I see the world the way I have painted it

The ability to think is what makes us different from all living species on this planet. That itself speaks volumes about the importance of the ability to think. I remember what my mother used to teach me as a child: As is our thought, so is our deed, so is our destiny.

It took me years to understand the depth of this age-old saying. Yes, it is true; we are what our thoughts make us. R W Emerson, the famous poet and essayist who led the Transcendental Movement has said aptly, “Man is what he thinks about all day.”

So if thinking is so important then we should also realize that what one thinks is of prime importance… Your thoughts can either make you, or break you.

However, before we discuss the power of thoughts and how to use thoughts to manifest, let us dwell into what thoughts are.

A thought is the genesis of all creation. All creation, whether tangible or intangible, originates from thoughts.

Thoughts are deeply influenced by the condition of our body, mind, emotion and intellect, and vice versa — our body, mind, emotions, and intellect get deeply influenced by our thoughts. It is a vicious circle that keeps going around, leading us to a merry dance of confusion, contradictions and conflicts. This constant tug of war prevents us from living a harmonious existence, both at the conscious and sub-conscious level.

Thoughts also get colored by our perception of people and situations. Different people are found to react in different ways in a given circumstance, since their perceptions, and in extension, their thoughts are generally influenced by their cultural, social and religious beliefs, and their environment, which in turn influence their reactions and actions towards the situation.

There is increasing scientific evidence that our biological bodies respond to our thoughts. Negative thinking leads to unnecessary worries and stress, which in today’s world is the major cause for most diseases and illnesses. When we are in a state of negative thinking, our blood pressure increases, the sympathetic nervous system becomes overactive, leading to secretion of stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol. Similarly, positive thinking leads to secretion of happy hormones like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. Therefore, the inner dialogue, the conversation which we are having in our mind is very important for our health, since our body responds differently to the different states of our mind. Every mental process has an effect on our physical body.

CONSCIOUS THINKING

One might ask that we all know that negative thinking is harmful but what should we do to correct it or replace those negative thoughts with the positive ones. After all, it is not in our hands to dictate what we think.

Awareness is the answer. The more we are aware of our thoughts, the better equipped we are to divert negative thinking into positive thoughts. The moment you find yourself drifting into negative thinking, and if you are aware of it, you should say a loud “no” and “stop”. Initially, you have to practice deliberate positive thinking. It might be difficult in the beginning to have positive thoughts, especially in adverse situation, but with practice, you will soon notice a change in you and your surroundings.

Let us change the way we think, to live our life in abundance, joy and peace. Whatever situation we are in can’t change by worrying or thinking negatively. Negativity begets negativity and will never lead one to a positive, constructive solution to the problem at hand. However, a positive mindset can definitely make the situation look less intimidating and also lead one to get positive solutions for the problem at hand. Our thoughts have an impact on our being, if not on the situation.

CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE

How many times have you stepped outside and not even noticed how the sky looks like? How much do you really notice while traveling? We are just so engrossed in the thoughts of past or future we miss the finer moments of life and joy this moment is giving us. Life is made of experiences, big or small. But all experiences are momentary — they exist in one second, and in another they become history.

Let’s feel them and live every moment in positivity. Our positivity should not depend on the experience. We need to acknowledge the situation and be grateful for the experiences.

Be aware of your thoughts and surround yourself with things and people who teach and give you positivity in life. Use good and positive words for yourself and others. Love life and accept the process of life with complete understanding. It is much easier than to keep suffering in your negative thoughts and harbouring resentment toward acceptance.

Ultimately, the choice is yours — accept it gracefully or keep crying.

You will be amazed to see how effortlessly your mind becomes a free flow of positive thoughts, just like a clear stream that flows effortlessly, without any restraint. Positive thoughts are associated with higher vibrations of love, joy, happiness, and gratitude and you will find yourself in a state of inner bliss, no matter what your external situation is.

To conclude, let me quote author Henry Thomas Hamblin: “You are the architect of your own life; it is yours to make or to mar. By the power of thoughts you are building; are you building it right?”