You Are Not Your Mind…

Practically every minute of evey day our mind is being subjected to a barrage of information and stimuli… and in reality that is ALL we are subjected to…

Confused? Me too… sort of…

For years I lived life in a way where I relinquished my peace of mind to the circumstances surrounding me.

I would talk of how stressful my life was or how worried I was about this circumstance or that unforeseen event. However when you you take the time to realize that your mind simply processes the “information” or “stimuli” around you it does not necessarily identify it as truth or non truth.

Let me explain… 2 people could simultaneously be going through the identical circumstance with similar life experience, similar education, similar resources available to them and yet one could go through the situation with stress and fear and miserable and the other could go through it with peace, joy and gratefulness…

So tell me then… is it the circumstance that is stressful or does one person assess it as such and the other does not assess it as stressful?

Our mind is much like a computer, it is given information to process and outputs possible options or solutions. It can only work with what it is given…

If one mind receives the outside stimuli of a potentially stressful situation and also receives input like “”I’m screwed” or “I’m in over my head” or “I am a victim”… ” I have no options”…. then the mind will take this information and calculate that you should indeed be afraid…

However if the same mind receives the same information of a potentially stressful situation but also inputs information like “I’ve been through worse and survived” or “I enjoy a challenge” or “there is something in here I can learn from and grow along the way” or “I think I can, I think I can” than the mind is going to not see the situation as a threat whatsoever and will not tell the body to worry at all…

So what is it that is giving this additional information to your mind? It is “you”… the person you were created to be…

This “you” is NOT your mind… your mind is a part of “you”… not the other way around.

Start today to know that you are not your mind and you have what it takes to feed into your mind the information necessary to grow, mature, and develop into the person of your dreams…

Bad to the Bone? Born to be Wild? Born Loser?

Question… how come the mountains, the trees, the flowers, the animals, the planets, the forces of nature, the laws of physics, the seasons and most all of creation is able to succeed at what it is supposed to do seemingly without effort and yet us humans who are supposedly the superior being tend to struggle to barely survive?

Does an apple tree have to grunt, grown, plan, set goals, overcome fear and anxiety to produce an apple? Does it not just produce fruit because that is what it was created to do? Isnt it just natural?

I have pasted a portion of a work from Raymond Holliwell (Working With the Law) please carefully consider his views on what you and I were created to be, do and accomplish:

God intended every individual to succeed.

It is God’s purpose that we should become great. It is God’s will that we should not only use, but enjoy, every good in the universe. The Law of God denies man nothing.

We were born to be rich. The powers inherent in us are inexhaustible. Each normal person is endowed with a complete set of faculties which, if properly developed and scientifically applied, will insure success, ever-growing success.

We are made for progress. Everyone contains within themselves the capacity for endless development. Advancement into all things is the Law’s great purpose. By learning to work with the Law in promoting that aim, we may build ourselves into greater and greater success.

All the processes of Nature are successful. Nature knows no failures. She never plans anything but success. She aims at results in every form and manner. To succeed in the best and fullest sense of the term we must, with Nature as our model, copy her methods. In her principles and laws we shall discover all the secrets of success.

Infinite resources are at our disposal. There are no limits to our possibilities. We can develop a wonderful intelligence; thus, all life’s questions may be answered, all Nature’s secrets discovered, and all human problems solved. Nothing is impossible.

Higher faculties, remarkable talents, superior insight, and greater power are dormant in all, and by special psychological methods, these exceptional elements can be developed to an extraordinary degree for actual and practical use. Every mind can develop greatness. It is simply a matter of knowing how. True self-help, self-discovery, self-knowledge, and the proper instruction in applying one’s faculties and using one’s forces will advance any person.

Practice will insure efficiency; use will bring forth results. Success, therefore, is within the reach of every aspiring person.

Do you wish to succeed?

You can. You possess all the essentials within yourself; all you need is to gain a right understanding of the principles and laws upon which success is based, and then to apply the right methods of operating these causes until success is earned.

Move it… I dare You!

There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still
— Franklin D. Roosevelt: was the 32nd President of the United States -

Ever hear the saying “you can’t steer a stationary car”?

If you aren’t moving, you can’t change direction.

I honestly know from experience what it’s like to be paralyzed by fear and I also know from experience it’s better to make a wrong choice and learn from it then to not make any choice at all out of fear and anxiety.

If you dare to make a move and it’s the wrong choice you have the option to learn, adjust, re focus, re aim and choose again.

