All Metaphysics

Changing your mind. Have you ever felt the need to change your mind to prevent a problem from interfering in your life? Most of us think of changing our minds when we decide that doing so will, for sure, prevent discomfort. An example of that would be deciding it wouldn’t be so bad if you went to a party so that your friend would stop hounding you or so that someone will think you’re actually cooler than you are! Or how about when you had harshly judged someone for something they did that you thought was stupid, but then you decided they deserved to be judged less harshly because they also did something really kind for someone?

I want to talk about changing our minds for the purpose of joy, fun, love, and any other great feeling that comes along. What I’m talking about here is actually changing a mindset that is not serving you so that you can move along unencumbered by that belief system. An example of this would be you have a mindset that anyone taller than you should stand in the back of the concert crowd rather than in front of everyone. This sounds silly but it is an analogy for you to play with. you might find your anger or frustration mount if this taller person is there in front of you and you have to move slightly to the right or left to see everything going on. You’re thinking thoughts like, “how selfish”, “What an inconsiderate jack wagon”, or “I wish he would just leave”.

What happens to you as you think these thoughts? Your pulse rate goes up, your neck muscles tighten, and your respirations excel. You are so focused on this bodily response let alone the desire to push this guy, that you don’t even try to see what’s going on with the show you were here to see. You see nothing, hear nothing, experience nothing but the pure rage you’re now feeling for Mr. Tall. So…. what if, just entertain this for a moment, you could change your mind? What if you decided that this poor guy was forced to be right there with that short girl and he is very uncomfortable, he knows he is too tall to be there! What if you decide to make him feel comfortable and you both can have a great time. What if you pat his shoulder and say, “great show right”? Then smiling you look around his left side and watch the show. What if you changed your mind? It’s that simple but we often don’t see it that way.

This is a simple example of a small event in your life but that could give you much relief if practiced daily. On a much larger scale, what if you couldn’t stand someone because of their beliefs? Is it possible that you could change your mind, so it does not elicit a negative response from you? Imagine not allowing these emotional responses to something you at first perceive to be bad and instead changing your mind to feel positive, objective, understanding?

In closing, do not think that I am inferring to condone something horrible etc. I am simply looking at our daily lives and how to improve the small stuff that becomes the big stuff because we were too stuck and unable to change our minds. Are you stuck? Need some guidance changing your mind? Let’s visit!