We had often become frustrated and angry with ourselves for entertaining the same old
thoughts and actions over and over, even though we knew we no longer wanted them. It
was particularly helpful to us to understand that repetition is a necessary part of
changing our thought patterns because the false mind has embedded its
worldview in the brain, and reinforced its thought system with addictive chemicals.
Through experience we’ve found that breaking this addictive thought cycle requires the same
strategy as breaking any other chemical addiction.
If we’ve allowed our thoughts (and in turn our emotions) to run wild, this can appear to be
as daunting a task as walking through the desert without a compass or water. This is where
intention, resolve and vigilance come into play. Are we willing to carefully monitor the thoughts
that pass through our brain, question what the false mind tells us and reject any thoughts or
actions that support separation and specialness? Are we willing to remove our thought
processes from the shared consciousness of false minds that dominate our illusion? Are we
willing to think differently than the majority of our brothers? Are we willing to be attentive to
the messages our Father sends us? Are we willing to accept those messages even if they
differ radically from what we’re accustomed to? Are we willing to keep going even when the
process feels uncomfortable? We ask the question, “are you willing,” over and over
because willingness implies joining our will to the will of our Father. We can take
heart in the fact that no matter how bad off the prodigal son was, once he had resolved to
return and started walking, nothing could stand in his way; desire takes us nowhere, but
intention and resolve can carry us anywhere.
Just like any other addict, we begin to change when we decide we’re paying too high a
price for our “fix.” But like the addict whose body is unwilling to give up its drug without a fight,
the false mind generally does not readily relinquish the connections it’s established in our
brain. When we choose to drop an unproductive thought the brain connections
that supported that thought must be dismantled a bit at a time and new
connections established to support the replacement thought. The effect can be
much the same as if we were tearing out old wiring in a house; we can expect some
discomfort, chaos and mess before the new wiring is in place. When we learn to type, play the
piano or sink a basketball, we must repeat the action over and over so a brain connection can
be established that will make the correct motion automatic. We’ve found that changing the
brain’s thought patterns requires the same type of repetitive practice.
The reason vigilance and repetition are necessary tools to change is made clear in
Wisdom of the Ages as author Wayne W. Dyer notes, “It has been estimated that the
average person has sixty thousand separate thoughts each and every day. The
problem with this is that we have the same sixty thousand thoughts today that we
had yesterday, and we’ll repeat them again tomorrow. Our minds are filled with the
same chatter day in and day out.” At first we may find that our thought processes are as
flabby and undisciplined as the body of a couch potato who’s decided to train for a marathon.
But more than one out of shape person has become a successful marathon runner, and if we
consistently monitor our thoughts and replace those we discard with something more
conducive to oneness, we’ll succeed as well.
thoughts and actions over and over, even though we knew we no longer wanted them. It
was particularly helpful to us to understand that repetition is a necessary part of
changing our thought patterns because the false mind has embedded its
worldview in the brain, and reinforced its thought system with addictive chemicals.
Through experience we’ve found that breaking this addictive thought cycle requires the same
strategy as breaking any other chemical addiction.
If we’ve allowed our thoughts (and in turn our emotions) to run wild, this can appear to be
as daunting a task as walking through the desert without a compass or water. This is where
intention, resolve and vigilance come into play. Are we willing to carefully monitor the thoughts
that pass through our brain, question what the false mind tells us and reject any thoughts or
actions that support separation and specialness? Are we willing to remove our thought
processes from the shared consciousness of false minds that dominate our illusion? Are we
willing to think differently than the majority of our brothers? Are we willing to be attentive to
the messages our Father sends us? Are we willing to accept those messages even if they
differ radically from what we’re accustomed to? Are we willing to keep going even when the
process feels uncomfortable? We ask the question, “are you willing,” over and over
because willingness implies joining our will to the will of our Father. We can take
heart in the fact that no matter how bad off the prodigal son was, once he had resolved to
return and started walking, nothing could stand in his way; desire takes us nowhere, but
intention and resolve can carry us anywhere.
Just like any other addict, we begin to change when we decide we’re paying too high a
price for our “fix.” But like the addict whose body is unwilling to give up its drug without a fight,
the false mind generally does not readily relinquish the connections it’s established in our
brain. When we choose to drop an unproductive thought the brain connections
that supported that thought must be dismantled a bit at a time and new
connections established to support the replacement thought. The effect can be
much the same as if we were tearing out old wiring in a house; we can expect some
discomfort, chaos and mess before the new wiring is in place. When we learn to type, play the
piano or sink a basketball, we must repeat the action over and over so a brain connection can
be established that will make the correct motion automatic. We’ve found that changing the
brain’s thought patterns requires the same type of repetitive practice.
The reason vigilance and repetition are necessary tools to change is made clear in
Wisdom of the Ages as author Wayne W. Dyer notes, “It has been estimated that the
average person has sixty thousand separate thoughts each and every day. The
problem with this is that we have the same sixty thousand thoughts today that we
had yesterday, and we’ll repeat them again tomorrow. Our minds are filled with the
same chatter day in and day out.” At first we may find that our thought processes are as
flabby and undisciplined as the body of a couch potato who’s decided to train for a marathon.
But more than one out of shape person has become a successful marathon runner, and if we
consistently monitor our thoughts and replace those we discard with something more
conducive to oneness, we’ll succeed as well.
When we noticed a thought we wanted to drop we
would stimulate the brain to make new connections by
asking ourselves such questions as: “What do I want?
What is my goal in this situation? What will this thought
project? Do I want to see the effect that thought will
produce? Are my thoughts taking me further from, or
closer to, oneness? What has real value to me?” If we
find ourselves asking the question, “Why me?” we
will only reinforce the belief in victimization and
inhibit our growth. But the question, “What is this
for?” asked with an open mind that’s willing to
accept the answer, will always lead us forward.
would stimulate the brain to make new connections by
asking ourselves such questions as: “What do I want?
What is my goal in this situation? What will this thought
project? Do I want to see the effect that thought will
produce? Are my thoughts taking me further from, or
closer to, oneness? What has real value to me?” If we
find ourselves asking the question, “Why me?” we
will only reinforce the belief in victimization and
inhibit our growth. But the question, “What is this
for?” asked with an open mind that’s willing to
accept the answer, will always lead us forward.
Chapter Twelve
No more words.
Hear only the voice within.
Rumi
Hear only the voice within.
Rumi
Ask yourself if it were possible that
God would have a plan for you that
does not work.
A Course in Miracles
God would have a plan for you that
does not work.
A Course in Miracles
Where Do I Go From Here?
Where Do I Go From Here?
Accessing Our True Mind
| Copyright © 2007 Oroborus Books Lee and Steven Hager |
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