M. H. Dennis - Before the advent of TV, people really enjoyed reading books. Using their imaginations, they had to visualize the action. In their minds, they constructed the characters appearance, the setting, and the story line taking place. Through their habit of reading, they were forced to exercise their imaginations just to enjoy the book. Now instead of reading, people just drop on the couch, turn on the tube, and try to stay awake. Their imaginations have become lazy by a lack of use. Theyre just mindlessly viewing the program; however, it plays out.
We have to be cautious not to approach life like we watch TV. We should be scriptwriters, and not just viewers watching life happen. Lets talk about your lifes script and the instrument that youll need to author it. This instrument or pencil is your imagination, which is the ability to erase what is currently in your life and to author what will be. Use your imagination to film a mental VISUAL movie of you reaching your goals. Repetitively, watch that movie until it becomes more real to you than your current situation.
An obstacle to us using our imaginations productively is a misunderstanding of the definitions of pride and humility. Most of us were taught as children not to behave arrogantly or pride fully. Because of this, we feel uncomfortable when we think well of our selves. Humility is not maintaining negative thoughts about ourselves, but making room in our thoughts for the needs of others.
Another obstacle in using our imaginations positively is how we are trained from childhood. Many parents, educators, & employers, train on the negative side. For example, I have a Shetland Sheep dog named Shadow. When she was about two years old, I realized that she didnt even know her name. Because I usually communicated to her negatively through the use of the word NO even more often than her own name, she apparently began to think her name was NO. If I said No, she would come to me; however, if I called her by her name, shed look at me with a blank stare. We have to guard against communicating in negatives. In the same way, most of our training comes from instructors telling us what NOT to do. Now, we identify and feel more comfortable with negativity just like Shadow.
We have more practice using our imaginations on the negative side because of our upbringing. Most of us have a very active imagination on the negative side. This is called worry. Because our minds are so thoroughly trained to think negatively, we begin to see ourselves performing poorly in almost every situation. When the situation arises, we recall those mental pictures of us failing, and then we act accordingly. Thinking negatively causes us to replay past failures over and over in our minds, which engraves in our thoughts what we actually dont want to happen.
We CAN overcome a negative mindset. First, we need to lighten up on ourselves, forgive ourselves when we do fail, and then dismiss it from our minds altogether. If youve messed up, be honest and ask forgiveness from others if needed, and then move on. Dont carry todays failures into tomorrow, or replay those mistakes over and over again in your mind. Next, learn to celebrate your victories. Its okay to replay over and over again the things that you did well. In fact, this is really an important habit to practice. Remember the reason that you might feel odd doing this is that youre overcoming a negative mindset.
A negative mindset keeps you from setting your goals and completing your life script. After all, a negative mind will take the position that when you dont achieve a goal that youll only feel bad. I say MAKE A DECISION to replace your negative thought patterns with positive ones. Set your goals and live your dreams. Rehearse them over and over in your mind just like youre reading a good book about you. Remember, whats real IN you becomes real TO you.
Dont merely float downstream, as if youre helplessly watching life like a TV show. Pick up your mental oars and row. Your oars are your imagination and your goals. Only by using them will your reach your destiny. Rowing upstream is difficult because youre paddling against the current; however, just like anything else your mental muscles will strengthen with use.
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