How many times do you work yourself into a tizzy because of what you consider cruel, thoughtless treatment to you by others? I'm not talking about physical or sexual abuse here. I'm talking about unkind, deliberate words or actions to demean and hurt your senses. Well, do you know that you can diminish and eliminate the hurt you feel and your reaction to it?
First of all, sit back (or stand back if that's what you're doing at the time) and just observe your reaction. The proverbial slap in the face, the breath taken away, the quickened heartbeat, nausea, the impulse to strike back ... and so on. Don't resist or attempt to change that reaction. No physical action necessary, however. Calmly and quietly watch the reaction come and go.
I am doing that right this moment as we speak because of discovering a hurtful situation a few moments ago. Okay, I'm observing my reaction.
We are not to call the perpetrating thoughts our own thoughts, because they aren't. They belong to the one or ones who generated the injury to your feelings. Those original words, deeds, or thoughts don't have any power whatsoever, they are just trying to enforce power over you.
So, number one, be aware of your reaction and then watch it come and go, for it will go, it will. Takes practice.
This had been very useful to me and most certainly builds inner strength. It gives you the ability to take command and full responsibility for your reactions to whatever is said to, against, or happens to you. Whatever slight and hurt you feel, whether it comes from family or friends or coworkers or strangers ... you are in control of what you do with your reaction. So, be calm, let it dissipate, whatever it is. Realize that it isn't part of you. Your reaction and action is you, yes, but that you can control ... you can watch it come in one window and go out the other. And if it revisits, watch it again ... in one window out the other.
I'm working on it right now. lol lol It's doing its job ... I'm smiling.
I have a wonderful book that I refer to for help with many life situations and spiritual thinking ... THE POWER OF YOUR SUPERMIND. I've given copies to many of my friends over the years. It really is my Bible. And the above teaching is from that book.
We're asked, "What commands you?" And the book says "You are commanded by anything above your own psychic level." That's why a person on a lower psychic level (look up psychic levels) has trouble and problems with both self and other people. Conflicts are above him, out of reach of handling ... he joins them, creates them, is in the throes of them, wreaking havoc in the lives around him.
We're also asked and are told, "What can you command? You are in command of everything that is below your own psychic level. If you are above cruelty in yourself, you cannot be commanded by the cruelty of others."
WOW! Isn't that terrific?
"If your level is higher than hysteria, you are immune to the mass hysteria of mankind, expressing itself in fighting and deceit."
I mean to tell you, think about this. Where do you see yourself?
AND if you practice the steps above ... sit back and watch it come and go ... "your mind can control everything in your life because of its supreme power to react correctly to everything."
Okay, I feel better already. At least when it comes to my reaction.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Sunday, June 1, 2014
SUMMERTIME IN THE BOONDOCKS!
Yep, summertime is upon us in the 'sticks' of Arizona ... hey! I can call it that if I want for that's what it is to me. Boondocks, sticks, desolate hell, the tules (a California term), the boonies ... and other such descriptions of places like San Tan Valley AZ. Although boondocks also describes a mountainous area by the Filipino race, and I wish it were in my case, I love the mountains, forests, streams ... log cabins, yes!!! Oh yes!!!
Then to add to the grief of being so isolated, the summers are unbearable here in AZ! Up to 117 in July, sometimes higher. It is not a place you want to be in the summer, especially if you're a cool weather person like me and would rather have daily rain than daily sun.
So why don't I move?
Well, first of all, I have created a beautiful cocoon for myself and my babies - Princie, Albee, and Oreo. A lot of my time and $$$ have been expended. My backyard is completely enveloped by trees that have been trimmed to form a canopy over the entire space, mostly shade back there now ... it's taken six years to do that. I've planted all kinds of flowers, roses, bougainvilleas, and many other flowering plants and shrubberies that surround a very small lawn area including a fire-pit (winter) and lawn chairs. There are two iron bench niches under the trees, too, and an umbrella covered table with two stools out under the tallest tree, as well as other seating and table/chairs inside my covered patio. It all makes for an outdoor living space, an extended living room so to speak. You aren't going to believe this, but there is seating for 16 in my back garden without adding more chairs ... spread out under the foliage and in the covered patio. I know, that's quite a bit for the small space it is, I know. But I don't care, I love creating my vignettes outside just like I do the ones inside. (Per square footage, I probably have more seating area inside my home than most other people do in a house this size - approx 2200 sq ft. I love that too.)
So I work in the garden, front and back, every morning. The front garden is overgrown too - one tree covers it all giving it plenty of shade.
Indoors of course is my little palace holding my collections and eclectic furnishings - lace and satin, brocade and silk fabric. A woman's house, not a man's house.
The reason I don't move is because if I sold this house I would not realize enough profit to purchase another home that would equal this or go one better. Just doesn't compute.
So, I'm stuck! But you know, most of the time I don't look at it that way. Like I said, I love my garden and I love my home. It 's just the damn surrounding desert I don't care for ... and being way out here in the boonies, having to drive 40 minutes to an hour to a town -- a real town with shops, cafes, music, antique stores, etc.
But on the flip-side, there is a plus of being isolated for it forces me to get things done that I need to do ... like writing, editing, publishing and doing the support work that makes it all pay ... rather than being out-and-about, playing.
But it's so damn hot!!!! It's summertime in the boondocks, guys!
Then to add to the grief of being so isolated, the summers are unbearable here in AZ! Up to 117 in July, sometimes higher. It is not a place you want to be in the summer, especially if you're a cool weather person like me and would rather have daily rain than daily sun.
So why don't I move?
Well, first of all, I have created a beautiful cocoon for myself and my babies - Princie, Albee, and Oreo. A lot of my time and $$$ have been expended. My backyard is completely enveloped by trees that have been trimmed to form a canopy over the entire space, mostly shade back there now ... it's taken six years to do that. I've planted all kinds of flowers, roses, bougainvilleas, and many other flowering plants and shrubberies that surround a very small lawn area including a fire-pit (winter) and lawn chairs. There are two iron bench niches under the trees, too, and an umbrella covered table with two stools out under the tallest tree, as well as other seating and table/chairs inside my covered patio. It all makes for an outdoor living space, an extended living room so to speak. You aren't going to believe this, but there is seating for 16 in my back garden without adding more chairs ... spread out under the foliage and in the covered patio. I know, that's quite a bit for the small space it is, I know. But I don't care, I love creating my vignettes outside just like I do the ones inside. (Per square footage, I probably have more seating area inside my home than most other people do in a house this size - approx 2200 sq ft. I love that too.)
So I work in the garden, front and back, every morning. The front garden is overgrown too - one tree covers it all giving it plenty of shade.
Indoors of course is my little palace holding my collections and eclectic furnishings - lace and satin, brocade and silk fabric. A woman's house, not a man's house.
The reason I don't move is because if I sold this house I would not realize enough profit to purchase another home that would equal this or go one better. Just doesn't compute.
So, I'm stuck! But you know, most of the time I don't look at it that way. Like I said, I love my garden and I love my home. It 's just the damn surrounding desert I don't care for ... and being way out here in the boonies, having to drive 40 minutes to an hour to a town -- a real town with shops, cafes, music, antique stores, etc.
But on the flip-side, there is a plus of being isolated for it forces me to get things done that I need to do ... like writing, editing, publishing and doing the support work that makes it all pay ... rather than being out-and-about, playing.
But it's so damn hot!!!! It's summertime in the boondocks, guys!
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