The Unsteady Mind
In my life, there has been nothing so challenging as managing my thoughts, feelings and moods. My mind is constantly subjected to all kinds of attitudes and thought patterns that I have to work on. I, like most people I suppose, must sometimes monitor thoughts and feelings in order to do well in the world. I read the following story several times to focus on the mind’s energy:
---There once was a king who was swamped with work that he was having a great deal of trouble. So, he asked a mystical being to help him. The advisor offered him a servant who would do all the work assigned to him/her. But this servant must be kept busy all the time otherwise the servant would turn on him. Since the king had so much work to do, he readily agreed with the conditions the mystic laid out.
At first, it was easy for the king to get the servant to do all the work of his kingdom. He was glad he made the deal with the advisor. But, all too soon, the servant finished all the work that had to be done and then, the king remembered his promise. He solved his dilemma by having the servant walk up and down the stairs of the castle until he was needed again.---
In the story, the servant is the mind. If it is kept busy a lot can be accomplished, however, when it is idle for too long, it can turn on us. In other words, it’s like having a thorn stuck in our hand. We can use one thorn to take out the other one, and then
we can throw both away. For example, the mind can be useful in subduing pride, anger and sorrow by keeping it busy with productive projects. “Idle hands are tools for the devil” I believe is a famous quote.
Being a sensitive person, I struggle with feelings all the time. Although sensitivity is a good thing because it allows for compassion, it also can be a nuisance if it isn’t under control. Being overly sensitive allows for emotions to overwhelm my mind making me unsteady and uneasy. So, this led me to learn about inspirational reading, creative writing, physical exercise and meditation to help me with these moods and intrusive thought patterns.
I also have thoughts and feeling of which I am not particularly proud. For example, I rarely feel good when others are successful. Instead, I get jealous. I also have a short temper at times, so when I believe I have my temper under control and then something doesn’t go my way, I can become angry or impatient instead of accepting the situation.
The hardest thing about this is that I think my ego has become humble and I believe my pride and anger are under my control. All I can say is at least now I’m finally aware of the negative reactions when they occur while at the same time realizing I need to overcome them.
So, my life is constantly taking up the problems I have in an effort to transform them into more noble qualities like: patience, forbearance and humility. I remember, however, that it takes constant self-effort on my part. When I was much younger, I believed that God would simply help me if I asked for it. Now, for me, I’ve come to understand that grace can often come only after hard work. Although it is true that God can do anything, I believe self-effort often helps.
I’d like to finish this newsletter by including a poem I have written called “Affirmations” that describes positive attitudes toward life through nature: It’s taken from my book, Poems of Faith, Hope and Love.
Affirmations
When the lilies of the meadow
bend and sway against the wind,
I will dance and watch the sparrow
and feel my hope restored again.
I will sing to God Almighty
and feel His spirit touch my heart.
The happiness that I will feel
will lift me up no matter what.
I can listen to the forest
and ask God what he wants of me.
Then His words will be the source
of all His future plans for me.
Resting near the wandering river,
I may hear God’s inner voice.
Then the peace that I discover
will fill my day with secret joy.
I will pray to God at twilight
and seek to find Him in the world.
I may then be truly righteous
and pray my consciousness is pure.
At night I’ll gaze upon the ocean,
and God will reach beyond my mind.
Then my soul will know devotion
and I will trust His love divine.
(Please remember these are my own ideas, and I’m not attempting to persuade anyone to change theirs.)t.
Quotes: “Mindfulness is the capacity to perceive our world, without adulteration or manipulation.” Hyland et. al
“Your greatest enemy is your uncontrolled mind.” Anonymous
“Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” Roy T. Bennett
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