#938 Quit thinking thoughts that imprison you

by Dean Dwyer on March 10, 2010 · View Comments

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world. -Buddha-

I think Bud (I can only assume that is what Buddha’s pals called him) sums things up rather succinctly.

The problem however is when we fail to recognize that we can be a  slave to our thoughts.  When they are left on their own, well they are akin to an unsupervised 3 year old with a permanent marker and a wall (or a valued book as my niece once proved to me).   The probability that they are going to create something that is neither wanted nor easily removed is almost assured.

Yup it’s true.  Our thoughts can quickly turn on us to become our own worst enemy and work vehemently to squash our dreams.

For this reason they should never ever be underestimated.

They are crafty little critters.  They have mastered the art of disguise and can pass themselves off as something they are not.  They are also shifty and bendy, trained in the art of unlawful entry slipping in undetected as doors are closing or zipping past when chaos abounds. And once they are in, they unleash hell like a deadly computer virus, leaving us feeling helpless, crippled or imprisoned within the confines of our own mind.

The good news is there is a cure.

Unwanted thoughts are like burned out light bulbs.  We can simply replace them with ones that work; those that empower us. We just need to be present to catch ourselves when we are thinking something that is unwanted.

And when we do, don’t feed them. Don’t look directly at them. And for heaven sakes don’t make any sudden movements (this is also helpful should you find yourself face to face with a bear or an extremely irate duck). Just change them.

So what is the one thought you need to be wary of?  If you are curious, head over to the comment section and check out my biggest nemesis.  And if you are up to sharing, maybe you can add one that you need to be most wary of.

To ideas worth quitting,

Dean

ps…help set someone free and forward this to them.  And if you are new to the site, poke around a few of the other posts and if you like what you see why not subscribe.

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  • Mark Clark
    Good point: our self-perspective does much to determine who we are and what we can accomplish. Our potential to grow/develop/mature/succeed is directly proportionate to the perspective we have of ourselves and our environment.
    Also remember: everyone else has a self-perspective. They have their own thoughts. They are creating their own world and worldview. It is how our worlds integrate that will make the difference. They will either cross pollinate and enrich each other or be on a violent collision course.
    Our thoughts must include others or they will be truly defective thoughts—and God had nothing to do with them. They are born out of our own selfishness.
  • I wouldn't confuse the comic with the post Mark. They seldom match up in terms of what the true meaning of the post is about. I would disagree however that thoughts are born out of our own selfishness. Much of what you and I think is uncontrolled...from the standpoint that many of the thoughts that pop into our head just kind of show up. Few are deliberately placed there. Now why they end up there is certainly up for debate.
  • While I have many that I need to fight off I think my arch-enemy of unwanted thoughts would be that one that says that I just am an employee...that I should be working for others. People who live off their own wits have special skills that I just don't have. I am not an authority in any area so the idea of taking a risk and creating a life, following that which I am passionate about, is just stupid.
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