As you begin to pay closer attention to your mind, you will have a better understanding of its various characteristics. You’ll also be able to begin to identify the habits that have formed over the years as a result of your neglecting it. Habits like to maintain themselves and will continue to do so for as long as you fail to pay attention to them. The way out of this habitual experience is to lovingly discipline your mind.

    One of the ways to lovingly discipline your mind is to recognize the habits your mind demonstrates. On one level these habits serve a purpose, on a higher level, they only serve the purpose of keeping you stuck where you are, as well as keeping you disconnected from something much more important and deeper within yourself. As long as you’re caught up and/or occupied with your mind, you’ll fail to achieve this deeper purpose. I’ll elaborate more later on this.     In order to help you better understand your mind and identify its habits, let’s look at the mind’s characteristics in more detail.

Characteristic 1: “Trying to figure it all out.”

    “Trying to figure it all out” is something I allowed my mind to do all day long for years and found that that is what many people do as well. The pronoun “it” can refer to virtually anything including: your job, friends, family, work, finances, the universe, etc. It can also take the form of “trying to figure yourself out.” For me, it was like I was on the couch doing some form of psychoanalysis all day long. I was in constant therapy with myself and I didn’t even know it. It was free, but I was exhausted from it. I didn’t realize that there was a better way.

    There is nothing wrong with trying to figure things out provided it doesn’t become your whole day. It doesn’t mean you don’t journal or explore the reasons for what is happening inside of you, or what is occurring in your life. You just don’t do it ALL DAY LONG. Doing self-inquiry, or “trying to figure it out,” is something that, ideally, is done on paper, i.e., in a journal, rather than in your head. When you write it out on paper, you‘re aware and engaging the process “consciously.” When figuring things out throughout the day, there’s a likelihood that you may not be as conscious of the process going on in your mind. In addition to being unconscious of the process of “trying to figure it out,” you’re simply doing more and more thinking. This is what you don’t want.

    If you must think, use your journal and designate a time when you want to reflect on your situation. It will also allow you to get a broader perspective.

    Here is an example of what I mean. Place a pen behind your ear. From this perspective, how well can you see the pen? The same principle applies to thinking. How well do you “see” your thoughts or the voice if you’re not tracking them? You really can’t see them very well, can you? There’s very little perspective. As interesting or noteworthy thoughts emerge in your mind throughout the day, make either a written or mental note about it. Then later that day or evening, during the designated time you’ve given yourself of 30 or 60 minutes, you can sit down and journal your ideas.

    This suggestion does not apply to your job, home, or school endeavors. When in the process of pursuing job, home, or school responsibilities, at least make your best effort at being aware of being conscious of the process while you’re doing it. If possible, do it on paper and the answers you’re seeking may become self-evident.

    At some point in your life you want to ask yourself the definitive question, “What is it that I’m ultimately trying to figure out?” What you are ultimately trying to understand is how to access the constant, overflowing love that is already inside of your Heart. This will be presented to you in future presentations.

To find out more about this, register for The Power of Your Awareness seminar.