When you remain in your rut out of fear of failure… fear of criticism… fear of “anything”… you are “stuck” and that is all you are… you have not learned nor will you learn… you haven’t opened new options… you aren’t any closer to being “unstuck” then you were when you first set up camp.

Take a step and remember the feeling of liberty and power to choose your own destiny…

Can’t See the Forest for the Trees… Or “Won’t” See???

In my past posts I have talked about the importance of “acceptance”…

In order to begin experiencing some level of anxiety relief it is crucial to learn to accept “who you are”… “what your life is” and your circumstances exactly as they are at this moment in time.

I have also spoken of the need to develop the ability to see the good in “all” things…situations…circumstances and be able to be truly thankful in them.

To help better understand these ideas I want to share with you a simple story…

You are taking a walk alone through the forest, it is a beautiful day and you are wrapped up in the moment and the experience.

More time and distance pass than you realize, then slowly a feeling of fear and anxiety creeps up inside you…

You are lost…

When you check the time you also realize night time is quickly coming…

The more you walk and run and search the more you know there is nothing familiar… panic begins to set in.

You pray for a miracle… desperately you try every direction for a sign of hope.

Finally when you are the near the end of your rope you come across a landmark… something familiar… an indication of exactly where you are…

Yahooooo…. right?

The only problem is, you are upset because “where” you are is incredibly far from where you want to be or where you think you are…

So you decide that this cannot possibly be correct and you continue to look for a “better” landmark…

For over 20 years I suffered from almost continual feelings of fear and anxiety.

I tried everything… doctors… medication… therapy… positive thinking… prayer… you name it… I tried it.

Looking back I realize how quick I was to determine “nothing works”…

I remember being so frustrated and crying out to God… “why won’t you help me”???

It is so clear to me now… I was surrounded by help… the “landmarks” were everywhere.

My feelings… my emotions… my heart… my mind… my circumstances… my behaviors… my habits… my lifestyle were all very clearly telling me “exactly” where I was and where I needed to go.

Problem was I didn’t like where it was they were saying I was… I didn’t like the “work” required to go where they were telling me to go…

So when  I saw the “landmarks” I would quickly deny… suppress… pretend… ignore… get busy… watch TV… go shopping… work…

It wasn’t a conscious choice but I basically decided I’d rather be lost in the dark woods than to admit where I really am and what I need to do to get “unlost”.

OUCH… right?

What a waste of time… what a waste of life… right?

Absolutely not… I am so thankful that I finally learned to listen and after listening to actually “do”.

My life is exponentially better than it ever has been and it just keeps getting better… I am not talking about my circumstances or finances either… I am speaking of my mind… my peace of heart… my inner calmness… my ability to face whatever situation may come… my renewed excitement and anticipation of what life has to offer…

Now when I see a “landmark” that indicates I have further to go then I thought… I thank it… I appreciate it… I welcome it… I listen to it… because it is telling me the truth and it is the truth that truly has set me free…

Bring on the truth as discouraging as it may seem at first…

This hopefully helps you better understand and tie together the importance of acceptance and thankfulness of all your life presently contains, including… your fears… anxieties… situations… circumstances… habits… relationships (or lack thereof)…

It is all trying desperately to tell you something…

Are you listening?

Seen CNN about Gustav? You Think You’re Stressed?

So you think you have it bad?

I am not saying your problems… fears and anxieties aren’t real… important or significant BUT…

How do you think the people of New Orleans… Louisiana and Mississippi feel?

Check out CNN.com or http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/09/01/gustav/index.html to get an idea.

Just three short years ago in 2005 Hurricane Katrina ripped through the exact same part of the world with one of the most deadly and damaging hurricanes in known history.

I joined a relief effort through Samaritans Purse in 2005 and spent 2 weeks working in the most brutal conditions of heat, humidity, mud, mold, dirt and chaos…

I remember looking with my own eyes at the destruction and still not being able to believe it.

However our one small team of 20 or so Canadians turned tears of despair and hopelessness into tears of joy and gratitude for many families who had no insurance… no money and no home.

Not everyone can jump on a plane and do that type of physical labor but I think most of us regardless of where you are at can think of one small act of kindness for these people.

If nothing else let’s offer up a prayer for comfort… peace… relief and angels of kindness to assist these people through yet another tough time.

It’s a Beautiful Day…

Wherever you are… regardless of your circumstances… despite everything around you… you may have stress… fear… and anxiety… I challenge you to find the beauty in your life.

Take just a few minutes to enjoy nature… watch some children play… enjoy knowing you are loved… be grateful for something precious to you…

I guarantee if you look hard enough everyone can find some beauty in their life they can be thankful for…

Now enjoy the feeling you get when you are focusing on the beauty and hang onto that thought as long as you can thoughout the day…

Try again tomorrow with finding beauty in 2 places of your life…

Have a beautiful day!

