by Oscar
“Negative thoughts are commonly a consequence of fear. You imagine bad things that may occur and you try to come up with a defense mechanism to be prepared for these bad things. However, you know that this brings you no benefit. Why be concerned about something that may never happen?
“A lot of people experience these kinds of thoughts. At some level, many of them understand that these thoughts do not accomplish anything useful, and they wish to get rid of them, but changing one’s mental habits is indeed difficult. The main difficulty arises from the fact that these negative behaviors originate in the mind, and in the case of negative thoughts there is no need for any external factor to create the habit. Think about how an alcoholic has to at least make an effort to leave his house and come up with some money to buy liquor. The problem with negative thinking is that anybody can do it without any conscious effort.
“The solution is always to replace the negative with something positive. This may seem trivial but in time it will produce results. Every time you surprise yourself entertaining those negative thoughts, ask your Thought Adjuster, to take charge, and He will help you overcome this damaging habit. When you direct your thoughts and focus your intent on your Thought Adjuster, nothing else will occupy your mind, since the mind can only deal with one thought at a time.
“When you ask your Father to take charge and help you get rid of negative thinking, you will be effectively replacing the negative thoughts with positive ones. It is useless to tell yourself not to think about something. If someone tells you not to think about ice cream, what will be the first thing that comes to your mind? Ice cream! This is the reason why the negative method of forbidding something never works. Instead focus on something positive and fill your mind with more creative and harmonious thinking, and if your thinking is oriented to getting you closer to your Father, the influence He can exert over your life will be more powerful and effective.”
© The 11:11 Progress Group.
http://www.1111angels.net
Replies
Ara, I like your article. But what is absent is that there are many different aspects of human thinking and expression that can be defined as negative per individual viewpoint and perspectives of others. The author defines it as a "defense mechanism" as opposed to an individual or group perspective. It is, in an indirect way, a definition that declares voices of dissent as being "negative." And calling out open challenges as being "negative" is currently a big problem, especially with alternative media (which is sometimes seen as "conspiracy theorists") becoming more popular than the mainstream media (which is often traditionally seen as sources for "the truth," and is now being revealed as being not so truthful by the alternative media).
The truth is that the real negativity is revealed when such dissent leads up to breakdown and breakup of open discussions or the tranquilibrium that allows relationships to manifest and flourish. Hence, I don't believe "negativity" is a "defense mechanism." And no, I'm not being negative with this disagreement of Oscar's writing.
... ;)) Malcolm basically the core of your statement is the same as Oscar's ... ;)) lack of knowledge creates 'negative' as you've said 'per individual viewpoint and perspective of others' ... based on viewpoint and perspectives of themselves. Fear always comes when pushed out of comfort zone, but then comes the change and the change comes regardless if we want it or not.
You are right there are many aspect of human being not only in the thinking, however it's our thinking which we can learn how to control, as it is within us and the simple start is to go to the Source - which hold all of our aspects, we just need to recognize them first to know them.
i've used this saying in other post by Tulku Urgyen but it's applicable to this one as well:
"The stronger and more forceful the disturbing emotions are, the greater the potential for recognizing our original wakefulness...it is in fact that at the very moment we are strongly caught up in thought forms or in the surging waves of an emotion, of anger, for instance, it is much easier to recognize the naked state of awareness. This of cause is not the case when one has trained in a very tranquil, placid state of meditation where there are no thoughts and negative emotions. Then, due to what is called "the soft pleasure", it is actually much more difficult to recognize the true state of non dual mind...Conversely, experiencing great despair, great fear, and intense worry can be a much stronger support for practice."