Really Scary Stuff
With the probable exception of some basic instincts - or motivation toward self-preservation - we've just flat learned to be afraid of about all the rest of the stuff we're afraid of. I know, the word "about" is a cop-out but I'm using it because I'm not really sure where this next mega-fear comes from. Maybe it's an instinct thing, too. I dunno? The one fear that trips most of us up is - the FEAR of the UNKNOWN!! It has provided the foundation for some really great movies and TV programs but it has also managed to slap the snot out of most of us at one time or another To start, let's lump a bunch of this together into the category we'll simply label as "The Future" (I think I'm overdoing this capitalization stuff. Sorry?) Most of us have a tendency to spend an inordinate amount of time and energy thinking about what is lurking just around the corner. We imagine (as in image - create a mental picture of) all sorts of bad things. We latch onto a few perceived facts and using our worst mental programming, fill in the blanks with the very worst negative scenarios we can possible conjure up. We then extrapolate from this erroneous foundation through all the imaginary conversations and situations to the most creative, catastrophic conclusion possible. What a cool thing to be able to do! But here's the best part. If we focus really, really hard on our mental movie, there's a fairly good chance that some of it may actually come true! For those of you who are sure that I've blown a gasket, just hangy on a minute and you'll see where I'm going with this? OK, back to the future (I think I'll suggest that as a title for a movie trilogy?). Here's what we know for sure about our future. Nothing! Zip! Nada! Gar Nichts! Zero! It just ain't happened yet - at least that we know of. And yes, based on our knowledge of the facts related to a given situation coupled with a fair amount of deductive reasoning we can predict with varying degrees of accuracy what may happen on down the road. But can we really know? Ain't no way! Life has altogether too many variables to be able to plug them into a pat formula to predict the future. I could waste time and space here giving you a pile of examples on how our personal projections have turned out to be something other than we expected. We've all had enough life experiences so we can individually look back and grab a few dozen on our own. Just think about projected conversations or confrontations with your boss, employees, significant other or children that never came to pass and you'll get the idea. We "what if" and yeah but" ourselves into inaction and/or mega-stress. We numb ourselves out to prevent us from facing our imaginary future. We think of a thousand ways to avoid the catastrophic future that we're so certain awaits us. Why do we do that? What's the alternative to this miserable approach to life? How about taking whatever facts - I repeat, facts - we can gather on the situation and using them as a foundation for our projections, fill in the blanks (the unknown stuff) with positive scenarios. For planning purposes and to provide a bit of flexibility, it's a decent idea to snag maybe two or three different positive possible blank fillers that could provide a couple of positive outcomes. Focus on these positives and start taking whatever steps you need to take to address your situation. Slide into your future with the probable assurance that the outcome will - at least in the long run - be beneficial to everyone concerned. (If the outcome is not nearly as pleasant as you would have wanted, at least look for the lesson contained in the whole situation. There probably is one in there for you.) Focusing on the potential positives really does give us a distinct advantage. It first of all, provides a more constructive (as opposed to self-destructive) foundation to use to draw up a reasonably logical plan of action. It helps us feel better about the whole process. Instead of being scared about the possible monsters lurking in the darkness somewhere down our path, we are better able to use our adrenaline surges as the fuel to blast us into - and through - the upcoming adventure. And - no BS here - the more we focus on positive efforts and a resulting positive outcome to our situation, the more likely it is that the end result of our endeavor really will be positive! It's sort of like a self-fulfilling prophecy thing. We will usually get out of life no more than we expect. Our mind is pretty incredible. It is capable of whisking us down the road to our own special hell - or propelling us toward a considerably more desirable destination. The direction we wind up traveling is up to us. About The Author Gene, through NuPathz.com, provides an easy reading self-help blog along with affordable books and materials written to help folks find the road to a more enjoyable lifestyle, to pass on some of life's "secrets for survival" in a chaotic world & offer a few smiles along the way. It's a down-to-earth, simple approach to discovering a better life. This article is an excerpt from Gene's blog posted on 9/21/03. You can visit Gene at http://www.nupathzcom/ gene@nupathz.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Gaga over yogaCalgary Herald, Canada - 17 hours agoNot that an activity that is this much in vogue needs me to defend it, but I've actually heard people slagging yoga. There is no shortage of Garfield types ... |
Johnson turns to yogaThe Press Association - 14 hours agoManchester City midfielder Michael Johnson is having yoga sessions in a bid to cure his nagging pelvic problems. Johnson, who signed a new five-year ... |
Eagle County teens tap into yogaVail Daily News, CO - 1 hour agoDogma Athletica's Amy Baker leads student athletes from Vail Ski and Snowboard Club Vail in a yoga pose that practices balance and stretches the shoulder ... |
Kahmic Yoga With Yogi GHamptons.com, NY - 9 hours agoThe charismatic Yogi G, spiritual funnyman and purveyor of Kahmic Yoga, offers one more session in the Hamptons before his NYC debut. ... |
New yoga studio opens in FentonFenton Tri County Times, MI - 11 hours agoWhether or not you have ever tried yoga, there’sa yoga class just waiting for you at Dibbleville Yoga. Located at 302 S. LeRoy St. in Fenton, this new yoga ... |
Stressed out execs seek relief in YogaEconomic Times, India - Oct 12, 2008Corporates too are becoming proactive and invite yoga consultants to hold workshops and classes in offices. “Such activities help build a good working ... |
Yoga - Google News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How Tapping The Goodness Within Attracts Positive Change
If your life is difficult--if it's challenging, exasperating, and vexatious-- then it's time to tap the goodness within.Your life can be another way--if you let it be.
