November 5th, 2010 by rob white
This blog, and the Thurs eve webinars, are all about how to solve daily problems. This is not just some intellectual theory; it’s spiritual common sense. And as I always say, “If it ain’t practical, it ain’t spiritual!”
Last evening, we looked at what it takes to win self-command. To win self-command means to cease being a reactive machine and learn to think and respond to life independently. It means not allowing polarity to overwhelm you. We live in a world of relativity; opposites exist with every thought you think. You cannot think ‘smile’ without a glimpse of a ‘frown’ hanging around. How can you appreciate the idea of ‘pleasant’ if ‘unpleasant’ doesn’t poke its head in to say “hi” every now and then? If ‘pleasant’ is all there is; if ‘pleasant’ has no relationship with ‘unpleasant’ – then there is no experience, no happy feeling, no heavenly state of being to express.
What if everyone was ten feet tall; would everyone have an experience of being very tall? Of course not … tall is only tall in relationship to small. Someone has to be five feet tall if ten feet tall is to feel tall. We come to this realm of polarity in order to experience opposites and then choose which side of the stick we most prefer to live on. Don’t we? The thought-world also contains opposites; there’s no excaping it.
Last night we looked at what it takes to take up battle for self-victory while living in a thought-world of opposites. The mind can be a closed door or an open door to self-victory.
Student: What is self-victory?
Teacher: You experience self-victory when you experience yourself as incredible creation with incredibly creative skills. Self-victory is knowing that you have access to your incredibly creative abilities in the face of any problematic YES/NO thinking patterns.
Aim for self-victory requires that you allow mechanical thinking to occur; allow YES and NO to show up in your consciousness as they will … AND … while allowing these opposites thoughts to appear, you separate yourself from them by choosing to reside in the gap between these thoughts. There is a gap between “I know I can do it?” … and … “Who am I fooling; there is no way I can do that!”
Indeed, thinking comes fast and furious, but there is space between all thoughts, and you can reside in this space when you stop identifying with any mechanical thought … be it a positive or negative opinion. You are a supreme being who is able to elevate yourself above the psychological level of conditioned thinking. Conditioned ‘positive thinking’ is not powerful thinking … it’s mechanical. There is nothing powerful about mechanical affirmations – they are vain repetition. So many folks find themselves on the rocks of despair because they memorize positive affirmations, hoping that ‘that’ is all it takes to succeed.
What gives you the capacity to take command of your mind and take control control of your life? It is is when you neither attack the negative thoughts that enter your mind, nor do you defend the positive thoughts that enter your mind. When you are in this elevated psychological position – you are completely open-minded: THIS IS WHERE YOUR INCREDIBLE POWER EXISTS!
An open minded attitude searches for the truth; it does not defend the ego’s point view … nor does it throw you in ‘mental debtors prison by condemning you when you make a mistake.
Wow, the above statement is a big one!! Let’s personalize it by adapting it and saying it out loud three times:
“When I am open minded, I search for the truth. I do not defend the my ego’s point view … nor do I throw myself in ‘mental debtors prison’ by condemning myself when I make a mistake.”
“When I am open minded, I search for the truth. I do not defend the my ego’s point view … nor do I throw myself in ‘mental debtors prison’ by condemning myself when I make a mistake.”
“When I am open minded, I search for the truth. I do not defend the my ego’s point view … nor do I throw myself in ‘mental debtors prison’ by condemning myself when I make a mistake.”
Do you know how many folks live their lives in ‘mental debtors prison’? Millions! Nay, even billions! You have the key to releasing yourself from your own ‘mental debtors prison’.
Student: What is the consequence of ‘mental debtors prison’?
Teacher: The consequence is a consciousness of resentment and scarcity.
Student: What does that do?
Teacher: A consciousness of resentment and scarcity attracts the wrong crowd of people into your life; it raises havoc with your health, with your relationships, with your financial affairs and with your general well-being.
This is a blog, not a book, so it is time for me to wrap this up for now.
I want to give appreciation to:
1. Jk – for co-hosting the thurs eve webinars with me, and for offering to send (free of charge) a headphone microphone set to the person who requests one so that they may participate (live) in the webinar.
