How important do you think thought force is in your overall health and happiness? It is our most powerful force. The thoughts we have turn up in our words and our actions, they become our life. In our Yoga practice we not only develop our bodies to the highest ideal in all respects, but we also develop our minds to their highest state so that we always act from our highest self.
We must ask ourselves; what are our thoughts on things and how are we so sure that they are right? Ask yourself, "How do my thoughts serve me?" Are your thoughts yours or are you just mimicking others' beliefs? Some of us have brought our ancestors' thoughts of hates, prejudices and the like into our lives without ever questioning where they have come from. We have also brought forth others' thinking on aging, illness, lack and limitation. We have brought forth fixed ideas on how we should look, act and feel. Your thoughts are an energy, a vibration that emanates out from you. It becomes your magnetism. Is this thought one that you would want to shine out from you? Getting your thoughts under control and saying no to negative, limiting old ideas of your is important to your self growth. Just as we say in our Yoga practice that we can move beyond our limits each day, we can say to our minds we will turn these thoughts around.
How do we change our thoughts? We take them out and examine them in our quiet time. Remember what you focus on is what you get. We must focus on what we want not what we don't want. If you want more money don't keep thinking of how broke you are. Think about all the ways that you are prosperous. Think about every dime turning into your fortune. Put your mind on what you want in thought. Change your words to the positive and your actions will follow. Form a picture of yourself in your mind's eye and direct your energies that way. Practice stillness and concentration. Stop several times a day and become still, if only for a minute. Take a deep breath and re-center your self, as you do redefine your thoughts. Balancing movements are great to bring the feeling of being centered, focused and calm.
Do your balancing movements often throughout the day. Let your eyes stare straight ahead, this will anchor you to your spot. Stand on one foot, placing the other foot on the inside of your opposite calf and stay there. Count yourself up to a minute or two. Do each leg. When you are finished change the thought that you are working on. In this way you can redirect thought energies.
Take your mind off illness and put it on health. Begin to see yourself as a strong healthy person filled with vitality. Say this as often as possible: "I am a strong, healthy person filled with vitality." Health is an inside job. First begin to see yourself with these qualities then begin to live them. It will only be a matter of time until your thoughts have changed your life.
Planting the seeds of new thought: Start to affirm to yourself as often as you can. "I am calm, centered, focused, unafraid, loving and filled with courage." Make this your mantra. Before you go to sleep and when you awake, each time that you are done with your meditation, when the mind is open and receptive. Repeat those words and plant the seeds of new thought many times a day. "I am calm, centered, focused, unafraid, loving and filled with courage." Say them out loud as often as possible. Begin to feel as if you possessed all those qualities and you soon will. Begin to live these words as you live out your daily life.
We can change our lives by thought force. Look around you. Everything you see was once just a thought. Your thoughts about yourself and your world shine out from you. They express themselves in your body, your relationships, your body and how you make your world. Thoughts can be changed. It takes an open mind and willingness to try something a new way. It takes perseverance and patience. It can be done. Remember the quote "How a man/women thinketh".
In Yoga, we continually train the mind as well as the body. You bring the mind under control and stop it from jumping from thought to thought. You become more consciousness of your thoughts. Through concentration in balanced postures we train the will force to be strong and sharp. Through meditation we train the mind to empty so that you can acquire spiritual realization which will bring a harmonious atmosphere in which you can build new healthy life alive with possibilities. Take yourself out of the prison of thought. Open your mind, expand your thinking and you will experience all that you never dreamed possible |