“I rule my mind, which I alone must rule.” A Course in Miracles
One of the messages most of my clients find the most difficult to assimilate is that what they think, is highly potent and responsible for the experience they are having in life. Human beings are extraordinarily talented, powerful and resourceful and any circumstance provides opportunity for growth, joy and love. To be in a place where such positive aspects of oneself and others can be recognised, acknowledged and freed to express themselves, each person must manage their minds to not come under the sway of the mass of illusions that pervade much of our culture.
I advocate a strong management of one’s mind to ensure that the negative, fearful and worrisome thoughts that people apply to their day to day life doesn’t invade and take over their consciousness.
To explain what I mean, I need to detail what has become the norm, in many aspects of life today.
I have observed, for example, that many people speak as if external circumstances are beyond their control and that it is those circumstances/people/situations, that are responsible for what they think, believe and experience at any point of their day. And they are not short of examples to point at, that they assert proves this.
So for example, they will point to the fact of other people doing this or that, that means x, y and z and that therefore, they have to be upset. They say ‘the government furlough scheme is coming to an end, and therefore, this, or that may happen and that means they must be concerned about others or themselves’. Another example of current times, is ‘the Covid19 pandemic means that they may get infected, therefore they have to protect themselves, to work from home, engage in Zoom calls etc. etc. and of course, that means they have to be anxious/stressed about this, that or other’.
It’s as if they have a cultural script-writer that tells them what to think, what to do and feel. (And this in fact may be the case, when people quote what was said on the news last night or such and such a person said on Twitter!) Generating fear by anticipating what may never happen has become a standard reaction in people’s thinking, which they are happy to exchange and share with each other, ramping up the fear and anxiety. And to what end?
In my experience with different organisations, there seems to be agreed-to norms of what the script-writer is distributing in that firm, as to what are the inter-relationship chat norms. Leaders have a part to play in creating those norms, and if the leaders are positive and up-beat, some of the negative aspects are lessened. However, anyone in authority can markedly impact others by what they say, how they say it, and what colouring/fear/illusions they perpetrate.
Most everything that people exchange in conversations that are anticipatory or historical have the colouring of personal interpretation, and what is most surprising of all is how negative, fearful or guilt-tripping it is! People do not realise that our minds have been brain-washed into dealing in fearful illusions, like horror movies translated into our every day lives, where the worst is anticipated and the best possible ignored.
Enough now of the examples of WHAT NOT TO DO!
Now in my belief system, I see all things as neutral – even the Covind19 pandemic – and it is what we choose to believe of our experiences that will either make them good or bad. What we choose to think and anticipate – eg that something will be good – rather than bad, will often make it so. As an example from me – even losing 60% of our company’s revenues because of the pandemic, can still mean a brilliant outcome, when because of new digital platforms we created new online programmes and found clients around the world, when before we were UK focused.
By managing your mind, ruling it so it doesn’t engage in the fantasy fear generating thoughts, you can more easily stay in the present, when, for most of the time, nothing bad is happening!
In fact, most of the time, good things are happening – you are safe, your family is safe and well, your colleagues are there, doing their best, your company still exists, there are still opportunities and great things possible for you and others. Focusing on the good, draws more good into your awareness.
Managing your mind is one of the greatest skills that any human can accomplish. Focusing it to stay on the positive and the good, you become an advocate for more good to appear through you and you will stand out as a beacon of leadership for others.
I strongly recommend trying it!
Penny Sophocleous
7 October 2020
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