“The diseases of the mind are more and more
destructive than those of the body.”
~  Marcus Tullius Cicero. 1st-century BC Roman philosopher

That thoughts become things is not new to our generation. Cicero was aware in the 1^st Century BC.

The ego tries to incessantly fill our heads with worry, judgment, negative and self-defeating thoughts. A recent Higher Awareness article referenced the high-powered negative technology that runs amuck in our mind:

On spam: What unsolicited junk do we allow to enter our minds and distract us from what’s important?

On viruses: What malicious thoughts and behaviors sabotage our dreams and sap our vitality?

On worms: How do we allow fear to worm its way into our lives and subvert our highest intentions?

If only there was a computer service warranty we could take out on our minds. Perhaps there is – but does it ever require constant vigilance…

Silencing the mind. Getting quiet. Replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations.

On getting quiet, Sir J. Lubbock wrote: “Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.”

A few weeks ago I wrote an article summarizing the book, “It Works,” http://rosiebrownrn.com/it-works/. Key points from the book include:

You must know what you want.

You have within you a mighty power capable of giving you that which you earnestly desire.

The Plan: write down on paper, in order of importance, the things and conditions you really want.

Three Positive Rules of Accomplishment:

1)      Read the list of what you want three times each day: morning, noon, and night.

2)      Think of what you want as often as possible.

3)      Do not talk to anyone about your plan except the Great Power within you which will unfold your objective mind the method of accomplishment.

I wrote my list on an index card. A friend then encouraged me to turn the card over and write on the back, “What my life will look like in 6 months.”

How about this? “Ahh! Abundance just everywhere! So happy! My life is an explosion of JOY! My health is fabulous, I am blissfully happy, I am traveling the world! I have so much money with which to enjoy life and help others! I am so, so happy!! My partner is fabulous! I am so in love! Life is so grand! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! So grateful!”

Wonder what can happen if that card is read every day, three times a day? What would you write on your card? What do you want your life to look like in 6 months?

It takes effort to still the mind, sweep away the negative thoughts, and, consequently, cure the diseases of the mind. It can start with taking time every day to be still, empty your head, and then fill the mind back up with the dreams you have written on your index card.

“If each of us sweeps in front of our own steps, the whole world would be clean.”

~  Goethe

All of the great masters counsel that we need time daily for solitude. And if we want our journey in life to be meaningful, then surely we need some free time each day to explore our inner landscapes and uncover our passions. What activities can you cut out of your life to give you more growing room?

Such were the pensive words written today by Higher Awareness.

Time? What is time, and why is there never enough of it?

“Why has time disappeared in our culture? How is it that after decades of inventions and new technologies devoted to saving time and labor, the result is that there is no time left? We are a time-poor society; we are temporally impoverished. And there is no issue, no aspect of human life, that exceeds this in importance. The destruction of time is literally the destruction of life.” ~ Jacob Needleman

And who holds the secrets to where our day flows, our love, our life? Only time, says Enya…

Who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows? Only time…
And who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose? Only time…

Who can say why your heart sighs,
As your love flies? Only time…
And who can say why your heart cries
when your love lies? Only time…

Who can say when the roads meet,
That love might be in your heart?
And who can say when the day sleeps,
that the night keeps all your heart?

Night keeps all your heart…..

Who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose? Only time…
And who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows? Only time…

Who knows? Only time.
Who knows? Only time.

Oh time, you are my friend. Come sit with me a while. Let me tell you my deepest, darkest secrets. Help me know what I am to pursue, where I am to cast my heart.

Who can say where the road goes, where the day flows? Only time. Time, let me sit with you a while. Help me to see where my love gowns, what my heart chose. Who can help me? Only time.

In the midst of canceling all activity in order to meet the manuscript return deadline on Friday, I made myself pause for 30 minutes to take time to meditate. In truth, no matter how “busy” we are, everything runs so much more smoothly if we only convince ourselves to still the mind periodically.  

There have been countless research papers and books published in recent years on the biological and psychological benefits of meditation. Anxiety and stress disturb hormonal balance. Meditation helps to restore hormonal balance and strengthen the immune system.

When I first toyed with the idea of meditation, I discounted it. I didn’t know how, plus I didn’t have the time. Can you relate? I resisted this practice for years. What I eventually learned is that I don’t have time not to meditate.

Several years ago, I attended a personal development weekend workshop with my husband. We all sat in a circle, and the facilitator emphasized that the meditation we were about to experience would be very powerful. It was a long meditation, during which the participants ended up doing all sorts of things—breathing heavy, crying, talking out loud. One guy rolled around on the floor moaning as if having an orgasm. I experienced nothing. Absolutely nothing. We went around the circle, and each person was asked to share what we experienced. When it came to my turn, I declared, “I flunk meditation!”  

My reaction to that experience held me back for ten years. I was convinced I could not meditate. Then one day a friend said to me, “Rosie, the moment you sit down with the intent to meditate, something happens–if you are aware of it or not.” Those words were so freeing for me. It gave me hope.

Then I learned that you do not need to sit in a certain position or chant certain sounds in order to meditate. You can meditate while washing dishes. You can meditate while walking the dogs. You can meditate while admiring the beauty of nature. You can sit at your desk and be still for two minutes. You can play any number of meditation CDs, or you can sit in silence. The point of meditation is to quiet the mind, to stop the chatter, and just be. When thoughts come to your mind, and they will, notice them and let them pass through you. Everyone’s experience with meditation is unique–but one thing is for sure, you cannot flunk meditation.