Tendencies of the mind

If the All is Mind, and our individual minds are a microcosm connected to the macrocosm, it becomes plain, simple, clear and quite obvious that our minds are also our source of magical abilities, the foundation of a life that is truly magical, abundant, fun, joyful, positive and loving in every way.

However, we have a problem.

When it comes to the modern human mind, evolution appears to have hardwired into us a proclivity towards negativity for survival purposes that are wholeheartedly obsolete today. In other words, fear might have kept us alive thousands of years ago when predators lurked around every corner, but today our ticket to surviving prehistoric times has turned into the very thing holding us back from thriving  as spiritual beings. The same goes for desire, which might have been useful when food and resources were scarce. However now, when our needs are easily met, the desire that is hardwired into us leads us towards destruction.

Many years ago the National Science Foundation published a report summarizing research conducted on human thinking and the tendencies of the mind on an average day.

The report found the average person had somewhere between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts on an average day. Of those thoughts, it was estimated that 80 percent of them were all rather negative thoughts. Additionally, it was found that 95 percent of those thoughts were the exact same repetitive negative thoughts from the previous day.

From this, it's clear that one of the tendencies of the human mind is to dwell on negativity, as it were, and to "sing the same sad songs" repetitively over and over. If we are creating our own reality, which we are, this means we are creating the same negative reality over and over again, day after day, defeating ourselves with negative thinking and negative and limiting perceptions of ourselves and others with negative self-talk that has to stop.

Moreover, some of the same researchers found that 97 percent of the things the average person worries about are entirely baseless worries that stem from a pessimistic perception that is wholeheartedly unfounded. What's this mean?

We are worrying and thinking negatively for no good reason!

Certainly, the glass might be half empty at times. Nevertheless, at those same times the glass is also half full. And it should be our ability to reframe things in this light, looking always for the silver lining, that can give us an advantage now.

Our baseless negative thinking patterns and repetitive worries are the source of untold amounts of stress and tension in world, untold amounts of suffering. They create all sorts of exhaustion and illness in the human mind and physical body. And they are poisonous for the spirit, outright choking the life from its.

The only way out is to rise above the mind and begin using it as a tool rather than allowing the tool to use us. We must do this because our inner state of being is the base behind every choice we make in life, how we live our lives, why we do what we do. In addition to creating our reality, our state of mind is the lens through which we perceive reality. It becomes the measuring rod with which we can gauge our quality of life.

To manage the mind, we begin by merely observing our thoughts. This is the essence of meditation. And doing so is no different than strengthening a muscle. Repetition and practice is key. The more you watch your mind, the more control you can gain over it until you've achieved a level of mastery that makes the real magic possible.

Affirmations, spoken during the day or listened to at night while sleeping, have major benefits. Affirmations can be customized and memorized so that they can be rehearsed while driving or while waiting in line at the supermarket. They can be turned on like internal tapes when negativity crops its ugly head and used to redirect the soul on a journey that has a far more beneficial outcome.

Paying attention to the breath during the day when the mind wanders is also a powerful way of gaining control over a wondering mind and -- like a garden -- weeding out those negative tendencies.

Be patient with yourself throughout the process. This takes time. Nevertheless, the benefits are incredible with massive payoffs that can lead to a longer, fuller, more abundant life of joy.

You will have more energy, naturally, and attract positive circumstances to yourself that will show you why we say this is more of a science than something mystical or magical.

We become what we think. And the law of attraction is real.

We know this.

So with enough work, you will soon find yourself effortlessly embracing positive thoughts that come about of their own accord, the side-effect of spiritual discipline. This will enable you to experience the vast and rich beauty of life grounded in the present moment. You will be able to focus better on whatever the task is at hand, with ease, as creativity and genuine spontaneity begins to rise up from within. You will feel an abiding sense of gratitude while fostering real connections in life while enjoying the things you love all the more.

The end result is a fuller life, more abundant and alert, with higher levels of energy and success.

Gaining mastery over the mind by shifting towards more positive thinking is merely the first part of this process, nonetheless, as complete mastery over the mind is where the real magic begins.

The good news is that neuroplasticity and neurogenesis are buzz words today in this very isle of self-transformation. One is capable, we now know, of completely rewiring their brain, generating new brain cell growth, and creating an entirely new identity. I can tell you first hand this is far easier than it sounds given the right attitude, the right spark of inspiration. I’ve done it myself, transcending a self-imposed hell on earth the likes of which I dare not elaborate on.

Today my life is a dream beyond the wildest, as I have already mention.

The key was in my thinking, in rewiring my mind.

The Ultimate Secret to doing that, I later found, is not only in breathing and meditation, but ultimately in the spine.