Archive for the ‘Creative Thoughts’ Category
Before we can change and use our creative power of thought in a conscious way, we first need to be able to bring our thoughts under control. Very often we allow our thoughts to roam freely, being as negative and destructive as they like. We forget that we are meant to control our thoughts – to put them on a tight leash so that they only go where we actually want them to go.
Developing this sense of control is something that we all need to work on and deliberately cultivate. A lifetime of undisciplined thinking cannot be overcome with a mere decision to become more disciplined. That is why I will now present a Thought Cultivation exercise that will help you to develop the ability to control your thoughts and concentrate in a focused, single-minded way. This has the effect of making the ‘magnetic attraction’ properties of your thoughts stronger and more effective.
This Thought Cultivation exercise is based on the ancient Zen practice of sitting and focusing the mind on a single point of focus and involves just a few simple steps:
Step 1 – Choose A Focus Object
Start by choosing a small object to focus on. Traditional objects used for this purpose are small, smooth, coin-sized pebbles, but you can use any natural object that you will be happy to focus on for fifteen minutes. Natural objects such as pebbles, leaves and crystals are best because they are less likely to be charged with any emotional meaning, and this will make the process easier for you.
Step 2 – Adopt The Sitting Position
It is a good idea to sit in the same place every time you use this process. If you are able, sit cross-legged on the floor, otherwise sit in a chair with your back straight and the soles of both feet on the ground. Place your chosen focus object in a position in front of you where you can look down at it at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees, as if looking straight down the slope of your nose.
Step 3 – Focus On The Object
Sit and relax. Feel a sense of poise and calm. Look at the object. Do not try to analyse the object or have mental conversations about it, but simply use it as a focus for your mind. Whenever your thoughts wander, bring your attention back to the object. Continue doing this for fifteen minutes. It will be difficult in the beginning, and you will quickly become aware of how much your thoughts try to avoid being under your conscious control, but persist with the process and you will soon find that it gets easier with time, and that your mind wanders less frequently.
Use this Thought Cultivation every day and your ability to control your thoughts will develop quite naturally.
If everything in the physical universe carries an electromagnetic charge of some kind, and if the way we think can influence the electromagnetic activity in our brain then it stands to reason that if we learn to think in a certain way, we can begin to ‘attract’ into our lives whatever circumstances and conditions we choose to attract.
We have all heard this before at some point. Spiritual teachers have been telling us for centuries that our thoughts are attractive and that our thoughts determine our experience, and that if we want to experience change in our lives then we need to change the way we think. There has always been plenty of purely anecdotal evidence that this kind of advice is accurate and reliable, but now, in the phenomenon of magnetic attraction, science has given us a logical explanation for why this should be the case.
In decades past, it was difficult for people to understand how thinking something could make it so. The biggest problem was that the whole process used to be described in terms of ‘transforming’ thought directly into physical objects. This made people very confused about how creative thought energy was able to actually ‘solidify’ into physical matter. A number of theories were developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to explain the process, but none have been substantiated since. This is probably because what used to be described as a process of solidification is actually one of attraction.
Although there is no human being who can claim to fully understand the exact process by which ‘thoughts become things’, we can – by combining the findings of current scientific research with the observations of spiritual thinkers over several thousand years – formulate a working hypothesis that is useful.
Since our thoughts have an electromagnetic quality then they – like all other electromagnetic waves – must radiate out into the world around us. Just as radio waves, microwaves and x-rays are capable of travelling vast distances, so it is logical that thought waves could do the same.
Then, if all physical matter carries an electromagnetic charge, however small, it is also logical that any object or person carrying a charge that is similar in nature to the charge of the thought will respond via a process of ‘magnetic attraction’. Or, if the charge of the object or person is dissimilar in nature to the charge of the thought, they will respond via a process of magnetic repulsion. All of this brings us to the traditional conclusions that ‘like attracts like’ and ‘as a man thinketh, so is he.’
As living, breathing human beings, we are thinking all the time, and the overall nature of our thoughts therefore determines the overall nature of the things we experience in life. In order to change the nature of the things we experience in life, it is essential to change the nature of our thoughts.
Even after studying the subject for centuries, scientists are still not entirely sure exactly how the principle of magnetism works. However, they do know that magnetism is a reliable and certain phenomenon, and that it has a clear connection with energy – specifically with electrical energy.
If a piece of non-magnetic metal is wound in wire and an electrical current is passed through the wire for several minutes, the metal will have strong magnetic properties when the electrical current is switched off and removed from the wire. Physicists believe that this could be because the atoms of the metal are rearranged by the flow of electricity, but whatever the explanation, the fact that a fairly ordinary bar can be made strongly magnetic at will is very interesting.
Even more interesting is the fact that magnetism is not a principle that is only related to metals. The Earth itself is a magnetic planet, having both a North and South pole as its polarities. Tissue paper which is rubbed against wool for a sufficient amount of time (usually ten seconds or more) becomes charged with static electricity and immediately demonstrates the ability to attract itself to other non-metallic items.
