Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Thoughts - "I think, therefore I am"

“I think, therefore I am” - Rene Descartes

Descartes quote clearly defines what it means to be human – “I think, therefore I am” …I have thoughts, so therefore I exist. If you examine this quote a little closer, a deeper meaning will begin to emerge.

All mammals think; however, humans have special feature called consciousness.

The fact that “I think”, (consciousness awareness) means I have a personal perspective that affects the way I see the world around me. This perspective is largely based on experiences, interactions, (and the tricky part) and interpretations.

The way I perceive (I think) the world creates the person (I am) that you know through my behavior.

Since all of our perceptions are based on experiences and interactions, we all see the world through our own lens.

As Yoda said, “we find what we bring”

With that being said, let’s take a look at the unique perception that creates the thoughts that triggers the behavior that defines each one of us as a unique human being.

Some people naturally think positive thoughts; I got this! No problem! Get out of my way! Who cares what they think. I don’t lose, I learn! A person with this attitude is seen as mentally strong, assertive, and self-confident.

There are also those who think negative; I’ll never make it. It’s too hard. What will they think? I can’t do it. I’m not smart enough. A person with this attitude may be labeled as one who catastrophizes, procrastinates, and has low self-esteem.

As you can see, our thoughts have narratives. The narrative, or internal dialogue, is the little voice in our head that comments on our life, whether that is what is going on around us, or what we are thinking consciously or manifest sub-consciously.

All of us have an internal dialogue, and it’s running all the time. In Buddhism it’s called the monkey mind. Buddha described the human mind as being filled with drunken monkeys, jumping around, screeching, chattering, and carrying on endlessly.

“We all have monkey minds”, Buddha said, “with dozens of monkeys all clamoring for attention.” Fear is an especially a loud monkey, sounding the alarm incessantly, pointing out all the things we should be wary of and everything that could go wrong.

In psychology, these incessant thoughts are called cognitive distortion or automatic negative thoughts (ANT’s).

The less awareness we have of these thoughts, the more they define us.

Some of us, however, are more aware of our thoughts. When I say aware I mean the ability to separate self from the thoughts by becoming the observer. When you observe the thoughts you have a better understanding and are able to clarify and evaluate the thoughts by applying logic and reason to what is happening.

Michael Singer is the author of #1 New York Times bestseller The Untethered Soul, had this to say about “watching” thoughts (this implies becoming the observer);
“To attain true inner freedom, you must be able to objectively watch your problems instead
of being lost in them. No solution can possibly exist while you’re lost in the energy of a
problem. Everyone knows you can’t deal well with a situation if you’re getting anxious,
scared, or angry about it. The first problem you have to deal with is your own reaction.”

Follow me for the next 7 short blogs that will cover:

- Internal dialogue

- Becoming the observer

- Changing the internal dialogue

- Violent positivity

- Living in the present

- Gratitude and acceptance

- Mastering self

Please feel free to comment!


Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Become the Observer

“Personal awareness precedes personal transformation”

If you’re tired of people, look no further than yourself.

That’s right – take a look at you.

There’s only one person you can change, and that’s you!

Self-awareness is having the ability to step back and see yourself from a distance, to analyze your internal dialogue, and to examine your agendas and expectations.

The most important part (and the hardest part) is to observe all these things from a nonjudgmental perspective. When it comes to personal perspectives we are all guilty of cognitive biases and blind spots that work against our quest for self-knowledge.

Follow these steps:

- Awareness of the internal dialogue

- Clarify and evaluate the thoughts (don't judge)

- Acceptance (change what you can change - let go of what you cannot)


“Know thy self; the unexamined life is not worth living” - Socrates

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Mastery of Self

The anxious sense of self
Forged in a flawed reality
The blind internal drives
Percolating in the cortex just beneath

Ubiquitous is the struggle
Antiquities impressions preside
Reptilian hardwired features
Dominance – an extreme will to survive

Anxiety, fear, and anger
Emotions hard to please
Audacious insatiable appetites
Malignant cancerous disease

The struggle - the fight
A metaphorical demonic hold
We fall - dropping to our knees
Surrendering to our insufferable lonely souls

A metamorphosis occurs
Emerging - as if from a really bad dream
Awareness to the Truth
Nothing - is as it seems

We’re not worthless and dirty
Decrepit and weak
We’re a conscious creature of habit
That’s what makes us special and unique

The subconscious desires are what move us
They indiscriminately influence our lives
But consumed in abundance
Tragically – will lead to our demise

So be ravenous in moderation
Temper - don’t deny
Learn to live in the present moment
Be real – not a fictitious virtuous disguise

Awareness of our human nature
Acceptance – the glory; the triumph of our past
Appreciation for this opportunity
Autonomy - liberation manifest at last

The Mastery of Self
Striving to fulfill all that be one can be
Transcending all self-expectations
Profound – a unique master in modernity 

Friday, July 5, 2019

Whats Your Story?

Let’s do this!

I don’t have enough time

I want it bad!

It’s too hard

I don’t lose…I learn!

I’m scared what they might think

You’re never too old!

I’m too old

Right now!

I’ll do it tomorrow


Most times it’s all a matter of perspective