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Q & A: Mind Control

Question: In your writings you say that “the mind is the greatest tool at our disposal”:  How does one go about controlling the mind and finding peace?

Answer: I would like to redefine a term that you have probably heard many times before—the term mind control. Mind control is commonly thought of as one person (or group of people) controlling another person’s mind. I would like to redefine it as you being in control of your own mind.

     It works like this: If you notice yourself feeling stressed or depressed about something, hit the pause button. Take a moment to relax. Change the way you are thinking and talking to yourself about whatever it is that’s making you feel this way. Try your best to find a solution to what troubles you. If no solution is immediately found, then continue to seek a solution, but do so with a calm mind. It is much easier to think clearly with a calm mind anyways. Replace stressful or depressing thoughts with peaceful, happy thoughts. It is within your power to do this. Do this as often as is necessary.

     It’s also important to remember that emotions like anxiety, anger, dissatisfaction, and negativity develop from having attachments to preconceived ideas or outcomes. Rather than becoming attached, it would be better to say, “My attitudes, actions, and reactions are the only things I am completely in control of in my life. I will do the best that I can with whatever comes my way.” And then do the best that you can with whatever comes your way.

     When confronted with anxiety, anger, or dissatisfaction, ask yourself, “What am I attached to that is causing me to feel this way? Is it proper for me to be attached to this? Is what I am attached to a realistic possibility? Have I done everything in my power to achieve my goals?” Always evaluate yourself in this way, and adjust your ideas and desires accordingly.

     If negative thoughts come knocking, just don’t answer the door! If they somehow break in and enter, stop them in their tracks and throw them out! This is your mind! You are the one in control!

     Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Practice! Practice! Practice! This is what Mind Control is all about—controlling your own mind!

     Never forget how unbelievably powerful your mind is! You are strong! You can conquer any negative thoughts that come your way! Believe in yourself. Use your mind to create happiness, not turmoil. Your mind can be one giant happiness producing machine if you direct its energy that way. You are the one in control!

     Promise to never allow yourself to be a victim, a helpless bystander, or a hostage to your own thoughts and emotions.

     It’s up to you. Observe your mind and emotions and choose peace, happiness, and positivity.  Practice Mind Control.  If you choose to dwell on negative, stressful thoughts, you have only yourself to blame.

     There must come a time in each of our lives when we decide what it is we truly want from life.  That means asking the tough questions.  Do you want to feel pain and misery?  Or do you want to feel peace and tranquility?    Do you want to feel confused and frustrated, or enlightened and free?  As the Stoics say, we must be in control of our minds.  We can—and must—decide what goes in and what stays out.  For me, I choose to have a clear and peaceful mind, to see myself as a spiritual being connected with God, who wants to grow and evolve and mature along this journey we call life.  I refuse to let negative thoughts drag me away from that goal.  I choose to have a strong, impenetrable mind that no force in the world can penetrate unless I allow it to.  I’m responsible for my life, my thoughts and my actions … I’m the captain of the ship … It’s up to me to decide which direction I’m heading.  I accept no excuses.  I cast no blame.  I follow the advice of Epictetus: “First decide what it is you will be, then do what you have to do.”  I want to be love.  I want to be peace.  I want to be beauty.  I want to be free.  I want to be connected to God and the people and world around me.  These are powers that each of us have, given to us by God.  Use them to the best of your ability.  Refuse to let anything keep you from your goals.  Be as free as you can be.  And feel the peace and love of God.

     Maybe I’m right, maybe I’m wrong, but that’s The Truth as I See It.

Thought Forces and Mind Elements

     “A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will bring forth.  If no useful seeds are put into it, an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.

     “Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts.  By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master gardener of his soul, the director of his life.  He also reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstances, and destiny.”

– James Allen, As a Man Thinketh

The Art of Silence

     “We are gradually losing the art of silence.  Of walking down the street lost in our own thoughts.  Of closing the door to our rooms and being quiet.  Of sitting on a park bench and just thinking.  We may fear silence because we fear what we might hear from the deepest parts of ourselves.  We may be afraid to hear that “still small” voice.  What might it say?

     “Might it ask us to change?

     “You may have to disconnect in order to connect—disconnect with the world of noise to connect with silence, where God speaks to you in a different way.  You cannot change our noisy world, but you can disconnect from time to time, to give yourself the gift of silence.”

— James Martin, S.J.

The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

The Village Blacksmith

     “When you speak about Reality,” said the Master, “you are attempting to put the Inexpressible into words, so your words are certain to be misunderstood.  Thus people who read that expression of Reality called the Scriptures become stupid and cruel for they follow, not their common sense, but what they think their Scriptures say.”  He had the perfect parable to show this:

     A village blacksmith found an apprentice willing to work hard at low pay.  The smith immediately began his instructions to the lad: “When I take the metal out of the fire, I’ll lay it on the anvil; and when I nod my head you hit it with the hammer.”  The apprentice did precisely what he thought he was told.  Next day he was the village blacksmith

– Anthony de Mello, One Minute Nonsense

 Source: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Anthony_de_Mello

Wedding

     Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, “Why is the bride dressed in white?” “Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.” The child thought about this for a moment, then said, “So why is the groom wearing black?”

Source: http://www.enlightened-spirituality.org/Spiritual_Humor.html

The Ultimate Test

     “To conquer selfishness is the ultimate test of a human being.  To love others as you love yourself is the ultimate measure of a man.”

— Excerpted from The Truth as I See It: A Collection of Spiritual Writings by Adam Soto (p. 57)

 

Copyright 2018 Golden Rule Independent Publications

New “Videos” Section!

Hello!  This is a general announcement to inform you all that I have added a “Videos” section to the website!  These are videos I created based on my spiritual writings which explore the subjects of God, existence, and spirituality.  You can click the link below or view them under the section header “Videos” any time.  Enjoy!

https://mindpurposetruth.com/705-2/