2. Sylvia for sharing her troubling indecision nature with us, and then transforming from a woesome attitude to an inspiring and uplifting wowsome attitude right before our very eyes. Can we do that? Indeed, we can, and Sylvia proved it!!!
3. All of the rest of you wonderful folks who mingled your minds with ours, and offered responses on the chat board.
We will continue this conversation on next Thurs eve webinar. To state it as simply as I can: you can learn to use your mind in a very different way, a way that is as natural and powerful as the flow of the incoming tides of the ocean. Would you like to learn how? Learn how to make your personal mind work right … and your personal world will work right …. guaranteed.
Please join us on the webinar …
Comments please – how can you add to this blog so that others may learn more?
‘Whatever you wish for others, you wish for yourself’; do you wish that others may learn a better way to use their mind so they may experience healthy, prosperous, happy lives? Can you give a tip (here) to help them with that?
Blessings, rob
I love the idea that there are spaces between my thoughts, and this space is where my power lies to gain control of my mind. I never thought of the thinking process this way. It seems like my thoughts leave no space, but if I stop taking them so personally, I can see there is space between them for me to take control. Great webinar last night. I especially liked your interaction with Sylvia. I learned something about myself from that.
I love what you noticed, Don = if you take your thoughts personally – you cannot find the space between them (where you gain control of your mind). Thank you for pointing that out. Objective noticing is a powerful psychic position to take! blessings
I always thought the space between my thoughts was an indication of my dumbness; NOW I KNOW THAT IT IS AN INDICATION OF MY ABILITY TO THINK SMART!! I really liked the webinar last night and this blog. I’ve not seen this stuff in books, and I read a lot. Yet, I can sense the truth of it.
That’s funny, Salty. I can always depend upon you to have a good sense of humor. Most folks who use their true intelligence, think far less than the millions who are mechanically reacting to old thought-habits. Less thoughts offer more space to take command. blessings
Hey Rob,
Sorry I wasn’t able to make it last night as some last minute errands came up.
About polarity, it’s so interesting how you bring this up… i was just thinking how it also means that if I say yes to something, it means I’m also saying No to something.
If I say Yes to go on a vacation and party, I’m also saying no to working and getting things done.
Very interesting concept,
All the best Rob
Indeed, Parker Lee, when we learn to use polarity so it is working for us – life becomes a breeze. Refuse to argue with discouraging thoughts, and they are quickly discouraged and leave. blessings
I find that when i am grumpy, I tend to attract the NO side of polarity even when YES may seem to be more appropriate. I am glad to know that there is space between my thoughts so that I can let the NO pass through and still choose YES. That is pretty zen feeling. I like how Parker lee sees it, also. We really cannot say YES to something without saying NO to something else. There is no escaping it, and it is wise to understand it.
Indeed, Kara, our attitude is magnetic. If we get caught in a ‘woesome’ point of view, we find the NO’s flooding our field of consciousness like thunderstorms. blessings
Thank you, and everyone who is participating in these webinars!
Last night was a huge eye-opener for me and I am still processing it all.
One of the big things was the idea of positive thoughts being mechanical too! The concept of living in the space between is so new to me, but it is already working wonders!
Plus there is so much more. I discovered some amazing things about my own that I am really excited to explore. I can see some big issues that I now know how to address!
So again, Thank you, Thank you!
Oops!
That would be “my own thinking”.
You are a noble spirit, Jenny Ann. Clearly you intend to have fabulous breakthroughs with the webinar series. I love that about you. It is a happy day when a person realizes that she (he) cannot afford to live with her mechanical thoughts (even if they are positive). There is no power there! blessings.
I like this idea of there being space between thoughts. When my thoughts rush me like an avalanche, I don’t think there is much that I can do to stop them. I think I am resisting them instead of letting them pass through while I find the space. Perhaps I take them too personally?
Yes, when we are upset, our thoughts do rush us like an avalanche. AND YET, even the rushing snow of an avalanche has space between it. Your life can be changed in astonishing ways when you begin understanding what we are touching upon here, John. Blessings
Rob,
This is very fascinating information. I really like the idea that conditioning positive thinking is still just mechanical thinking that can be devoid of emotion. I agree that by learning to not condemn our negative thoughts and not defending our positive thoughts we open ourselves up to many more opportunities. It seems that it’s easy to always be convincing ourselves of what to think instead to be open to experience that vast amount of possibility out there. It is truly amazing to think we can separate from our ego and not have to give up our own self-interest by being open-minded and willing to accept what comes in our life. Thanks!
