Quotes and Wisdom
from the Top of the Mind™
from the Top of the Mind™
Attraction
"Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality."
Thanks to a new book/DVD/website/movement, many people these days are talking about the "law of attraction," or how what we hold in our mind can come true in our life. Of course, being a person who also believes in the power of our mind/thoughts/beliefs/etc., I applaud this most recent focus, and certainly encourage the creation of a more purposeful way of life which naturally begins with a more purposeful way of thinking. I also applaud any book/DVD/website/movement that one finds helpful and/or inspirational in fueling this creative process, and thus I want to be clear that my thoughts here are not meant to rebut or in anyway diminish anyone else's work.
Instead, I would like to add my own voice to the chorus and maybe change the tune just a bit. For example, when coming up with a perspective on life and happiness, I feel it is important to acknowledge the people who have come before you, and in many ways laid the foundation on which something new can be added. With respect to the "law of attraction," there have obviously been many people throughout the ages who have also spoken of its power, not the least of whom is the author of this week's quote, Earl Nightingale (see "The Strangest Secret" recorded in 1956).
However, as I have said, my purpose here is not to debate who's right, or even who's on first, but instead to suggest we use this "law" (and all other philosophies) in the most purposeful way possible. What I mean by this is rather than trying to "get more things" (more money, a new car, job, relationship, etc.) maybe we should instead focus on who we are, and how we are creating our experience of life. Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to having nice things, in fact, I'm a big fan, I just don't believe in the "When I get (fill in the blank) THEN I will be happy" way of life.
In fact, as several authors have noted, if we take the philosophy of "what we hold in our mind will come true in our life" literally, when we are "wanting" these things, then what we are left with is that thought, "wanting" (which by definition means we do not have them). Thus, if the universe is indeed designed to give us what we think about, we may be left "wanting" versus having. Instead, I suggest we look at what we "have," i.e. the beliefs and perspectives we have adopted and live by, and determine whether these are indeed working for us.
The good news is that there are many resources that can help us in this quest, not the least of which is this week's quote. For example, when Mr. Nightingale says: "Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality." he actually gives us several clues to the process of creating a life worth living. First, he acknowledges that our beliefs, or what we believe to be true about ourselves and the world are for the most part residing in our subconscious. This means that until we bring them to consciousness (become clear about what they are and the degree to which they are serving us) they will continue to influence us in ways in which we are unaware. This is fine if the beliefs that were planted in our past are those of confidence, worth, happiness and purposefulness. However, if along the way somewhere we have learned to believe that we are "less than." "not enough," flawed, or unworthy in some way, then it will be these beliefs that are running our life.
Unfortunately, for many, it's easy to see how these "less than" beliefs were "planted" (by ourselves or others) and further how they may have been nourished by repetition and emotion. The challenge, therefore, is to see this for what it is: a perspective on ourselves and the world that we have learned in our past, and begin to plant and nourish a more purposeful perspective.
In other words, as with most things in life, the problem is also the solution, meaning if we can determine what we "have," or become aware of the beliefs that are currently driving our thoughts and emotions, we can then determine whether to continue using these driving forces as the creative principles of our life. If not, we can then begin the process of redefining who we are from someone who has been taught to believe one thing, to someone who is choosing his or her core beliefs deliberately, or on purpose.
Once we have made these choices and planted these new beliefs (which is almost always congruent with what we would recommend to someone we loved) we can begin to use our mind to nourish these new perspectives with repetition and emotion. And, as has been said by many people including the authors of "The Secret," as we continue to "have" these thoughts, or to think and reinforce these more purposefully chosen beliefs, we will "grow rich" in confidence, love, wisdom, relationships and even money. Then people will come to us and ask: "How did you do that?" and we can say, "Well, it's really about what we hold in our mind and nourish with repetition and emotion." and proceed to let them in on "the secret".
Instead, I would like to add my own voice to the chorus and maybe change the tune just a bit. For example, when coming up with a perspective on life and happiness, I feel it is important to acknowledge the people who have come before you, and in many ways laid the foundation on which something new can be added. With respect to the "law of attraction," there have obviously been many people throughout the ages who have also spoken of its power, not the least of whom is the author of this week's quote, Earl Nightingale (see "The Strangest Secret" recorded in 1956).
However, as I have said, my purpose here is not to debate who's right, or even who's on first, but instead to suggest we use this "law" (and all other philosophies) in the most purposeful way possible. What I mean by this is rather than trying to "get more things" (more money, a new car, job, relationship, etc.) maybe we should instead focus on who we are, and how we are creating our experience of life. Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to having nice things, in fact, I'm a big fan, I just don't believe in the "When I get (fill in the blank) THEN I will be happy" way of life.
In fact, as several authors have noted, if we take the philosophy of "what we hold in our mind will come true in our life" literally, when we are "wanting" these things, then what we are left with is that thought, "wanting" (which by definition means we do not have them). Thus, if the universe is indeed designed to give us what we think about, we may be left "wanting" versus having. Instead, I suggest we look at what we "have," i.e. the beliefs and perspectives we have adopted and live by, and determine whether these are indeed working for us.
The good news is that there are many resources that can help us in this quest, not the least of which is this week's quote. For example, when Mr. Nightingale says: "Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality." he actually gives us several clues to the process of creating a life worth living. First, he acknowledges that our beliefs, or what we believe to be true about ourselves and the world are for the most part residing in our subconscious. This means that until we bring them to consciousness (become clear about what they are and the degree to which they are serving us) they will continue to influence us in ways in which we are unaware. This is fine if the beliefs that were planted in our past are those of confidence, worth, happiness and purposefulness. However, if along the way somewhere we have learned to believe that we are "less than." "not enough," flawed, or unworthy in some way, then it will be these beliefs that are running our life.
Unfortunately, for many, it's easy to see how these "less than" beliefs were "planted" (by ourselves or others) and further how they may have been nourished by repetition and emotion. The challenge, therefore, is to see this for what it is: a perspective on ourselves and the world that we have learned in our past, and begin to plant and nourish a more purposeful perspective.
In other words, as with most things in life, the problem is also the solution, meaning if we can determine what we "have," or become aware of the beliefs that are currently driving our thoughts and emotions, we can then determine whether to continue using these driving forces as the creative principles of our life. If not, we can then begin the process of redefining who we are from someone who has been taught to believe one thing, to someone who is choosing his or her core beliefs deliberately, or on purpose.
Once we have made these choices and planted these new beliefs (which is almost always congruent with what we would recommend to someone we loved) we can begin to use our mind to nourish these new perspectives with repetition and emotion. And, as has been said by many people including the authors of "The Secret," as we continue to "have" these thoughts, or to think and reinforce these more purposefully chosen beliefs, we will "grow rich" in confidence, love, wisdom, relationships and even money. Then people will come to us and ask: "How did you do that?" and we can say, "Well, it's really about what we hold in our mind and nourish with repetition and emotion." and proceed to let them in on "the secret".
Take care and God bless, Dr. Bill