What’s the Difference?

How come you can have two people with identical education yet one always gets the “dream” job and the other has a hard time finding one?

Why do two people with similar natural abilities and training find one of them winning gold at the Olympics while the other watches from home on TV?

Ever wonder why some people almost always seem to succeed at whatever they do while others almost always seem to fail or just “get by”?

Is it fair that seemingly a select few get all the new and creative ideas propelling them into exciting new ventures in life while the rest of us live in the “same old” drudgery and routine?

So… what’s the difference?

Does it come down to education?

I think not… there are countless people extremely qualified by what they have learned but still don’t make it in life.

How about experience?

Again… no… everyday high school and college students with little to no experience are moving into the lives of their dreams while much older seasoned veterans who have been around the block and have “been there and done that” are struggling to get by and lost in the rut of life.

Lucky breaks?

Although it is tough to scientifically evaluate “luck”… whether it exists or how someone comes by it (if it does exist)… I would still in my opinion have to say “no”.

Those that seem to “have it” don’t often attribute it to “luck” and those that seem to “lack it” seem to use their “unluckiness” as an excuse to not even try.

What about hard work?Again there are millions slaving away for 10… 12… 16 hours a day 6 or 7 days a week who are just getting by while others are seemingly breezing through life…

 Don’t get me wrong, in no way am I saying you should not get and education or learn from experience or not bother to work hard I am simply saying there has to be something more than just these things.

There are those who believe the world is a cruel place…  it’s dog eat dog and every man/woman for themselves.

While others believe the world is a place full of beauty… opportunity… blessing… abundance and freedom

So who is right?

BOTHConfused? How can both be right? Is that what you’re thinking?

 

 If you have a fear of spiders and one walks across your living room floor even if it isn’t a poisonous spider you will experience anxiety and fear.

If the same spider walks across another persons living room floor who isnt afraid of spiders he may allow it to climb up on his hand while remaining at perfect peace.

Both people experienced the identical circumstance yet their reaction was completely different.

One person believes the spider is bad and scary while the other believes their is no reason to be afraid.

Although a qualified arachnologist (spider expert) will tell you humans are in no danger from most spiders, the fear, anxiety and perceived danger is very real for those with that particular fear.

So one person can see the world as a scary and unfriendly place while another could see the identical world as a beautiful and friendly place.

If then a person who is qualified… educated… and experienced has a core belief the world is against him and that he is only average in his abilities that same person will never excel in his field. This is his perceived reality and he will react to his “world” through that filter.

Whereas someone else with the same education… qualifications and experience with a core belief that the world is a friendly and beautiful place and believes there is nothing he cannot accomplish will more than likely experience great success in whatever he puts his hand to.

How do you see the world?

How do you see yourself?

Does this answer some questions as to why you are where you are?

We All Have a Little Hancock in Us…

My mom was in town visiting and it happened to be my birthday so she took me for dinner and a movie. We went and saw Hancock and half way through it hit me how I think most of us are like him in so many ways.

For those of you who have no idea what the heck “Hancock” is I will do a brief “fill in”.

Hancock is the latest Will Smith movie where Will Smith is an unusual super hero. He can fly, he is bullet proof, he is strong beyond measure but he is a drunken screw-up at the same time.

He means well, he wants to help and yet he tends to kill 10 trying to save 1.

He doesn’t realize who he is… nor the full potential of what he has and certainly not the full potential of who he could be.

How many beautiful people do you know who think they are ugly or amazing musicians who think they can’t carry a note or creative geniuses who think they are average or brilliant business people who believe they can’t provide for their family?

Or from a different angle how many people do you know who have incredible talents and abilities but they do not use them or know they have them or use them but self destruct before they can succeed?

How many of you fit into one of the examples above?

I know I do…

This post isn’t intended to depress you but to encourage you… don’t think of what you’re missing or what you’ve wasted but rather…

Begin to fully use what you have and begin to be “who” you are…

If you don’t know what you have then find it and use it…

We are all super heroes in some way. We all have at least one unique talent or ability that we can do like no other on this planet. Find it and do it, find it and use it.

Use it to bring fulfillment to your life, use it to serve and encourage others to find their “thing”.

Don’t let fear stop you from being “you”, don’t let anxiety hinder you from expressing yourself through your God given talents…

Thank-you… The Power of Gratitude

I was sitting out on my deck this morning enjoying the beautiful sunshine and I had this sense of appreciation come over me for all the people who visit my blog.