Here’s a big one, Joe: when we memorize positive thoughts, they become part of the ego. When we defend our positive thoughts, we strengthen the ego. The ego causes our mechanical living conditions. The ego makes us a machine (we become very predictable). If we are to live as the superlatively creative beings that we truly are – we must allow the inward self-talk to chatter as it will and take advantage of the gap between the talk. This gap is where our genius lies. Thanks for helping make this clear with your comment. Join us, and come on air at the webinar, Joe – you’d be a great contribution. blessings
Good morning, Rob. First off, wow! What a great webinar last week I hope everyone who reads this makes it a point to attend. Seeing how all this applies to a real life problem was amazing. Can’t wait until next week.
One tip that I can share that keeps me open minded and positive is to go through a mental checklist of all the things I am grateful for every night before bed. No matter what is going on I start to see how much there is to be thankful for. See you next week
Making a NEW mental checklist every evening is very empowering. It is ‘originality in action’ that enables you to look at life optimistically. If we mechanically give thanks, it becomes vain repetition. Vain repetition does not offer joy; it offers a sense of numbness. Good job, Carol Anne. blessings.
I use the space between my thoughts to condemn myself when things are going wrong. I can see how that is a big mistake. I like knowing that it is up to me, how I use this gap between my positive and my negative thoughts.
I love that you notice what you are doing wrong – that is the first step to ‘righting’ it, Rus. Self-condemnation never works. That which you condemn will condemn you! Simply notice your errors, learn from them, and move forward …. leaving the error in the past. blessings, rob
Rob: I think this is great advice and something that really can impact our life in the most positive way. When we are able to elevate ourselves above our thoughts and not be continually entangled in the mind stream, we really do have clarity and a peace of mind that allows us to live our best life. Thanks for all the great information. It sounds like you had yet another webinar. I would love to experience one in the future and join in on the conversation.
I love your metaphor ‘entangled in the thought-stream’ Sibyl = POWERFUL. thank you for that. YES, do join us for a mingling of your mind with ours (Thurs eve webinar at 8:00 pm … EST). We’d love the contribution that you’d be. knowledge turns into insights during the webinar … how empowering is that? blessings
I’d love to believe you that there is space between the thoughts, but I’m not getting any. When my mind gets going, I have panic attacks. I cannot get my mind off what my mind is obsessing over.
Panic attacks are merely caused by our refusing to take advantage in the gaps between panicky thoughts, Norman. Now that you know there is a gap – you can discipline your WILL to do something with it … can’t you! Blessings
I like this idea of simply seeing that even the most positive thinkers are thinking negative thoughts at times; it’s impossible not to think negative thoughts every once in a while. Just knowing this makes it easier for me to forgive myself when I get caught in negativity.
YES, Gene, everyone entertains negative thoughts at times. It is impossible not to. How can you experience anything if the opposite isn’t right there presenting itself to you. Our job is to let the negative pass through as we offer a hearty welcome to the positive. blessings
The space between my thoughts!!?? Just when I thought I was starting to GET it you throw me a curve ball! :0 I think I grasp what you are saying though. It is when I just let things be as they are that I can be in the 4th dimensional thinking club. I think I have brief moments like that. Usually when things are so crazy or traumatic I can respond calmly and effectively out of a need to survive. Maybe it is like a survival instinct that takes over? I’d like to be there ALL the time though.
INDEED, Roger, there is an intuitive part of us that urges us toward the calm when the hectic shows its face. Indeed survival depends on calm-mindedness (not panic). Good tip. thank you
Hi Rob, My ego gets me into all kinds of debt… especially financial debt! I go into “mental debt” long before I feel the effects in my life. In hindsight I always can see exactly why I get into a mess – but I’m sick of looking back in hindsight – I want to learn to nip it in the bud! Sounds like I am missing out on a gold mine in these webinars… next time, next time my friend…
I am looking forward to mingling my mind with yours this Thurs eve, Peter. I am glad to hear that you are joining our MMA (Master Mind Alliance). blessings
Conditioned positive thinking is not powerful thinking — so good to see you say this here. I for one have gotten so turned off by all the knee-jerk positivity around us. It lacks presence and heart. It doesn’t connect on any level, making it nothing more than false, fake, faux positive mechanicalism.
