The Offspring of Thought
Posted: Sunday, July 05, 2009
by Camille Strate
JoyZAChoice
Napoleon Hill once said, "both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought". So much truth in that statement, yes? More and more, with all the outside detractors, it seems even more essential to monitor what you see, hear, and watch, in order to maintain a healthy, forward attitude. If I had a dollar for every time someone said, "....with the state of our economy....", I'd have more money than Oprah.
Why in the world does everyone insist on talking about how terrible things are? I just don't get it. Does it actually feel better to talk about it? Does it feel hopeful or encouraging? Is there one inkling of 'good' that comes from talking about it?
I think not. I think the adage, "misery loves company" has been around for such a long time because it's true. Misery does love company. But then...so does happiness. Ever think about that? When you have something to celebrate, do you prefer to do it alone or in the company of people you care about? How about when something really good happens to someone you know? Do you share in their joy when they call to tell you? Or does it make you feel "less than"?
In the face of adversity, uncertainly and conflicting sensory information, do you recognize that all things remain possible? ( Thank you, Mike Dooley! ) Are you even remotely aware that you have the power to shift your thoughts and thereby shift how you feel? Because it's a pretty big deal. The whole awareness thing. HUGE deal. You do have the power to shift your thoughts. You also have the power to allow yourself to be guided, if you so choose. Guided by your God or whatever it is you believe in. Or guided by people around you. Or simply guided by your Inner Voice. However you choose to look at it, the point is: YOU HAVE A CHOICE.
If you were to take one day, just one brief moment in your Big Picture, and choose to focus only on those things that bring a smile, or make your heart sing, or give you a little tingle, you'd find that it's not as difficult as you may now think. You can, moment by moment, create an entirely new state of mind by simply paying attention to those rampant thoughts that run like old, tired, broken records. You can, if you choose. And yes, I'm fully aware that I've used that word a bunch of times already. On purpose. Choices are what empower you. No...scratch that.... knowing you have choices and then making them consciously is what empowers you. At least, that's been my experience.
Lest I get too carried away here, I'll leave you with this little story:
While visiting with friends over the holiday, our hostess asked everyone:
" If you were given a Miracle Drug that would remove ONE THING from your life so that when you awoke tomorrow, that thing would be gone forever, what would you choose to remove?"
As she went around the table, giving each person their turn, almost every single person said "I don't know". Funny thing was, as soon as she asked the question, I knew that most of them wouldn't be able to give an answer. Felt it in my gut. Anyway, a few made jokes to hide their 'not knowing', others said silly things like "my wardrobe" or "my husband". And then it was my turn.
Given that I'd had about 3 minutes to think about it, I hadn't 'tried' to come up with anything clever, I really wondered what I'd 'remove'. She looked at me with the warmest eyes and said, "well?"
"All the beliefs that limit me"
That was my response. Because it occurred to me that the ONLY thing that keeps me from full bloom is my own limiting beliefs. Those same beliefs are the root of all fear, pain, malady, poverty, broken relationships, etc., etc., ad nauseam. Oh yes they are. Were I to have said Miracle Drug, and awaken tomorrow without those (limiting beliefs), my world would be entirely different than it is today.
And so...since I began this with a Napoleon Hill quote, I'll end in kind:
"There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge."
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Hi Camille.I can't believe no one has commented yet. This is such a great article! And congrats on being Jean's Pick of the Day. Way cool.We all need to be reminded daily about those limiting things we tell ourselves over and over. Well, at least I do.Thanks for this.Hugs and love,DianneThanks, Dianne! It is greatly appreciated, as always. I've not been here for a while...busy with other things and all that jazz. But it's always wonderful to get P.O.T.D. (but somehow, they spelled my last name wrong. how weird, huh?0
Hope you're well~
C
Wonderful stuff here, Camille. I am so glad to see you back here at SW!
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