. Start now by giving thanks for two minutes.  Set a timer.

 

 

This interesting game does good on many levels, many of which you cannot see. But you will feel the good in doing it.  You can shorten the time frame of your question.  What were you so worried about last month? What troubles did the mind harp on last week?  What was the flavor du jour yesterday? What would you tell the person you were then?

 

 Drawing of Lao Tsu, author of the Tao Te Ching

You are but a guest in this world

Lao Tzu, the Tao Te Ching