Some of the great Masters and Teachers that I study all say, in one way or another, that our mind is here for us to use, not for our mind to use us.
But how does one notice when their mind is running away? One powerful way is to take an inventory of the way you talk to yourself. What are those voices saying? Are they positive? Are they negative? What is the conversation that you are having with yourself on a daily basis?
Paying attention to this can be a life-enriching, lifelong study if you choose it and you will quickly find that by just taking this one step toward paying attention to your mind can also be your first step to leading a happy life.
Become Aware:
This year I left my "safe" job of 10 years with an IT consulting company and embarked on the seas of coaching full-time.
I know, although I’ve been coaching since 2001, that it will take time for all of my efforts of "getting the word out" about what I am doing now. This is fertile ground for a reckless mind such as mine, to just pull out all the stops of negative thoughts, of doom and gloom and of past failures.
What I do as soon as I become aware of these negative voices and thoughts, is to simply say, "STOP" and re-direct my thinking to what is the next right action for me to take toward creating and having a successful business.
In other words, I’ve put my mind on a leash. It’s a very nice leash, but it is saying to my mind, "You’ve had your run with my life, now let’s see what happens when we train you to think thoughts that can be helpful for me instead of hurtful".
Meditate on Your Mind-Power
Another powerful tool I use to become hyper-aware of my thoughts is to meditate for 30 minutes each day. To give myself quiet time for me to slow down and "listen" to what The Great Intelligence has to say to me.
The key is to not be discouraged if you sit down to meditate and your mind is throwing out every thought in the book that can trigger every powerful feeling you have inside of you. Stay patient and know that the mind is behaving like a child where a boundary has been set.
There are many excellent methods of meditation and books out there galore on it. Find the one that "speaks" best for you. For instance, many traditional churches have embraced the idea of a Centering Prayer. A book that I found helpful on meditation is by Jack Kornfield entitled, "A Path With Heart".
The most important thing is for you to give yourself the gift of time for you to be quiet and recoup. I’ve found the morning time, before I begin my day the most helpful because the quiet, thoughtful stillness enables me to pro-actively set the tone for the day.
Just realize that you do not have to be at the whim and mercy of your negative thinking anymore. You can learn how to "obedience train" your mind in the same way you would work out your muscles so that you can participate in a healthy sport, or just simply to actively run or swim. The mind is no different; it just wants us to think that it is!
For the next week, try the following:
1.) Set aside 30 minutes a day to meditate or just sit still;
2.) Notice the thoughts running through your head; write them down if you want
3.) When you notice a negative voice or thought, say "Stop" and re-direct your thinking to something positive. Google on "positive thoughts" or affirmations if you have none, find some and when you notice the negative thought, read your affirmation.
4.) Think of your mind as a muscle that you are just starting to work out after a very long time of not working it out. So give it time to get in shape. Be kind to yourself. Allow yourself room to grow.
So come on and take your Mind for a walk and give it some fresh air!
Bio: Coach Lynn Kindler - (http://www.sacredpathcoaching.com), offers Professional Life Coaching for individuals and groups wanting to discover and identity their unique personality strengths for success. She is a graduate of Coach University, an Associate Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and is also certified through SUN® and offers the SUN Coaching program (http://www.suncoaching.com) for clients who are ready to use the awareness of their strengths to lead them to success in their lives! Lynn’s forte is helping clients discover their life purpose so that they can live their lives “on purpose. “ She also coaches high profile people who want to define a successful life in their own terms. Coach Lynn leads self-care retreats in the state of Texas that combine spiritual growth along with Career and Personal Success. Please contact Lynn at lynnkindler@sacredpathcoaching.com
