Quite often we feel that what we experience and see is something that happens to us. This experience depends on other people and the rest of the world. But, we have a habit of seeing what we want to see. If we want to see conflict we can see it in any aspect of life. If we want to see beauty we can also see that.
As soon as we wake up, we start creating our view of life. If you could start your day once more, what would you like to see.
Be Conscious From When you wake up.
What is the first thought you have on waking up? If you had one seed thought for the whole day what would it be? Would it be worrying about getting to work on time, what to have for dinner in the evening? Why not choose a thought which you will inspire you for the rest of the day. At least, make it positive.
Positive Image.
In my room, I try to keep flowers, I also keep a picture of my spiritual teacher, Sri Chinmoy. These are the things which inspire me most. When waking up, I look at these first. It is simple act, but it shows that we can choose to keep around us the positive and beautiful. From this we will get inspiration and keep in a positive frame of mind.
Give to Others What You would like to Receive yourself.
If you would like to receive joy and happiness in life, try giving it to others. What we give is what we will receive. If we offer forgiveness to others, you will be able to receive forgiveness for ourselves. If we are critical towards others, we will feel judgemental about ourselves.
If your life does not give joy
To others,
Then how can you expect
Your heart to give any joy
To you?
– Sri Chinmoy [1. Sri Chinmoy, Ten Thousand Flower-Flames, Part 66, Agni Press, 1983.]
Stop – Do you Really want to Focus on That?
Invariably, our day will be spoiled by some unwelcome negative thoughts. If left unchecked these can take us on a negative spiral. We have to stop these thoughts and be clear this is not what we want to see.
Good Qualities
No one is perfect, there will always be things that have the capacity to annoy us. But, we have to be unaffected by this. If someone is annoying us, then we have to try another way of looking at things. Let it go, choose to see the good in them.
From now on,
I shall see
Only the good
In all human beings.
– Sri Chinmoy [2. Sri Chinmoy, My Christmas-New Year-Vacation Aspiration-Prayers, Part 49, Agni Press, 2006.]
Feel Thoughts will come trues Immediately.
Just imagine that whatever you thought or wished became reality immediately. If you imagine inwardly arguing with someone, feel this would occur. If you feel thoughts would come true immediately, you would be very careful what you wished for.
Underlying Thoughts
To really see what we want to see, don’t forget to be scrupulously sincere and honest. Sometimes, we have an underlying thought or desire for something. Perhaps part of us gets a subtle sense of joy from conflict. Part of us has this injured pride when bad things happen. Ironically, part of us holds onto this. We may not even be aware that we are holding on to this unfortunate experience. Be careful of your underlying thoughts and impressions.
Take Time to be Grateful
Heaven on earth doesn’t have to be just a dream. If we are in the right consciousness, the simplest thing can give us so much joy. If we can be grateful for these good things, it will definitely help us to see and appreciate the good in the world.
Related
This is nice, Thank you for writing this article.
The main problem I see with myself, I tend to forget about all these points, when I go out into society. What is the best way to be aware of it each and every moment?
I am the same way—I need reminders of what I want my vision of life to be. Something that has helped me, as where the author talks about keeping flowers and a picture of Sri Chinmoy, is to keep little reminders of who I am when I feel most happy and loving toward the world.
For example, if I find a little ‘treasure’ in the street, like a tiny plastic alligator (true story), it makes me laugh and feel really happy because it’s such a cute little oddity in the middle of a busy city. It makes me think of the joy and innocence of children, of a time of life when there are (hopefully) no worries and only toys and playing. This is a mental state I try to come back to regularly, to be a ‘clean slate’ over and over again in order to receive the magic of what life is all about, instead of being continually bogged down by the daily grind and all of our endless responsibilities.
So I will put the alligator on my desk at work (true story, too) so that every time I look at it I am reminded that my happiest feelings toward the world and toward life are when I am open to its surprises.
This is just an idea. If you’re not a plastic alligator/street treasure person, perhaps you have a favorite symbol or image that you can put in several places that you frequent. It really works for me.