Mind Alchemy Final Day (aka the end of the beginning)

‘And now the end is near and so I face….’ well, actually a very bright future. Final day on the Mind Alchemy course but the consensus is that this is really only the ‘end of the beginning’. The Group, through Facebook and Steven Aitchison’s CYT blog will stay and grow together.

This has been an intensive but fabulous and very inspiring month’s journey. I’ve commented before about Steven’s gritty and down-to-earth approach and this has been a big part of the success of this course.

I was familiar with a lot of the content but I undoubtedly now have a refreshed focus and desire to advance. Writing everyday has been challenging, and I’d like to thank everyone who has visited (including the silent majority), especially my regular commenters. 😉

We have looked at outcomes, values, emotions, guided visualisations, relaxation, gratitude and, of course the need to take action. There has been none of that guru mumbo-jumbo here.

I practice stilling my mind together with relaxation (good going for a guy known as ‘road-runner or ‘Tasmanian devil’!) and feel a calmness and control as I move forward on my outcomes every day. More importantly, I have made some very good friends along the way. And for me, that’s what this life is all about; caring, sharing, helping each other out.

Imagine all the people living fulfilled lives, overflowing with contentment, their dreams a reality, and no more fear or anxiety, or low-confidence and lack of self-belief… I can, what about you?

Mind Alchemy Day 24 – Reciprocity

Day 24 – Reciprocity. Well, actually we are looking beyond the Law of Reciprocity at the act of Giving without the expectation of response or anything in return. I am a big fan of this and believe it sits at the very heart of our intended humanity.

Giving or letting go is the first of Six Keys to Buddhist Living. The Buddha taught that generously giving (ie without expecting reward) would bring you abundant joys and benefits. Your giving can extend to time, money and material goods. It can include giving reassurance, support and protection, or giving or imparting your spiritual and practical knowledge.

And don’t get caught in a trap where you say, ‘I would give, but only to the deserving’. The Buddha taught that you ‘should give to 10 different kinds of people: enemies, friends and those you haven’t made up your mind about; the ethical and the unethical; your equals, inferiors and superiors; those who are helpful and happy, and those who are harmful and angry’. So pretty well everyone. Are you able to do that?

I give without expectation as often as I can. Perhaps the cynic in me says that’s because we live in a world that only reluctantly shows gratitude. But that’s not really the point, is it?

You see, the reciprocal of me giving freely, is also allowing a certain vulnerability that I am also ready to receive because there are others like me. And of course if you appreciate what it’s like to be on ‘the receiving end of generosity’, you’re likely to be much better at giving.

What do you think?

Mind Alchemy Day 19 – Unconscious Gratitude

Day 19 is all about Unconscious Gratitude. Personally, I like to think of subconscious gratitude. That way it is easier for me to perceive this as a habit, a part of your paradigm. I agree with Steven that you need to move deeper to the subconscious and beyond Conscious Gratitude. The former is a part of your being, the latter a moment in time action.

Subconscious gratitude means you are grateful for even (or especially) the things you take for granted; your breath, the air that you breathe, the landscape around you, the farmers and workers that bring food to your table, shop assistants, librarians and the authors, poets and musicians that fill your mind with inspiration, to name but a few.

That is the easy part. What about people you dislike or those that hurt you – can you really be grateful for exchanges you have with them? Well, yes you can. It is difficult and may not even change your relationship at least from the other person’s viewpoint. But my concern is that you find inner-peace and abundance. Gratitude is the first of 6 keys to Buddhist living. Many people will have helped you become and get to what you are today. Be grateful for all that they have helped you achieve. Feed your mind constantly with all that fills you with gratitude and a feeling of contentment, knowing that you give of your best as often as you can.

And remember, you are never alone.

Thought for today…

As I await Steven Aitchison’s Day 8 post on Mind Alchemy, I felt compelled to write this extra little post.

My concern is on picking up on some commenters’ views that successful (personal) thinking will be helped/ made easier by cutting yourself off from the News (largely because most of this is bad or negative). Well, I don’t agree.

Such isolation cuts off my burning desire to help others and how I gain an appreciation of world and individual pains. However, I do not allow myself to be overwhelmed with grievances and tragedies; instead I observe and, at the point of letting go, I think or ask for world peace not war, or abundance rather than poverty, health not disease. That in itself is not the panacea of all ills, unless this approach gathers momentum through many that will lead to a Paradigm Shift.

Just a thought…..

Are you winning?

So have you had a good week? Are you winning? I guess you could ask, winning at what? Well, last week we looked at The Silent Game. This is a game where you compete not with others but rather with yourself, to gain control of your body and mind at will. Debbie Hampton, posted a very insightful and relevant article recently called Pulling weeds and planting flowers. Among the key messages for me were that you need to “pull the weeds” or as I put it last week, observe and throw away grudges and forgive those who have hurt you, as an essential first step of change and finding peace. Similarly, seek forgiveness from those you have hurt.

Then of course there are those other annoying disttractions like anger and deceit, fear and loathing, stress and anxiety – go on yank them all out. That might not happen all in one go. It depends on how over-grown your mind has become. Ridding your mind of all of your “weeds” takes perseverance, hard graft and patience.

Before you can “plant flowers” you need to continue to properly prepare the soil – by being grateful for all that is great in your life; by stilling your mind in preparation for the greatness you will achieve. Like all good gardeners, you don’t then just randomly start to plant seeds or bulbs. No, you must have a firm picture in your mind or visualisation of your prize-winning garden. It doesn’t have to be all the detail – that can come later. But you do need to visualise and plan. You will want to pick your favourite flowers – the changes in your life that you most desire.

But life and gardening are rarely straightforward. To really achieve your dream garden takes persistent care and devotion. Oh, and remember the one sure thing about weeds – they tend to come back…..