Change
When there is growth, changes are automatic, if I fear
change, how can there be growth?
An Open
Mind
When someone corrects or gives any advice or suggestion,
there is usually some amount of resistance and we become
unwilling to listen. When I put in a lot of effort, I
normally feel I have done the task to the utmost
perfection and so am not able to listen to any
suggestions from anyone. But this kind of attitude does
not help to learn and progress. I need to keep my mind
constantly open to learning in order to experience
constant progress. When I have the attitude of learning
I am able to learn from everything that happens. And
thus I will also be able to bring improvement in each
and every task that I do.
Factors That Shape Our Perception (cont.)
If someone believes that Indians are very generous,
good-hearted people, and they have this ingrained in
their subconscious, this thought will form part of their
perception of India. Perhaps not only part of their
perception: they may even identify fully with this
belief. In other words, the thought becomes a belief and
finally one identifies with the belief. The same holds
true for any negative belief about anything or anyone.
There are four main criteria that may influence how our
perception of reality is distorted or altered (changed).
These are:
Mental Positioning
Mental position is the internal position from which we
see situations, and may be positive or negative. For
example, we are really excited about owning a new car,
but after buying it we start worrying about where to
park it, if it may be stolen or we might meet with an
accident. Another example is that of the professional
who has always dreamt of being promoted at work and,
when he gets it, starts to fear losing it. According to
our mental positioning we experience fear (a negative
state of mind) or we feel confident (a positive one). A
correct mental positioning broadens our conscience and
improves our lives and relationships.
To live in the present in a relaxed way and planning the
future with an open and optimistic view, we should be
able to free ourselves from preconceived ideas and the
influences that dominate our perceptions. To do this,
the best mental position is that of being an impartial
observer. In this way we can observe, recognize and
transform (change) those thoughts, attitudes that cause
us pain, anxiety and stress.
(To be continued tomorrow ...)
Soul Sustenance
Practical Ways of Changing Old Habits or Beliefs (Part
1)
Motivation for Change
An important factor to start positive change in our
lives is for there to be a passion, a powerful force
that leads us, a final goal that keeps us motivated. It
is important to set yourself goals, to be convinced and
to have the confidence and faith that one can reach
them, since in this way we will make a daily effort to
achieve those goals. There needs to be a clearly defined
sense of purpose to your existence, clarifying the
values that must guide your life in order to achieve
these goals and establish the steps you must take for
inculcating these values. If, at a subconscious level,
you allow a mistaken purpose to be created, or there is
a lack of true purpose in your life, then you will not
be motivated to know and change yourself. Many people
think that the purpose of their life is to survive and
they use the language of survival in this way: "Life is
hard out there. You must get whatever you can". They are
not aware that they have chosen this purpose, but
subconsciously it is what they believe they are here
for, and this makes them think that they must
accumulate, take, create barriers to protect themselves
and compete with others.
(To be continued tomorrow …..)
Message for the day
Where there is humility there is the give and take of
love.
Expression:
Usually we don't even know when we are working with our
ego because it is deeply concealed. Even when someone
points out our ego, we don't want to accept it and we
continue to work with it. Ego finishes the ability to
learn and negatively effects our relationships because
there is no give and take of love.
Experience:
The method to overcome ego is to develop humility.
Humility means to be strong within yet to be gentle and
flexible. This enables us to bend i.e., to bow. When we
bow it doesn't mean we are defeated, but reveals our own
victory. It is only when we bend and forgive that we
will be able to allow the flow of love in relationships.