Think Results NOW: You Are What You Think book 1 – #22: Tuning Your Mind Into Success

You Are What You Think book 1

Article #22

My life is an Excellent Adventure from using “You Are What You Think”

Tuning Your Mind Into Success

YOU DO NOT have to rely on will power alone to reach the goals you have set for yourself. If the desire to succeed is strong enough, a tremendous amount of will power isn’t necessary.

If you have failed repeatedly in your efforts to stop smoking or to lose weight, for example, it is because you are not using your power of thought. You can attain any goal you set for yourself, but you must learn to control your thoughts first.

The day you decide to overcome habits that are detrimental to you should be the happiest day in your life. Instead, it is usually one of the most miserable.

IF YOU ARE like most of us, all you think about are the difficulties you are going to experience. Consequently you start by feeling sorry for yourself.

“How can I go without the desserts I love so much ?”

“How am I going to do without a cigarette with my coffee or cocktail ?”

“Why does this have to happen to me, that I must deprive myself of the things I like so much ?”

SPIRITUAL TEACHERS who understand the workings of the mind and human nature know the methods to help their students attain their goals. They realize we live in a mental world, and if people have habits they would like to overcome, or character traits they would like to develop, there first must be a strong desire to succeed.

Most of us lack this strong desire, so it must be developed before the program is started. If the wish to succeed isn’t there, it is unlikely that our efforts will be equal to the task.

Before these teachers instruct their students in the methods to build up the needed desire they know they must first teach them to control, and attain mastery over, their thoughts.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY necessary that you learn to direct your thinking into the channels that you deliberately choose. It takes practice, as does anything worth attaining. If you succeed, nothing will be out of your reach.

One method is to compare your mind to your home. You would not allow undesirable elements to enter your home if you could prevent it. Why then, allow undesirable thoughts to enter your mind ? Every time a thought attempts to enter that you feel would be detrimental to you, send it on its way. If you start to make a negative statement or think an undesirable thought, reverse it immediately !

IN AN EARLIER column I suggested making a game of this with the family. Every time someone says something negative, “I can’t,”’ “I won’t,” “I don’t like,” etc. have them put a nickel in a jar. This will be fun, and will make the whole family more aware of the importance of their thoughts.

Remember that you can only think one thought at a time. Try to have only thoughts that will contribute to your happiness and well being. Don’t dwell on imperfections, or on things you don’t want.

Gradually you will discover that it is becoming easier to control your thoughts. When this time arrives you are ready to put this newly-acquired control to work to help you make the desired changes in your life.

NOW, LOOK into your life and see what you are doing that will ultimately be harmful to you. Let us suppose that you eat too much of the wrong foods, or drink or smoke too much. (Use any example that suits you)

Say to yourself, not at the moment of enjoyment, but when you are quiet and in a thoughtful mood, “What will be the result if I give way to this ? Will I gradually become less attractive ? Will my health deteriorate ? Will I have less energy ? Will my life become more dull and unexciting ?

“I will stop what I am doing, because it leads to suffering and unhappiness in the long run.”

By that thought, and not by will power, you begin to control your desires.

BY THOUGHT you mentally picture the disastrous results of the habit, and breed a disgust for it. You deliberately make up your mind not to yield to a passing pleasure which brings unwanted conditions as a result.

Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Face each day with joyful anticipation, knowing that each day brings you closer to your goal.

If you can’t seem to generate enough desire to begin, here is what to do: Let your newly-trained mind dwell constantly on the way you would feel and look if your goal were already an accomplished fact.

IF YOUR GOAL is a weight loss, imagine the joy of looking in the mirror, and seeing an attractive figure. Actually hear your friends telling you how wonderful you look. Act it out in your mind, then move and walk as a slender person would.

If you wish to stop smoking, let your mind dwell constantly on the benefits to be derived from not smoking; a fresh tasting mouth, the ability to take a deep breath without coughing, increased energy, etc.

Once started on your program don’t under any circumstances allow your mind to dwell on the things you are giving up. You are not giving up anything if it has been keeping you from your highest potential.

Instead of being discontented with what you are, make up your mind to be ‘that’ which you want to be.