It means a lot to me knowing I can share some of what has helped me through the worst of my “anxious” years with others. It means a lot to read your comments and how it has helped you.

So… thank-you to everyone.

While thinking of my gratitude I decided I wanted to share a personal story on just how powerful “gratitude” has been in my life in helping me deal with fear, stress and anxiety and in maintaining a healthy perspective on life.

On June 11, 2006 one hour before my son’s 8th birthday party I had just finished getting everything ready for his 20 friends to arrive and was going to have a quick shower when something occurred that completely changed my life.

My son and an out of town friend of his were on the trampoline waiting for the party so I decided to jump with them a bit before having a shower.

As I was attempting my patented “run and jump and flip onto the trampoline” move, I slipped and fell head first into the ground and broke my neck.

The ambulance arrived within 5 minutes and I was off to the hospital.

After several X-rays, an MRI and a Cat scan the neuro surgeon arrived with the news.

He informed me that I had severely broken my neck and considering I was showing no signs of paralysis told me I was the “luckiest man in the hospital”.

He went on to tell me I should have been dead or at least a quadriplegic.

Although I was experiencing the worst pain imaginable and despite the uncertainty of the future and how I would care for my family during my year long recovery I was completely overwhelmed with gratitude.

There’s a song by “Three Days Grace” called “Pain” and one line in the song says “I’d rather feel pain than nothing at all…”

I couldn’t get this song out of my head.

I was so thankful for the intense pain and discomfort because I knew that if I didn’t feel it then I would be paralyzed… it was a weird but beautiful time in my life.

During the entire time in the hospital and even for months after I returned home I would on a daily basis cry tears of joy, excitement, gratitude and appreciation.

I was grateful to God, I was grateful for life, I was grateful for all our friends and extended family who were pitching in to help us through this difficult time.

A couple months following the accident I was talking to a close friend about the event and they said something about “if I could do it all over” and without hesitation I replied that I would not take it back, I would not do it any different.

Although that time was the scariest, most painful and difficult time of my life I would not take it back because of what it did to my heart… to my outlook on life… my view of friends and family… my ability to see the “good” in the midst of something so seemingly “bad”.

Since then I still on a daily basis make a point of looking for… finding… and being grateful for all the beauty life has to offer me.

Even in the midst of hard, painful and difficult times there is always beauty surrounding you… you just have to look for it… there is always something to be thankful for… you just need to be aware of it.

When your heart is full of gratitude it can’t be filled with fear and anxiety at the same time…

Do You Have a Big “But”?

Before anyone gets offended please note I spelled “but” with one “t” and not two…

Although I feel like I have come out of the worst of my anxious lifestyle and for the most part walk through the circumstances of my day with an inner peace and eager anticipation of what life has to offer I still have a lot of “growing” to do.

Most every post I make on this blog comes from something I have either personally dealt with in my journey through life or am currently dealing with and this one is no different.

When I finally get frustrated enough with an area of my life and I sit down and get real honest with myself I will inevitably see I have a list of “big buts”…

But… I don’t have time…

But… I’m too tired…

But… I don’t want to…

But… I’m not smart enough…

But… the economy sucks… I don’t have enough money… I’m afraid… I may fail… I may look like an idiot… no one will understand…

I have a million more “buts”… should I go on or do you get the point?

What are your “big but(s)”?

What is your excuse for not dealing with the fear and anxiety in your life…

Why haven’t you dealt with that troubled relationship?

When will you finally pursue the career of your dreams?

Are you going to finally take the vacation you always wanted to?

Whenever I really get serious about making a change in my life I am forced to realize the “buts”… the “reasons”, the “excuses”, the “rationalizations” are just that.

They are not the true reason I am stuck…

I simply wanted something else or someone else to blame.

At the end of the day there has never been a big enough “but” to stop me from doing or having what I really want in life.

My “reasons” were never the real reason, they were nothing more than excuses for not making a choice… for not taking a risk… for not making a change.

Yah, that can be scary as hell… yes that can be extremely uncomfortable and can seem quite awkward but all growth and development begins at the “beginning”…

Every “expert” began as a rookie…

Every mighty oak tree began as a seed…

Every skyscraper started by digging a hole in the ground…

A huge step today would be to admit to yourself that you have a big “but”… then stop blaming whatever “it” is and make a choice to move ahead and through to where you want to be in life.

If you keep giving power to your “excuses” I guarantee tomorrow will be no different then today.

But if you take back your power by making a choice today then your tomorrow can and will be much brighter.

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