If the passing of an electrical charge around a plain bar of metal can give it strong magnetic qualities, and the generation of a static electrical charge can make even tissue paper attract itself to other objects, then it stands to reason that anything carrying an electrical charge will show some magnetic qualities. And the incredible thing is that everything in the physical universe carries at least some level of electrical charge… even the human body!
The human body is a hive of electrical activity, because every single cell in the human body actually generates its own electricity. Information is carried around the central nervous system via electrical impulses. Of course, the brain is a particularly active part of the body from an electrical point of view, and thinking can have a direct influence on how electrically active it is. In fact, on the physical level alone, it has been said that thoughts are themselves electrical impulses.
So, thought is magnetic because it is basically an electrical process. Knowing this suddenly makes things like non-verbal communication much more understandable, because it means that we should be able to sense the electro-magnetic emanations of other individuals just as easily as we can sense the positively charged ions that are in the air just before a thunderstorm breaks out – and the negative charged ones that follow afterwards.
Thoughts are creative. This is a fundamental concept that all religions from all corners of the world have endorsed for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians believed it, the Hindu and Yogic masters believed it and the Christian disciples believed it. But the important consensus that thoughts have creative potential (or that, potentially, ‘thoughts are things’) is not only found among religious peoples. Even scientific minds concur, as can be illustrated with the famous quote from Albert Einstein that, ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge.’
Some people have difficultly grasping how this can be. ‘How can something as seemingly fleeting and intangible as human thought have any creative power?’ they ask. It’s a very good question, so let us take the time required to answer it.
Human thought operates on several levels. Each level is important and affects our lives in different ways, from the basic to the sublime:
- Thought directs our actions and reactions as a biological organism. Although the thoughts that cause our heart to beat, our blood to pump and our lungs to breath are unconscious, they are still forms of thought and must be given credit, for without them the human organism would soon cease to operate effectively.
- Thought colours our image of the world. In other words, the kind of thoughts we think determines how we feel about life. If two people look at the same rose, one might notice how beautiful it looks and how fragrant the petals are, whilst the other notices only that it is covered in sharp thorns. The rose is exactly the same in each case, but the thoughts of each observer lead to them having two very different experiences.
- Thought directs our actions and reactions as we interact with the world. The thoughts we think influence the choices we make and the actions we take in life. Some people think ‘I can’t do that!’ and they don’t. Others think ‘I can do that!’ and they do.
- Thoughts communicate non-verbally with other human beings. Not only do we communicate through speech and language, but our emotional states and feelings are also communicated non-verbally. People can ‘sense’ how we are feeling, and we can usually ‘sense’ their feelings in the same way. This is how we can often tell when someone is lying, because their words don’t ‘match’ the feelings that we sense from them on a non-verbal level.
All of this is very impressive, and even if that were the limit of what our thoughts were capable of, it would still be worth developing our ability to think in a more purposeful manner, because doing so would have a direct and measurable creative impact on our lives. However, that is not the limit of the capability of thought, because there is one more level that is even more impressive than all the others put together:
- Thoughts are attractive. Any thought which is invested with enough mental energy over time will attract a similar condition into the life of the thinker. Creating something with the power of thought is therefore possible if one learns how to think in a disciplined and consistent way until the desired condition is brought forth into their actual experience.
Thoughts can be creative in this way because they are not merely fuzzy intangibles that exist in the neural networks of the brain. They are in fact impulses of electrical and spiritual energy which therefore have an energetic influence on the world around us. This is what so many spiritual leaders tried to teach their followers thousands of years ago, but which few truly understood well enough to make use of.
We have established that we live in a conscious universe. We have also said that if we learn to operate in accordance with its natural laws, our lives would be a great deal simpler and a lot more successful. That being the case, why do so many people live as if they are all alone and have to do everything for themselves?
I believe it’s because few individuals are prepared to accept the truth of the conscious universe on “blind faith”. If the conscious universe were provable in a scientific sense, most people would embrace the facts quite happily. But because no such scientific proof yet exists that everything is connected and organised by an intelligent matrix of energy (although the field of quantum physics is getting ever closer to proving this) they choose to act as if practical spirituality is a myth.
The good news is that, whilst the conscious universe cannot be proven scientifically at this time, we can all prove it personally to ourselves. We don’t need to adopt an attitude of “blind faith” either. All we need to do is have is an open mind and take part in a simple 30 day experiment.
The 30 Day Experiment
Just imagine how your life would be if you really knew – beyond a shadow of a doubt – that the universe is on your side and ready to help you transform your life dramatically for the better.
Take a few moments to consider this fully. If you genuinely had that special “knowing” inside that the universe wants you to be prosperous, healthy, calm, successful and joyous; and that the universe would actually help you to experience all of these things… wouldn’t your life be much brighter?
The aim of The 30 Day Experiment is to help you reach a place where this knowing becomes real in your experience. Follow the instructions that are provided in a few moments and over the course of the next month, you will have all the “proof” you need that the universe is not only looking out for you, but that you can experience a great deal more joy and happiness than you ever imagined if you begin working with it deliberately.