Lovewhat you’re doing here, Rob. You’re really helping a lot of people with your webinars.
You are a realist, Belinda. Indeed, knee-jerk positive statements are weak. they offer no inner strength. They are mechanical reactions that have no oomph to them. So many folks find themselves on the rocks of despair because they believed ‘positive thinking’ was enough, and a few years later realize they are still stuck in the same hole. As you mentioned – if it is not part of the heart-mind thought process (if you cannot feeeeel it deep in the presence of your beingness), then it is simply nervous repetition. The Thurs eve webinar is to help folks explore an alternative that really does give clout to your thoughts! Blessings
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Thank you all for believing in me more than I believe in me. I think that is what empowering is. I know it is what masterminding is all about. The idea that I do not need forgiveness either from you or from myself, to know that I always do the best I can with the resources I have in the moment (and so do you) allows me to relax my ego enough to find the space between the polarities. In that space I can truely exercise free will, the good choosing, for my life. It also changes all my relationships since I can not look at you with pity, resentment or blame. All i can say is that you are in a different place in your journey and it is or is not good for me to be there with you.
Mastermind participants last week saw me go from “woesome to wowsome” and I guess it was obvious. I didn’t see it but I certainly am feeling a difference as I have learned how to go touch that place now. I could not speak of being a creator or of creating in the same place as my confusion. I had to go to a different place to speak of the creativity. (from woesome to wowsome)
These tools are incredibly powerful and I don’t know that I would ever discover them on my own. I am blessed and grateful for the guidance, support and example I find here. ALways enjoy today
Our traumatic past make us forget the true way, Sylvia. You are learning to let every emotionally upsetting memory of your past be the very signal for remembering the true way. That is huge! You will not recognize yourself a year from now. WHO IS THIS INCREDIBLE CREATION THAT IS SO INCREDIBLY CREATIVE? Thank yo for all that you offered on the webinar last Thurs eve – such a gift to all of us. blessings
I loved what you offered on the webinar last Thursday night, sylvia. It was very clear to me that I have work to do, like you are talking about with this comment. Thank you for being willing to go on the webinar ‘live’. As rob says, “it takes courage” and you showed us courage. maybe I will dare go ‘live’ this thursday.
thanks so much for commenting to me Don. It makes me feel like my great experience was a learning for others too, and just adds to my joy. Do volunteer, stand up, stand out. I learned to put my hand up before I had time to think about what I was signing up for and ,,,interestingly, I have never had a negative outcome from one of those occasions. Feel the support and raise your hand
I love your clarity, Don. We all have work to do. Convert it into a labor of love, and life becomes one joyous breakthrough after another. blessings.
> mental debtors prison
I got out of prison long ago. I fail, but I fail fast and I fail often so I can learn faster, improve faster, and carry the good forward. So for me, failing is just learning another way how not to do something … a rapid process of elimination and it contributes to my bank of wisdom along the way.
I’m a truth seeker by nature and I enjoy the journey … mistakes and all … as part of the path.
I am not sure if we ever get entirely out of debtor’s prison, J.D. Some of us look from the prison bars and see stars more so than do others of us … but fully out of prison …. hmmm … I suspect the likes of Mohammed, Krishna, Jesus and Moses found there way completely out …. but as for the rest of us – there is always more work to do (my opinion). I would love for you to come on the webinar (live) and offer your wisdom. blessings
I really enjoyed the energy of the webinar Rob. I especially liked the idea you presented about the pendulum swinging. I have recognized that we almost think negative and positive simultaneously. The thing for me is to be sure and allow the pendulum to swing and not get stuck to one side or the other. The whole idea actually plays into what I have come to understand about “I do, but I don’t thinking.” Thanks and I am excited to attend this Thursday!
