Namaste again! This week I want to direct your attention to the suggestion that you are in control of what thoughts affect you. Your mind will tell you the exact opposite because it wants to hold court as king or queen in its domain. It wants total sovereignty. This is one of the reasons people give up on attempting to quiet their minds. It can feel like a war of wills -- your ego vs. your higher self. And soon of course your higher self will give in because it is not interested in war. The mind, however, can go on forever -- that is, until you stop listening and engaging.
Let's talk about tools to stop the old dynamic of mind dominating spirit. After teaching hypnotherapy and meditation for several decades, I have developed a pretty large tool kit. First, let's establish one thing. You are not the ongoing story in your mind. Who you really are is much greater: eternal, limitless, free, all-loving. The mind's story, or the ego self, exists by reflecting on the past or future and constantly comparing itself in an effort to bring new drama to its elusive existence.
So, let's say that you have chosen a quiet time of the day, in a serene setting (with no technology to distract you), and you are in a relaxed position ready to let go into peace. Notice the sounds around you then let them be a source of comfort and healing. Tell yourself "every sound relaxes me deeper." I have successfully used this tool many times in hypnotherapy when the 5:17 evening train from San Francisco races by. And clients do go deeper!
Now it is time to go inside. You breathe effortlessly and close your eyes, ready to ascend. But someone else would like your attention and compulsively begins its dialogue. "I wonder what I should make for dinner?" it questions. "Should I watch the U.S. Open or Bill Moyers?" And blah, blah, blah. You tell the voice to be quiet, to go away, to dissolve. But the minute you take a stand the discussion will broaden.
Soon the mind is producing stories to seduce you into worrying or scheming or inventing more challenges. So you can remain important in its eyes, so it can believe its existence is paramount.
This is when you need to take a nice deep breath and move back . In other words, this is the moment to go from actor in the big story of your life to passive observer. See your thoughts whizzing by like tennis balls releasing from a tennis ball machine and all you have to do is gracefully duck... even if the machine is as powerful player Rafael Nadal. Let Rafa unload ball after ball. As you watch your thoughts sail by keep saying, "I don't care... I am so relaxed and peaceful." Practice this often and get good at it. Gradually you won't care one bit.
Here are this week's invocations for inner peace:
1.I am relaxed, clear, and grounded.
2.I relax as I breathe into my place in the Universe.
3.I relax as I listen to my heartbeat.
4.Breathing in I am in touch with the Source of Life. Breathing out I am free.
5.Breathing in every cell within me smiles.
6.Breathing out I realize how blessed I am.
7.There is no past or future. I dwell in the present moment.
I will be back with you next week bringing more tools to bring you closer and closer to freedom and bliss. Take care of yourself out there... and in there.
Carol Simone, simply known as Simone, is a spiritual catalyst in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the author of The Goddess of 5Th Avenue, Being Quan Yin, Becoming the Energy of Love and Compassion, The Kiss of the Shaman and others. You can write to her at www.carolsimone.com.
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