Everywhere I go, what I see on the news, read in articles on the internet, in social media, and what I hear on the radio, people are demanding "Change." President Barrack Obama won an election built on the premise of change. Everywhere, people are demanding change in their families, in their relationships, and in themselves. People are sick and tired of being sick and tired. In our offices, daily our therapists are helping people change.
Negativity is bombarding our minds and stealing our joy. The illogical and irrational bits and pieces of misery flood our brains and breaks our hearts. We are a society of war mongers in pursuit of entertainment that has filled our minds with sex and violence (look at what is playing at the movies). The excitement we feel when we are scared or enticed toward sexual fantasy are attacking our primal emotions that drives anxious thoughts and gets our hearts pumping. Like any addiction, we want more stimulation, more heart pounding experiences, and we drive ourselves toward a cliff of emotional destruction. Our minds were not designed for this non-stop high intensity. Our minds need rest and calm in order to recharge. We need sleep. We need positive input. We need clarity. We need life to slow down, focus, and refresh.
There used to be a common saying, "Garbage in, Garbage out." What this means is what you are putting into your brain is going to determine the expectations you will look to manifest in your life. If you watch movies where everyone is cheating on their partners, you will be looking at your partner to cheat on you. If you believe you are in danger of being manipulated and lied to, you will find "evidence" that confirms your suspicions. If you are unhappy at work, you will find a way to make it someone else's fault you are unhappy. It's what the mind does. You tell it what to think and it thinks it. So, how do you change what you are getting out of life? You change your thinking.
Many books have been written about the pathway to a better life and they all start with the way you think: Think and Grow Rich, The Power of Positive Thinking, As a Man Thinkith. Every self-help book that is designed to help you move toward a positive outcome STARTS with changing the way you think.
If you want to be someone you've never been-- you need to learn something you've never learned. Personal Development is your responsibility that's why it's "personal." It is unique to your circumstances, your perceptions, and your level of desire to change. The Bible has many versus directed at changing our way of thinking. Here are 2 of those versus:
"Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
Romans 12:2
"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"
Deuteronomy 30:19
Today, try something different. Turn off the news, put down the paper, turn off the news feed and notifications on your phone and your computer. Step away from all social media and turn off the radio in your car. Go for a walk without your phone in your pocket. Look up at the clear blue sky with white puffy clouds, listen to the birds chirping, look at the bunnies bouncing into the bushes, feel the warmth of the sun and wind on your face, then drink it all in with a deep breath and relax. Now, doesn't that feel better? Do this as often as you can. Whenever you feel stressed out, out of control, or overwhelmed by life. Take a break from the rat race that has become your daily life and take a moment to just "be." If you make this small change a daily practice, you'll soon notice that everything is changing. Like pennies from heaven, collect all the change you can and you'll be more wealthy than you ever dreamed possible.