Learning how to monitor your thoughts

On my way in to the office this morning, I was thinking that I hadn’t been inspired to write anything for this blog in some time.  And then, as I was going thru my email, I read this from Abraham:

You’re picky about the car you drive. You’re picky about what you wear. You’re picky about what you put in your mouth. We want you to be pickier about what you think.

— Abraham

Ask and it is given, right?  It all keeps coming back to our thoughts.  Which begs the question: If we already know that our primary responsibility is to monitor our thoughts, and if we already know that it works (all I did was think that I needed something to inspire me, and here we are), why then don’t we put more effort into doing a better job of it?

If you’re not brought up to do so, paying attention to your ongoing conscious thoughts can be very demanding.  Tiring, even.  It’s a bit like trying to follow a conversation in a language you aren’t fluent in; at times, you’re completely aware of what’s being said.  But at other times, you just can’t keep up, and before you know it, you’re off daydreaming about what you’re going to have for dinner, or something.  After an hour, you’re exhausted and ready for a nap.

If the above is true, then the best way to train yourself to be more aware of your thoughts might be the same as learning a language: immersion.  The fastest way to learn Spanish, for example, is to live someplace where that’s virtually all they speak.

At first it’s difficult.  The words are obviously different, but you need to adjust your mind to the rhythms of the language, as well.  You need to find a way to get past the two-way conversion process that takes place in your mind – Spanish to English, then English back to Spanish – and just allow yourself to understand what you can.  With time and exposure and repetition, it becomes natural, and then you begin to master the language.

So it is with learning to monitor your thoughts.  Immersing yourself in books, videos and live events on the subject as much as possible will go the farthest toward making you “fluent” in the art of thought monitoring.  Even writing this post is helping me to program myself.

Think about what you can do to move in this direction in your own life.  Stop watching the news.  There’s really no information there that you can’t get along without (and plenty that can only hurt).  Read more uplifting material.  If you don’t have much of your own to read, the Internet is loaded with free resources; this blog is one!  Check YouTube for videos, etc.  The input you need is readily available.  You only have to look for it.

Thanks for reading!
Tim