Chapter Intro
The feeling that we don’t have control of our own lives is the ultimate frustration. Even when it feels like nothing is going right you are still the master of one thing, your attitude.
Chapter three was all about synchronicity. This chapter is about a topic that’s very closely related to synchronicity…perception.
Perception is the lens or filter in which you see the world. Our perception is as unique as our fingerprints. No two people will see the same thing in the exact same way. This accounts for much of the conflict that goes on in our world.
Since this universe tends to deliver to you more of whatever you hold in your consciousness, the quality of your mood and the way you perceive the world is super important.
At the end of this chapter is a very powerful meditation that can magically transform bad days into good ones.
Read on...
Chapter Five
Perception/Focus on the Positive
Have you ever had a day or even a few hours where everything felt as though it flowed perfectly and the things you do seem effortless? This feels spectacular, doesn’t it?
During days like this, your productivity is amazing and your energy level seems almost infinite. Even if challenges arise, we can stay level-headed and find a quick solution to whatever problem is trying to plague us. When we are in this positive frame of mind we feel a sense of hope, our mood is upbeat, and the world seems like a beautiful place.
On the other side of the spectrum, we’ve all had those days where we’ve felt clumsy, out of sync with everyone and everything around us, like nothing is going our way. Despite our best efforts, we can’t get anything done, can’t focus, and feel tired and depleted. When we’re in this state of mind we’re often moody, and suspicious of other people’s intentions. The world seems like a dark and dangerous place.
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ~ Albert Einstein
What is the difference between these two kinds of days?
It all comes down to your frame of mind and how your mood filters the events that are unfolding in your life in real time. Often when our day starts out bad our frame of mind devolves into a negative state and this sets off a chain reaction that creates those horrendous “days from hell” that we’ve all experienced.
What if I told you that—today and every day—you have a huge degree of control over what kind of day you have?
The truth is, you do have considerable control and that is directly related to whether you choose an optimistic or pessimistic state of being. It might sound overly simplistic but you can choose to be miserable or you can choose to be happy. You are not a victim of circumstance, the quality of your life is determined to a large degree by your perception of it.
“You are not a victim of circumstance, the quality of your life is determined to a large degree by your perception of it.”
Allow me to explain. In our physical universe, like attracts like. The more you meditate, the more you will notice this. If you walk around with a general feeling of dread and hopelessness, you will attract a flood of negativity into your life. If your mood is upbeat and positive, these are the life experiences you will attract. Again, like attracts like.
As you begin to regularly meditate you will naturally become more positive as you increase your mindfulness and by doing so you will attract an abundance of positive experiences into your life. Don’t take my word for it: once you begin your regular meditation practice, you will see for yourself.
Change
Imagine a terrible thunderstorm with driving rain, lightning and terrible winds. It is the trees that are flexible and bend in the wind that have the best chances of survival. The trees that stand rigid are usually damaged or destroyed. The same holds true for life. We must learn to keep a somewhat open mind and not always fight change. Change is scary for almost everyone but it is sometimes necessary to improve our circumstances.
In this life, change is the only constant. Change, on some level, happens all around us in every moment of every day. In this rapidly evolving world, those who are the most successful in life are those who manage change well. Our ability to deal positively with change greatly affects the quality of our lives.
Your Soul’s Guidepost
Your level of happiness and fulfillment are our soul’s guidepost. During your meditation practice, as in life, your level of happiness and fulfillment are our indicators that tell us if we’re moving forward or slipping backwards.
If you are pessimistic and unhappy most of the time, your soul is merely trying to tell you that there is something in your internal or external life that isn’t right and needs to change. Fortunately, you are the person who is best suited for the job of deciphering what this is and creating a positive shift in your life.
So if you find yourself in a pessimistic funk ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this way?”
“Happiness doesn’t come from having the best of everything but making the best of everything.” ~ Gail Lynne Goodwin
A regular routine of meditation gives you the tools necessary to make clear-headed decisions and deal positively with change. Not unlike a lot of things in life, if you keep up your practice you will see real, tangible results.
Keep in mind that meditation isn’t always easy, but is a very honest practice. You receive out of it exactly what you put into it. Don’t expect miracles right away but one thing is for sure; with continued and dedicated practice, tangible gifts will begin to materialize in your life.
Regaining Control
How many of us have found ourselves in situations that feel like they’re careening out of control?
Our thoughts can easily send us into a downward spiral of negative emotions like rage, jealousy, or fear. In this physical world, we don’t always have control over the things that happen to us but we can have control over how our brain processes the events and our reactions to these external influences. Most of us have been conditioned to react subconsciously to certain situations that arise in our environment. We don’t take the time to think or to analyze.
"Man is free at the moment he wishes to be." ~ Voltaire
These automatic emotional reactions can easily spin out of control and result in embarrassment or damaged relationships. How would you like to not only take steps to better your external circumstances but also have the freedom to react to those inevitable, unpleasant external conditions with clear headed confidence and poise? Among the countless benefits of regular meditation is the freedom from those seemingly uncontrollable emotional reactions of anger, jealousy and fear that we usually end up regretting.
A common trait of those who regularly meditate is their ability to control the most important instrument in the world, their own minds. Just as a virtuoso perfects the playing of an instrument, a person who meditates learns to be the master of the most powerful instrument imaginable, their own mind.
What could you accomplish in this world if you controlled your thoughts instead of your thoughts controlling you?
Putting It Into Practice
Over the next twenty-four hours try to be as conscious as possible of your state of mind. Are you generally feeling more pessimistic or optimistic?
Be conscious of things that spark negative moods in you like anger, frustration, and fear. When these situations arise, instead of losing your temper or allowing yourself to spiral into a bout of anxiety or a bad mood try something different.
Ask yourself, “What is this trying to teach me?” Many times the answer is just one thing, patience. If someone cuts you off in traffic or is rude to you for no apparent reason, try to remember that it’s not a personal assault against you, more than likely this person is just having a bad day. You can choose to honk your horn or give them the finger and perpetuate the cycle of negativity or just choose to ignore it and go about with your day.
Pause, take a deep breath and allow yourself a few seconds before automatically reacting to these types of situations. If you’re consistent in doing this you’ll not only regain control of your emotional stability but you’ll begin to notice that outside events will have less of an emotional impact on you.
A Powerful Meditation to Shift to a Positive State of Consciousness
This meditation exercise is a very simple and effective tool that has the power to magically transform bad days into good ones. It’s also simple enough to remember and use whenever you need it.
The next time you feel like your day is diving into a downward spiral all you have to do is break the negative cycle. Use the following meditation exercise to shift yourself to a more positive state of consciousness. Here it goes.
Find a secluded spot where you can have some privacy -- an empty room where you can close the door, your car, or even a bathroom stall. Now sit and close your eyes.
Bring your attention to your breath. Shut out the entire outside world and focus on nothing but your breath.
With eyes closed, smile and imagine the warm, golden sunlight on your face.
Breathe slowly and deeply for a repetition of three inhalations and exhalations.
While continuing to smile and imagining the sun on your face inhale for a count of 5, hold the breath for a count of 5, exhale for a count of 7.
Repeat step 4 until you feel your mood and consciousness begin to shift to a more positive state.