Increasing Expectation Positively!
At your next staff meeting lead your team through the following discussion and exercise.This exercise is focused on getting people to perceive things positively.
Success or Failure: How to Cope With Failure
There is no such thing as failure - only feedback - we can learn from our failures. Do not let apparent failures beat you up, learn from them.
How to Get Rid of Frustration and Self-Pity
I've yet to meet the person who never struggles with frustration. It comes with the territory of being human.
Is Your Glass (Ceiling) Half Empty or Half Full?
The infamous "glass ceiling" is blamed for business issues for women from poor salaries to lack of corporate advancement. This invisible barrier holds many women captive in unpleasant work environments, settling for pay which is far below industry averages, accepting weak titles and agreeing to poor advancement opportunities.
Fear Is Nothing To Be Afraid Of
Several years, I was listening to a radio talk show hosted by a psychologist. A young woman caller said, "I just got accepted to medical school!""Congratulations!" said the host.
Creating Positive Environments, Part 1: Using Art
One of our most active senses is sight. What we see can affect our outlook and attitude by how its counterpart, our brain, perceives visual information that it filters through its memory banks.
Does It Really Matter?
We are all involved in this game called life and we will have our challenges and successes. One thing that will have great bearing on our attitude and lives is how we treat those challenges and successes.
My Sunshine
"You Are My SunshineMy Only Sunshine You Make MeHappy When Skies Are Gray"(I remember this song from my childhood)"You Never Know, Dear,How Much I Love You Please,Don't Take My Sunshine Away"And, doesn't that insinuate someone or something makes you happy? So, from a young age, we were fed the ideas it took something outside ourselves to see sunshine and be happy. We didn't just receive that message from one song.
It's All About Beliefs
Changing your mindset can have a significant impact on achieving your goals.We've all heard about the power of positive thinking but does it work? How does your thinking influence your actions and get you the results you want?Understanding Your MindsetThe Wall Street Journal recently published an article about the significance of our beliefs and the mental models, or mindsets that shape our behavior.
Why You Must Learn to Forgive for the Sake of Your Own Happiness
Your ability to forgive those who have hurt you in the past is a crucial stepping stone to your spiritual and emotional growth. Throughout the course of our lives, we collect emotional baggage.
How to Experience Life as a Thrilling Adventure
"Adventure isn't hanging on a rope off the side of a mountain. Adventure is an attitude that we must apply to the day to day obstacles of life - facing new challenges, seizing new options, testing our resources against the unknown, and in the process, discovering our own unique potential.
Are You A Victim Of FABS? Part One
Have you heard of the FABS? The FABS are quadruplets; they are not identical but they are very, very similar! The FABS are: Fear, Anger, Blame and Shame. This quartet love to arrive, uninvited, at people's houses and literally stay forever.
Why Do Some Affirmations *Work* - and Others Dont?
By definition,an affirmation is a statement repeated time andagain either verbally or mentally-or written down. The wordsof the affirmation statement - in themselves -when spoken,thought of, or written *without* a pictorial (visualized) oremotional connection- make a very weak affirmation.
Such Is Life, And Its Getting Sucher And Sucher
Problems, disappointments and trouble; the three skunks that sometimes think they are our children. At least they want to stay around long enough to give us a college education.
Stepping Into Possibility Thinking
Our thoughts really belong to the collective consciousness of the world in all of time.Our individual minds process the cumulative database recorded on the physical and subtle levels and devise interesting combinations, unique interpretations, and random permutations.
Not A Negative Thought!
Turn negative thoughts into positive ones.Negative thoughts can be very self-destructing, it's true that how we think is who we are.
How To Have A Life Changing Experience
Can you really plan a life-changing experience, or do they just happen? Are they accident's of fate, inherited life forces, or can they be experiences the we choose?A brief story. Soon after graduating I left home for adventure and discovery, and perhaps a life-changing experience.
Open the Pandoras Box & Unleash your Hidden Power.
It really doesn't matter what your objectives are in this life. You breathe, live and act on a conscious level all day long.
Forget Positive Thinking
There are always explanations for why things to you or others. Even though you might not understand why.
|
