The Power Of Thought - Leaning How Thoughts Affect Our Emotions, Moods, Feelings and Actions

A common quote from the bible associated with the power of thought is

 "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

 The power of thought has been illustrated in miracles of healing, as a result, physicians today have a clearer understanding of the importance of positive thinking during the recovery stages of their patients. Physicians now recognized the success or outcome of treatments also depends on the mindset of their patients. What we think about ourselves and others directly and indirectly impact our lives, our thoughts can manifest into our reality. It is important to understand the power of thought including what thoughts are prominent in our minds and are those thoughts positive or negative.

We are what we think about because thoughts can become reality. For example, confidence is a reflection of what a person thinks about his or her self. Confidence is evident in a person's attitude and behavior (side note, over confidence can be personality complex). Another example is persistence, persistence is a reflection of what a person thinks about the importance of trying and not giving up. Persistence is evident in a person's motivation to keep trying despite the challenges and obstacles.

Our thoughts affect our moods, emotions, feelings, and action. Thoughts are like invisible heads that sticks out our necks constantly whispers in our ears, and pull and tug on our hearts. Our thoughts never leave us and are always active in our minds. For this reason, we need to learn how to coexist with our thoughts by understanding thoughts can be deceiving. Have you ever panic about something and it turned out to be not as serious as you thought?

Well, our thoughts can be misleading if we are not paying attention to what we are thinking. It is important to observe thoughts as they enter the mind; pay attention to the effects of thoughts on moods, emotions, feelings, and action; and to unbiasedly rationalize our thinking.

Take action to do the things that would make yourself and others feel loved and happy. Allow positive thoughts to be the focus and negative thoughts to leave the mind not becoming the focus. Pay attention to thoughts considering they can be deceiving or misleading by unbiasedly rationalizing thoughts. Understanding the power of thought is essential when learning how to coexist with our thoughts. We impact our reality through thoughts; therefore what we think can make or break us. Our relationship with thoughts should be harmonious in order to master our thinking.

 Life viewed through the mind-eye is reflected in our moods, emotions, feelings, and action, therefore be an observer of thoughts in order to understand the power of thought.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7747315

How to Boost Creative Thinking

Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. You can change it. You can influence it. You can build your own things that other people can use. ~Steve Jobs

Have you bought into that age old fallacy that the ability to be creative is reserved for the select few? If so, then prepare for a shift in mindset, because the truth is you were born with the potential for limitless creative thinking.

Take a moment to consider what creativity really means... to produce something that is both original and worthwhile. By definition, this can mean anything from a work of art; to an innovative idea for a product or new business; to new ways of solving problems... in other words creative thinking opens our minds to all the possibilities of life and is a skill worth mastering.

Creativity can be cultivated and strengthened over time, but keep in mind creativity is dynamic. Think of it as a muscle that needs to be used regularly to keep it flexible and strong. If somewhere along the line you've convinced yourself that you are not creative, then to some extent that has become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and to reverse that you'll need to become intentional about strengthening your creative thinking muscles.

Consider the Benefits of Creative Thinking

Creative thinkers:

• Achieve more goals, faster
• Are confident decision-makers
• Are optimistic and open to challenges
• Are focused, less likely to experience stress
• Are open to new experiences
• Look at obstacles as opportunities

If you're ready to boost your creative thinking skills, the following strategies will help to get you started. But please remember, mastering any new skill begins with your mindset. You must accept that you are by nature a creative being and that what you are setting out to do is stretch and strengthen your existing creative thinking muscles... one day, one action at a time.

Strategies to Boost Creative Thinking

Ask More Questions

Creative thinkers pay attention to what's going on around them and ask "Why?" or "Why not?" questions. Begin by challenging assumptions, because it's so easy to fall into the habit of doing things the way they've always been done. The next time you find yourself in that situation, take a couple of minutes to consider if there isn't a better way. Or, if there's something you've always wanted to do but put it off because you could see no clear way to make it happen, spend some time thinking about "How could it be done?" and practice opening your mind to all the possibilities. There is no "one" right answer, no idea is too crazy! Creative thinking is about looking for the opportunities in every situation, and prevents you from living life in default mode.

Be Willing to Take Risks

Remember cultivating creativity is all about strengthening those muscles, and that means you're going to have to get uncomfortable from time to time. In other words, you're going to have to get outside that zone of comfort you've built up over the years and take a few risks by trying new things. Of course not every effort will lead to success, but it will lead to personal growth, and what you learn with each new experience will help to build your confidence, knowledge and creative thinking skills for the future.

