Ishas Blog

I have always believed in the power of the mind.  Something I used to frequently say to my husband in Zimbabwe was "don't say it or think it" because it will become true (yes and half the time he used to think I was nuts!!)  But slowly he began to listen to me because he started to see a direct correlation in some of the things he spoke about that came about in his life and he started to see a connection. 

Of course because of this I personally began to almost 'revere' the mind and see it as something all powerful and I truly began to belief if I could 'master' my mind I could master my life!  Ha! Ha!  I honestly had this perspective that it was like the magic genie inside me that could give me all that I wanted if I just learnt to ask the right questions!!  I know, I know.....sad hey but keep with me, the story gets better!

So when we got to Australia and I wasn't the happiest bunny in the world lo and behold I stumbled upon 'The Secret' and the 'Law of Attraction' which promised me if I mastered these two things, I would be happy again and better still I could have the life I have always dreamed about - yup you got it, fast cars, big houses, lots of travel...hmm, come to think about it...not so bothered about the houses and cars but I would like the travel!!  Ha! ha!  I look back and laugh at myself now but needless to say, this sent me charging off on this journey to understand my mind better.

And the profoundly interesting thing that I have found is that 'the mind' stuff that is marketed in the media, the internet, the self development industry (the list goes on) about "The Power of Your Mind" is largely misleading and often absolute doo doo!

And here comes the part that has completely blown me away on my journey to understanding my mind and it isn't what you think - are you ready?????

The Mind is our problem - ha ha what a joke!!!!  How many self development companies - myself included for a while (because I was unconsciously listening to the doo doo!) until I began to wake up and am prepared to admit that I had it wrong - have built huge emphires promising people pie in the sky stuff about teaching them how to 'master' this great weapon so that they can have whatever they want, it's very amusing (and very sad!)

When we listen to our thoughts we suffer, when we question our thoughts we give ourselves freedom.  Our minds tell us that we will be happy when we have this, that or the other thing, our minds tell us that we can't be happy because this happened or that happened. 

When we live in our mind we live in pain.....yes the mind is a highly developed tool that if used correctly can help us live happier lives but it is a part of the whole - NOT THE MAIN!  The whole that we are is mind, body and soul or if you like spirit.

What happens in mainstream society, particularly in the Western world is that we live almost completely in our mind and forget about the other two parts to our whole.  And this is the important part, when we believe our mind we stop connecting to our essence, our spirit and we stop living 'in now' and herein lies the rub - the only thing we have is now!  

The Mind worries about the future and the past and convinces us that we need this and that and that.....and off we rush to get this and that and that and what do we do....we overlook what we already have always rushing onto the next damn thing. It's like we are in the grip of insanity which just seems to get more insane!

So the next time you find yourself thinking how much better your life would be if.....wake up....your life is already good....you are alive at least!

Firstly I have to say I'm sorry, a while ago I posted a blog stating that I was back in full swing, I then wrote a couple more posts and then nothing - shocking behaviour with no excuse except that time seemed to be against me!!  Well, this is what I thought until recently. 

I kept saying to myself I must update my blog, I must....., I must...... the list was growing and nothing was happening until suddenly I realised (I know sounds stupid!) that nothing was going to happen until I took nike's approach and just did it! I know this sounds obvious but how many of us beat ourselves up with all the things we 'should' do, the list is endless and probably runs along the lines of:

I should update my blog (hee! hee!)
I should spend more time with my husband/wife/partner
I should do something romantic with my husband/wife/partner
I should do more with the kids
I should paint the house
I should clean the garden
I should.............................bla bla bla.  

The problem with "I shoulds" is they just cause us stress!  Inner peace and harmony go out the window and in comes beat yourself up mentally about why you are such a failure and never achieve anything!
 
And the key to it all I have learnt is 'scheduling' I am becoming a master at looking at my life and streamline the parts I don't enjoy so that I have more time to enjoy the parts that I do.  I guess you could call it becoming conscious about my life - which incidentally is the monthly topic we are covering in The Freedom Academy.

We waste so much time thinking of what we 'should' do instead of waking up to how we are living and then consciously deciding to clear out the stuff we don't need so that we can create the space to do the things we love.  From a Universal perspective nature hates a vacuum, think about it, if you clear out your old clothes it takes no time at all and new clothes appear to fill up the space you have created by chucking out the old clothes.  It's incredible!

It's the same with life, inner happiness comes when we are doing the things we enjoy and more importantly spending time with the people we love.  And on my journey to finding peace and contentment I have begun to realise that if I don't create the space to enjoy the things I like doing, everything will just keep being "I must" or "I should" and my life will pass and I will look back and wonder what happened (and more importantly why didn't I achieve anything!!!)

Part of achieving inner peace is about looking at your life and deciding what works and what doesn't.  For example recently I decided my pantry cupboard was driving me nuts - it was a shambles. I have lived with it like this for months and every night when I cook I tell myself "I should clear this up".  Oh....the wasted time I have spend shifting through spices rummaging around to find what I want.....muttering to myself.....you get the picture....until finally I decided ENOUGH!!  Clearly my pantry was not working for me....

Now I could have gone on for several more months telling myself "I should" but instead I have cleared this space!  I have since bought containers and everything is categorised and ordered, my pantry is now a dream and cooking takes half the time - and this is what I am talking about - clearing up your space gives you time to go on a picnic (because you can find the picnic basket - phew!) and gives you mental peace -really it's a must!

And this is why it is so important to wake up because when we 'clear out' our lives, we make way for more good to come.