“If you have zest and enthusiasm, you attract zest and enthusiasm.  Life does give back in kind.”

Our most characteristic moods are a residue of our early life experience.  People who experienced abuse, neglect or emotional deprivation tend to be sad and in low spirits.  This low energy vibration will tend to attract others who themselves are vibrating at the same low frequency.  As a result, our early life experience is perpetuated in present time.  We take these conditions to be “reality”.  The world seems to be populated by wounded, downbeat needy people.

Living in such a world is demoralizing.  Life becomes “stale, flat and unprofitable.”  Under such conditions suicide may become an increasingly compelling option.

It is vitally important to recognize that the outer world is nothing other than the projection of our own mind.  “Reality” is a highly subjective construction, “like a dream, like an illusion” (Milarepa 11th Century Tibetan Yogi).  Once we grasp this truth we can change our world by transforming our mind.

How to Transform Your Mind

1.    First, you must become aware of your current state of mind.  Keep a journal of your recurring thoughts and feelings.

2.    As you identify characteristic negative thoughts, train yourself to “stop!” every time you notice such a thought occurring in your mind stream.  Replace the negative thought with a positive thought, or affirmation (self statement).

3.    Look at yourself in a mirror.  Do you see a scowling face looking back at you?  Make a conscious effort to change your facial expressions.  Make it a practice to smile at people.  You will be amazed at how powerfully a smile evokes a responsive smile from others.

4.    Open your heart.  Make genuine positive emotional connections with as many people as possible.  Raise your emotional state from sullenness to love and compassion.  You will be responded to in kind.

5.    For those of you who are open to visualization, try the following experiment:

Visualize your crown chakra* (at the crown of your head) glowing at a bright, gold color.  This corresponds to the highest frequency of emotional vibration.   With practice, you can learn to transform yourself and your experience using this technique.

If life is “like a dream,” make it a happy one!  Learn how to liberate yourself from the nightmare of bitterness and sorrow.

Please feel free to let me know how you are doing.  If you need some help along the way, I would be delighted to assist you.

*Chakras are energy centers. They are considered to be the focal points for the reception and transmission of energies. Seven major chakras or energy centers are generally believed to exist, located within the subtle body.