What you think is what you attract.
How many times have you come across this saying, acknowledged it, but moved on? Then again, how is it possible to introspect on a phrase that, although packs a strong message, is one presented with only a touch of explanation?
Most Gurus and leaders around the globe, sharing their wisdom, mention the impact this particular belief carries, in regards to living a fulfilled life. Over the last few decades, there has been quite a shift in mindsets, leading to the acceptance of the belief, that; a single thought - whether positive or negative - can shape your habits, and eventually determine the rest of your life.
"The moment you have the audacity to start believing in the not-yet seen, your reality will begin to shift."
- Jen Sincero; You Are A Badass.
How It Works:
Our subconscious mind follows a certain cycle that dictates our perception. The cycle begins with having thoughts on a particular subject; these could either be in the form of incoming thoughts or outgoing thoughts. Incoming thoughts are those drilled in to us by society, whereas outgoing thoughts are those we consciously choose to focus on; they may only be an opinion. Regardless of choosing to accept that thought or not, we attribute an emotion to it. Once that occurs, the emotion charges this individual thought and therefore, with time, this emotion-filled thought turns in to a belief.
As soon as you start trusting it, this belief connects with your RAS (Reticular Activating System) and reaches a point where you start looking for proof of it, oftentimes unconsciously. In order to justify this certain thought, you seek confirmation, after which the minor thought ends up as a conviction. Eventually, you truly accept it, strengthening the conviction, and making this belief difficult to break free from.
Liberating Your Thoughts:
Sadhguru once said, 'because you are so in tune with your thoughts and emotions, you think it is you, and that has obliterated your experience of life.' Your thought process is yours, but it isn't you. Whatever your thought is, it comes from certain information you gather from your surroundings or perhaps from personal experience. The type of information you gather is not entirely in your hands, but it is by your recognition and choosing that it is deemed 'good' or 'bad'. Information is simply recorded, how it is perceived is your doing.
That we are alive right now should be the most important thing in our lives. Today, what we are thinking has become more important than our being alive. A little emotion we feel during the day becomes our focus more than the privilege of experiencing.
In the cosmos, the solar system is a speck and within that speck, planet Earth is a micro speck. Within that, our country is an even nano speck and in that, we believe, we are big. In reality, today, we are consumed with fear, anxiety and other negative emotions because we are out of control and disconnected from ourselves. Instead of living in the creator's creation, we are living in our own petty creation.
Look at life from a bigger context. If you're feeling anxious, understand that you've felt this way before and you're alive right now and surviving. Understand that it is futile to be anxious; we are on this planet for a limited time and we have spent quite a few years already. Instead of getting stuck on one or two relations or holding resentment, let your awareness expand. Acceptance and letting go can only come from the inside.
Understand that people are not obligated to behave the way we want them to; the moment we change that mindset and accept that people will do what they want, say what they want and be who they want to be, then we allow ourselves to truly accept different behaviours. If we stay rigid, every time someone says something we don't want to hear, we'll be anxious, we'll be angry, we'll be depressed. That person moves on with their life but we are the victim. With that, learn to let your loved ones work on their own journey, and accept them, without judgement, for not being there yet.
"We've not only made a habit out of smearing our fear and worry and doubt all over each other, but we pat ourselves on the backs for it because we believe that it shows how much we care."
- Unknown.
Think about this; how many times do you drive a car and find your mind working ten miles a minute on other things, not even realising you've been driving the car without trouble? That is your subconscious mind on autopilot. Because driving is engrained in your subconscious, it is activated while your focus is elsewhere, without the influence of your conscious mind.
Similarly, when you process a thought, it seeps in to your ever-present subconscious mind, determining your behaviour and controlling your reaction for everything that follows. We, as humans, tend to stay constantly connected to our conscious minds and easily succumb to outward emotions. That is why most turn to meditation and external disconnection, so as to detach from the conscious mind and fill the subconscious mind with the essential. That is when we can function at the peak of humanity.
Your thoughts belong to you or you belong to your thoughts?
Be one with nature. Spending time with the elements of nature brings in a shift in your energy. We are part of this nature and disconnecting from it affects our central nervous system terribly. Liberate yourself by allowing grace when outwardly emotions overtake you, before choosing to invest in your incoming thoughts, each day.
"Mind is the master power that moulds and makes
and Man is Mind and evermore he takes
the tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills
brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills.
He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass:
Environment is but his looking glass."
- James Allen; As A Man Thinketh (1903).
