What we could recently hear from the mouths of wise men from all cultures, gurus, mystics and esotericists, is now acknowledged by modern science – that our thoughts have created our world and continue to do so. It is now known that negative thinking weakens our immune system, so it is really important what we think about.
Neuroscientists, such as Gerald Hüther or Mario Alonso Puig, today prove or simply confirm old knowledge about the functioning of our brain. It has been shown that thoughts and words have vital energy that causes real changes in the physical world. Positive thoughts strengthen our immune system, and negative thoughts weaken it. Every shift in our perceptions is reflected in muscle movement. Our limbic system in the brain, where our emotions are processed, and the frontal part of the brain where higher thinking processes flow, are especially closely connected.
Simply put, our thoughts try to confirm what we feel. For example, if we get out of bed on the “wrong foot,” in a bad mood, it seems that everything around us confirms that feeling. that everything has conspired against us: the morning coffee is too cold, the butter is too hard, as well as the egg and, of course, the bread; our partner doesn’t understand us, the children are unbearable, all the traffic lights are red, the drivers are rude, and so on. And when we start the day in a good mood, the coffee is excellent, as well as the fresh and soft egg, butter and bread.
If we decide to be happy, we will perceive things differently and our thoughts will give us a thousand reasons to be happy. Modern brain research proves that changes in the observer change the object of observation. We never see the world the way it really is, but rather the way we are ourselves.
Old story
A wise man sat at the gates of his city. One day, a stranger approached him with a question: “Surely you can tell me what kind of people live in this city?” The wise man gently looked at him and said, “What are the people like where you come from?” “Dear, helpful, generous, very pleasant people,” replied the stranger. “That’s how they are in this city too,” the wise man replied. This made the stranger he entered the city with a smile on his face.
Shortly after, another stranger passed by the wise man and asked him the same question: “Tell me, what are the people like in this city?” The wise man also asked him: “What were they like where you were last?” “Terrible, rude and arrogant. That’s why I moved away.” The wise man said to him: “I’m afraid they are the same in this city.”
This simple story by an unknown author confirms what modern science also says: the world is as we are.
No! and Yes!
A child hears the word “no” almost 30,000 times by the age of two. “No, you can’t do that!”, “No, don’t touch that!”, “No, that’s not for you!” – parents constantly repeat. It is true that children need boundaries, it is also true that children must learn to accept the word no, but despite all that, one should be aware that every no creates a mental blockage.
And there is a story about it. One day, the frogs decided to compete in jumping. In order to make the competition more demanding, they set the goal high g from the tower. On the day of the competition, a large audience of frogs gathered. Among the spectators, there was not a single frog who truly believed that the competitors would actually reach the goal. Instead of cheering them on, the audience shouted, “Oh no, they will never succeed!” or “It’s simply impossible!” Everything pointed to the fact that the audience was right, as more and more competitors became discouraged. The audience continued to shout, “Oh no, poor things! You will never succeed!” Soon, all the frogs gave up, except for one who persistently climbed to the top – and was the only one to reach the goal. The audience was astonished and wanted to know how she managed to do it. Only when one of the contestants approached her to ask the secret of her success, it became apparent that the winning frog was deaf…
Every yes straightens our body, creates positive tension in it, stimulates our brain activity and the release of endorphins, and much more. Every yes, every form of positive thinking develops and enhances our strength and healing abilities.
The spirit shapes matter. Unfortunately, school programs do not include education of our mind, such as practicing concentration and meditation. Therefore, many people are not aware of the power of their thoughts and how they shape their lives. We often underestimate the impact that our thoughts have on our words, actions, and ultimately our happiness. It is important to realize that we are the creators of our own happiness, and it all begins with our thoughts. By cultivating positive thoughts and focusing our minds, we can lead a more fulfilling and successful life. Just like a potter visualizes the clay pot before creating it, we should have a clear vision of what we want to achieve in order to manifest it in our reality. So let us remember the wisdom of Gautama Buddha and strive to become the masters of our own thoughts, leading us to a more joyful and purposeful existence. Many are still at the mercy of a lack of concentration and repetitive thoughts. Most still think: My thoughts – that’s who I am! Instead of: I have thoughts that I can control and direct!
No pain, no gain
Our body is like a vehicle in which we travel through the world and everyday life, and the same goes for our emotional and mental body. Through them, we understand the world and shape it. And just as we have learned to take care of our body and its hygiene, and strengthen it to make it durable, we should also get used to taking care of our mental world.
The most important tool of our thinking is certainly concentration. Due to a lack of concentration, we waste time and are slower, therefore, a lack of concentration is one of the main reasons for stress. With good concentration, we are faster, and time slows down. This phenomenon is known to martial arts masters when the movements of their opponents seem slower due to increased concentration.
The mortal enemy of concentration is distraction. The focus we often mask today with the term multitasking. While having breakfast, we read the newspapers, listen to the morning news, and at the same time discuss details with family members. The consequences are forgetfulness, poor perception, misunderstandings, and ultimately, nervousness and stress. When someone once asked a wise man what the secret to his happiness was, he replied: “When I sit, I sit. When I walk, I walk. When I eat, I eat.” It’s that simple, but in order to be present in the moment, we need complete concentration.
An Empty Glass
There is a common misconception that we need to fill our minds with everything and anything. From birth, we fill our brains with various facts and information. Another very common misconception, diametrically opposed to the first one, is that the mind should be left completely empty.
And there is a short story about that. One day, a girl came to the master who had heard a lot about the wise man and was eager for him to teach her. She greeted the master, who was sitting on the floor drinking tea, and began telling him everything she had learned. Then she asked him to teach her something new. The wise man poured her a cup of tea and kept pouring until the tea started overflowing from the cup. The girl was surprised and asked him what he was doing. The master replied, “The mind is like this cup. If it is already full, how can it receive anything new? First, empty your mind and then you can learn.” And he deepens his knowledge. The master kindly smiled and said, “Visit me again in a month.” Confused by such a response, the girl returned to the valley where she discussed with her friends the reason for his rejection. After a month, she climbed the mountain again to the master who was sitting on the floor drinking tea. She then explained to him all the hypotheses and assumptions she had discussed with her friends about why he had sent her back to the valley a month ago. She asked him again if she could stay and learn. The master smiled again and said, “Visit me again in a month.” This happened several more times. After several unsuccessful attempts, the girl came back to the master and saw that he was still sitting on the floor drinking tea. Smiling without words, she sat opposite him. After some time, the teacher got up and went to his residence. He soon returned with a cup of tea and said, “Now you can stay and learn with me. I cannot pour anything into a full cup.” And he filled the empty cup with tea. I see…
Just as we carefully choose our food, we must also carefully choose the thoughts with which we fill our minds. Before that, it is necessary to cleanse the mind. It is clear, namely, that we do not nourish ourselves with what we eat, but with what we digest. That’s why the ancient sages suggest that we dedicate approximately the same amount of time to thinking about what we read as we spend on reading itself.
You are what you think
Every thought and every imagination strives for fulfillment. The ancient sages knew that no thought goes to waste. Everything we think of sooner or later comes back to us. That’s why it’s important what kind of thoughts we have – about ourselves as well. If you think you are a loser, it will be difficult for you to win, or to admit that you have won. If you think of yourself as a coward, you will be terrified in every life challenge.
Our understanding will change as soon as we start actively shaping our emotions. Imagine yourself the way you want to be. The more often you succeed in doing that and the clearer the imagination, the closer the mental projection will be to reality. You will become what you think.