The instructions for The 30 Day Experiment are simple to follow, but remarkably productive:
· For the next 30 days, every time you catch yourself worrying about a current situation or a future possibility, take a moment to hand the matter over to the conscious universe. Specify exactly what you are concerned about, then ask the universe to take care of the situation on your behalf for the good of all who are involved. When you have done this, let go of the concern and watch as the issues gradually begin to resolve themselves – as if by magic.
· For the next 30 days, every time you genuinely need something, specify exactly what is needed and ask the universe to provide it. Then say thank you, because your request is already being manifested.
· For the next 30 days, remind yourself that the way you speak to, think about and treat others is the way that you yourself will come to be spoken to, thought about and treated. Deliberately “put out” positive, generous and loving energy… then watch with wonder as the conscious universe reflects the same things right back into your own life.
If you diligently carry out the three simple instructions which I have just provided, you will find that your life begins to benefit from a whole series of happy “coincidences”. These are not in fact coincidences, but events which the conscious universe deliberately orchestrates to provide you with personal proof that you are not alone.
In addition to the three core concepts we discussed in the previous post (see The Conscious Universe), there are also several “natural laws” which govern the way the universe works. These include:
The Law of One
In the realm of physicality, the human race appears to be made up of separate individuals. Whilst it is true that we all have unique personalities, opinions and so on, from a spiritual perspective we are all one. Think of individual people (and animals too) as being different facets of a single, glorious diamond and you will go a long way towards comprehending this.
It is because of this Law that the world’s greatest teachers have advised us to love others as ourselves – because we are, on a deeper level – very much connected to each other.
The Law of Cause and Effect
We sometimes like to believe that we can think, say and do things without it affecting anyone or anything. This is not true. Every cause has an associated effect, and whatever we “put out” into the universe will come back to us many times over. This is good news if we routinely think positive thoughts, speak encouraging words and perform helpful, loving deeds. But if we are negative in thought, word and deed then all of that negativity will come back into our lives one way or the other. We reap what we sow – always.
The Law of Sustained Focus
Whatever you focus on regularly will expand in your life. If you focus on all the good things that you have with a sense of gratitude then you will soon have even more good things to be thankful for. If you worry or think constantly about all the things that you don’t have, then you will just as surely have even greater lack.
The more sustained your focus, the more powerful this Law seems to be. This is not good news if you tend to think negatively, because you will only end up manifesting even more things to be negative about. However, this Law provides tremendous potential, because the more we deliberately focus on good things, the more good we will experience in life. By developing our ability to focus clearly, we will begin to enjoy something called, “the miracle-power of doubtless faith”. We will of course talk more specifically about this in a future post.
The Law of Detachment
This is a tricky law to understand, because it seems so paradoxical, but basically it can be said that the less attached we are to getting something, the faster we will attract it into our lives.
It is because so few people understand this law that they fail to get results even from sound metaphysical techniques and principles. They want results so desperately that they actually drive what they want away from them. If these people would only learn to detach themselves from their desire, what they want would show up a great deal faster. Again, we will discuss this fully in the future.
The Concepts and Laws that we have outlined here are not comprehensive. There are many other “lesser” truths which are just as useful to know and understand.
Our aim in these first two posts has simply been to provide the necessary groundwork so that we can go on to discuss these things in more detail in the future.
Until then, take a little longer to ponder over the material just presented. It may well be that your understanding of “why things happen the way they do” is already becoming much clearer.
The universe as we know it goes far beyond the laws of physics. In fact it could be said that the physical universe is just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the atoms, protons and electrons of physical energy and matter there is a much more subtle spiritual force. Yet despite its subtlety, it is awesomely powerful.
This spiritual force has been given many names. Some traditions have personalised it and called it God, the Father and the Almighty. Others refer to it as Infinite Intelligence, the Creative Force and the Conscious Universe. And of course, there are many other labels which are used the world over.
It doesn’t matter what we call the spiritual force (although we will call it the Conscious Universe simply for ease of reading). What matters is that we recognise and work with it. If we do this – if we get in harmony with the universe – we will find that life because a much more pleasurable and meaningful experience.
Before we can begin to develop such a harmony with the universe, we first need to become familiar with certain key concepts and natural laws. We will discuss these more fully over the coming months so that we can learn to make use of them and not just indulge in idle talk, but for now the major points which you need to begin thinking about can be summarised as follows:
Concept 1 - You are an eternal spiritual being
Although you have a physical body of flesh and blood, the real you is spiritual in nature. Because spirit is eternal, so you are eternal, and although your physical body will one day cease to function, the real you will never die. Instead it will soar free and continue on a new, magnificent adventure.
Concept 2 – There is a purpose for everything
You were not born into this world by accident, but you came here for a reason. In the same way, although sometimes events and circumstances may appear to be random and maybe even cruel, there is always a purpose for everything that happens in your life and in the world as a whole.
Concept 3 – You have great creative potential
Because you are a spiritual being, you were never designed to be a victim of life. On the contrary. You have incredible creative abilities which you can learn to use to dramatically improve your quality of life.
