Thinking on Purpose

Does your mind have a mind of its own?

Have you ever gone about your day, partly operating on ‘auto-pilot’, paying little or no  attention to what you’re doing? Does your mind act on impulse and does it create random thoughts for no apparent reason? If so, take heart; you’re not alone, because nearly everyone experiences that. Now, while this action of the mind is not necessarily a problem in itself, in some cases it can lead to problems. Let’s take a look.

First of all, to clear up any misconceptions about this issue, let’s agree that it is impossible to be 100% intentional with your mind twenty-four hours a day. The mind needs down time to drift here and there and to daydream. We are not aiming to think deliberately every moment about every little thing. Even if we could do so, imagine how exhausting that would be.

However, we do face situations when it is necessary to think deliberately and to be aware of the way we use our minds.

A wise teacher once said, “Anyone who is capable of thinking clearly is able to choose his or her thoughts. If that person does not choose what he or she pays attention to, something else will direct his or her thoughts and focus of attention.” You might wonder wha that “something else” is.

Since we know that our thoughts and beliefs often determine our actions, it makes sense that good behavior results from good thinking. So, if we want to do good, to act ethically, we must think that way. Obviously, that is easier said than done. The reason is that all people possess two tendencies: one is to do good, while the other is to act in a way that hurts others.

If we accept that truth, and if we wish to do avoid hurting others, we would want to know how to make our good thinking tendency rule over our bad thinking tendency. This involves making a determination to focus our attention on positives, rather than on negatives. This truth has been known for centuries upon centuries. It is contained in the Bible, as well as in other teachings. Unfortunately, most people are not interested in learning from the ancient wisdom.

If you wish to replace bad thinking habits with habits that help you feel better and  succeed in reaching your life goals, you have lots of options. The information is out there: books, videos, podcasts, chat groups. But if you prefer to work through things with the help of a professional, feel free to contact me. I have been coaching and treating people since 2001, and would be honored to help you. If you’re ready to get started, call 219-309-3928 for a brief free consultation. 

For more thoughts click Think, Then Speak

thanks for reading!