Tame Your Ego

For some people, being right is more important than finding the best solution, and that means their ego has taken control. Effective creative thinking is about being focused more on what is right, than who is right.

Finish What You Start

This isn't just about cultivating discipline and determination - it's also about opening your mind to exploring different paths and results. Sometimes detours can lead to far more exciting and fulfilling outcomes than the original goal!

Learn Something New

Building your creative muscles requires that you expose your mind to new ideas and possibilities. Read books in different genres, explore different types of music or take an art class; build connections with colleagues and friends from diverse backgrounds and who work in different fields. Bounce ideas off them and challenge yourself to be open to other perspectives.

Make Time for Creativity


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7730869

This is so funny!!

True Self: Why Do Some People Hide Their True Self?

Over the years, the true self has been used to describe ones true nature and who they really are. On the other hand, the false self represents all that is not true and is made up of illusions.

And while deep down one may want to embrace their true self; it is often far from easy and the world generally discourages one from doing so. So this means that very few people take the time or make the effort to know their true self and therefore reveal it to others.

For if this was easy or if we lived in a world that encouraged one to do so, then there would be no need to hide ones true self. It would be revealed from the very beginning and allowed to blossom over time.
Acceptance

One of the greatest needs that one can have is the need to be accepted. And while this is often classed as an ego need and one that doesn't reflect a true need; it can nevertheless have a big impact on ones behaviour.
It is a need that can highjack ones real needs and cause one to become consumed and controlled by the need to please others. And this can lead to one wearing what are often described as masks.

Masks
These are elements of the false self and enable one to gain the acceptance of other people. There are all types of masks that one can wear and this will usually depend on what the context is.

Who one believes they need to be to gain acceptance, will also play a big impact here. For some people it will be important to come across as being a certain way and for others it may well be another way.
One may have worn one type of mask for their whole life and this means that they may not even realise that they are wearing a mask. It has become so much a part of their life, that it has gone unnoticed.

Examples
There are many masks that one can wear and some of these can be:
· To always appear happy
· To pretend that one is perfect
· To try to always look good
· To come across as having everything together
· To always appear as a success
· To always please others

A Deeper Look

Although the above examples are clearly not practical or even possible; they are there for a reason. Here one can believe that they won't be accepted unless they have them. And if the people in their life only accept them for wearing these masks, then it may well be the case.

However, if another person only likes who one is due to the mask that they wear, then they are probably not worth having in one's life. But what is deeper than what is going on externally, is what is going on within. It is based on what is going on within that will define how one interprets the outside world.
So if ones interpretation of life is that they need to wear a mask to be approved of, then they will attract situations and people that validate this truth. This will then be how reality is perceived.
Being Safe

On the inside is likely to be a sense that it's not safe for one to be who they really are. This may be something one is conscious or it may just be out of one's conscious awareness. And by gaining the approval and acceptance of certain people, one will be able to regulate these inner fears.
Through doing this it will lead to one feeling safe, the challenge is that although one my feel safe, if they are wearing a mask it is unlikely to lead to much else. To the ego mind it is being interpreted as familiar and therefore safe. And as far as the ego goes, that is all that matters.
But what is being classed as familiar and therefore safe may have no real relevance to ones happiness or fulfilment. The associations may have also been created many years ago and when one was very young.
Causes

Here one may have primarily been approved of when they pleased other people and did what they wanted. Their needs, wants, desires, preferences, feelings and thoughts would have been dismissed or ignored.
Although this can happen as an adult, it is often the younger years that have the biggest influence. As a child one is vulnerable and dependent on their caregivers. So at this age one would not have much control and would desperately seek the approval and appetence of the people around them.
If this meant denying who they were, then so be it. The thought of whether one was being true to themselves would have been irrelevant. As long as one was accepted, that's all that mattered.

Associations

During this time it was a matter of survival and as an adult one generally has more control over their life. And yet the ego mind will likely can cause one to view life in the same way. At first it may have been ones parents who one had to please and as an adult it could then be ones friends or colleagues for example.
Although this was in the past and happened many years ago, to the mind it is what is classed as familiar and safe. So consciously it will create pain and suffering, but at a deeper level it feels comfortable.

Awareness

If the mind has associated pleasing others as being familiar, then fear will be triggered should one go against pleasing them. To listen to oneself and go against others will be interpreted as death by the mind.
How strong these fears are, will define what one needs to do to let go of the past meanings. This could be a therapist, healer or a coach. Or becoming aware of certain patterns and then changing them may be enough.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7725524