Thinking positively can be as bad as thinking negatively when the positive thinking is mechanical, Sandra. REAL THINKING is powerful … REAL THINKING is seeing the truth about this ‘realm of relativity’; the pendulum is going to swing to and fro … and if we allow it, we are able to experience far more of the ‘up swing’ than the ‘down’. But clearly, ‘down’ will stick around (we are going to be sad about our pet dying; we are going to get old and our bones will feel creaky). Allow the pendulum to swing as much as it does, and it will allow you to be to respond to live as you choose (which is happily). Resist it and it will bowl you over. Blessings.
Hi Rob,
Very nice post. This is really a nice idea that there is a space between our thoughts and that we have to choose to reside in the gap. I never thought of it this way. In regards to positive thinking, I agree with you, we have to feel what we are saying to ourselves and we have to really feel what we say in our hearts. Otherwise, it will not do us any good. The power lies in our hearts. Thanks for sharing
Indeed, Dia, our power to create our lives as we want our lives to be lies in thinking with our heart-mind (the subconscious level of thinking where our emotions dwell). Forcing with the surface mind only causes frustration (what you push at … pushes back). blessings
The self will only be accepted and welcomed as an asset when we lose the self-ish tag that persists. Just because you ‘love yourself’ doesn’t make you a big headed or ‘me first’person. Love yourself and understand yourself and then life will make more sense and a whole lotta fun. Good debating you got going on Rob, a very health practice for sure!
Indeed, John, loving yourself is not about ‘ego satisfaction’. The kind of love to which we are referring includes ‘loving thy neighbor as thyself’, which excludes any feelings of being special and better than others. Nice distinction that you are making. The urges of our original nature (which includes loving oneself) is always perfect. blessings.
Rob,
I love the idea of “space between our thoughts” and Polarity of our mind thinking.
“An open minded attitude searches for the truth; it does not defend the ego’s point view … nor does it throw you in ‘mental debtors prison by condemning you when you make a mistake.”
This sentence is so profound and powerful, I had to think about it with my eye closed to grasp the understanding it without any distraction from outer world! Simply amazing effect! Thank you.
Preeti
Yes, indeed, Zengirl, the only one who can send me to mental debtors prison is ME, and the only one who has the key to free me … is ME. Why don’t we simply examine polarity instead of fearing it, and insisting that ‘the positive’ is all there is for us? Life is meant to be loved (warts and all). We cannot love ourselves, nor life, if we refuse to admit that there is darkness where there is light. Blessings
Hi Rob – just got back from a great vacation with my family, to visit more family back home in the Bay Area.
Wow! I read over a bunch of great comments and feel the impact. Just this past weekend I shared the following with one of my younger brothers (he’s been in and out of trouble for the past few years – he’s 21). What I shared aren’t things that I’ve mastered, but things that I practice (and still have room for improvement).
-Being that we reap what we sow – make sure that your actions are in line to be of the greater good for all parties affected by your actions.
AND
-We have so much control over our outcomes, but we have to develop the ability to take that control. Keep learning with a humbled hunger for growth.
Jk, you are becoming a living example of the lessons that you yearn to learn, How great is that? Beneath exterior appearances of strength and confidence there is a thin thread of fear and insecurity in all of us (that’s polarity in action). When we acknowledge this, insights come to us about our unlimited nature that set us free of the feelings of insecurity. If we deny it, we empower it to throw us in mental debtors prison. Why not let insight set you free – which is the growth choice you have taken. Blessings.
I am interested in the webinar, but I am concerned that I will feel embarrassed if I actually tell everyone about my problem.
We are all concerned that we will be embartassed if we speak of our personal problems, Karen … this is how the ego stops us from solving our problems (what would the ego be without problems?). You are a woman who dares! Welcome!!!
I’m in Mental debt and financial debt. I think the financial debt came first now I cant seem to get out of either one. Once I get my finances in order I will have more time and energy to dedicate to my mental world.
Hi Alan- I had the same thinking. That I needed to get things “cleaned up” before I could work on myself. I wonder if that will work for you…it never did for me. I finally “gave up” and just started from where i was in the midst of the chaos…and amazingly the “outside stuff” is all falling into place. I hadn’t expected that. Maybe it will work for you too.