As a Man Thinks

As a Man Thinks
Viktor Frankl (a surgeon and existential psychoanalyst) was rescued from Auschwitz where his wife, mother, father and siblings were all killed (only one sister survived) he wrote many books but two particularly touched me “Mans Search for Meaning” and “The Will to Meaning” full of insight gained from living through hell. One thing he tells us is if we focus on what is ugly, we attract ugliness into our thoughts, and then into our emotions, and ultimately into our lives.

Gandhi explained it “Keep your thoughts positive, because you thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because you values become your destiny.”

The Bible tells us “as a man thinks in his heart, so he is”.

Psychology in the form of both Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming show us that our thoughts, our internal dialogue, impact not only emotions, beliefs and behaviors but shape our very perception of the world around us. That world view or schema filters all our subsequent perceptions we in effect become what we think.

I challenge you to in a detached, impartial and non-judgmental way attune to your internal dialogue, simply listen become aware of the manner, nature and content of the running dialogue taking place non-stop in our minds.

Begin to notice how negative and habitual thoughts influence your moods, your actions and your perception. Most of these are conditioned responses just like a rat in a Skinner box, but unlike the rat we are self aware, possess higher consciousness and the seed of divinity within. We are able to observe the patterns and break the negative conditioning, and chose a more directed, positive, spiritually enlightened dialogue, breaking the repetitive cycle of negative thoughts, negative emotions, negative behaviors and negative results.

Jesus tells of a parable that we would not put new wine in an old wineskin because it would burst. It is tempting to hold on to the familiar, rather than discard it for a new insight, but if one wishes to grow, to achieve greater awareness and oneness with God, we need to shed the old skins of negative thoughts.

Think well my friends, God Bless.



GWGlunt