It Is How You Think
You Feel and Act How You Think
Energy Needed to Think
Thinking Requires Energy
Glucose is the form of sugar that travels in our bloodstream to fuel the mitochondrial furnaces responsible for our brainpower. Glucose is the only fuel normally used by brain cells. Because neurons cannot store glucose, they depend on the bloodstream to deliver a constant supply of this precious fuel.
This blood sugar is obtained from carbohydrates: the starches and sugars we eat in grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. (The only animal foods containing a significant amount of carbohydrates are dairy products.) Too much sugar or refined carbohydrates at one time, however, can deprive our brain of glucose, depleting its energy supply and compromising our brain’s power to concentrate, remember, and learn. This is because mental activity requires a lot of energy.
Our brain uses energy to think and to tell the body what to do. It uses more energy than any other organ of the body. The more you think, the more energy you use. Do not be a lazy thinker. You must eat the right food to think to your highest level. The brain will let you know when you are not being good to it. Not only will you not feel good, you will not act so great either. This need for energy, at times, will cause your mind to tell you things you do not need to hear, such as, I want some more even when you have had enough. And this is not just with food; other pleasures can cause this as well.
Brain Pleasure
The brain is the real pleasure organ. And it tells us when we are hurting and in pain, which we will do almost anything to stop. But find it difficult to say no to what feels good. We were designed that way for a reason. Without pleasure, there would be no us. We would not do as much as we do to make more of ourselves. But, as we know, too much of a good thing is not good. This is when pain shows up in its role to tell us that something is wrong.
It reminds me of a song from back in the day that goes like this: Do it, Do it, Do it to you are satisfied, whatever it is, go ahead and Do it. Back then, it took a lot of work to know when you had enough. More always seemed just about right. But, it is not—should not— be so hard today; we know much more now than what we knew then. We know more, yes, but the mind will wander and wonder and needs to always be kept in check.
Jung Founder of Analytical Psychology
The Self by Carl Gustav Jung
To be self-aware is to know who you are. The Self is our core, the essence of you. It is where we go to be ourselves. A place we would never leave on our own. Our power and strength come from there. If your mind and the ways of life have kept you away, it is a choice to go back. It takes work to do. That is unless it is what you want. And you must want to above all else.
How we think, feel, and act comes after we are born. It is not born with us. It is not the Self. These are things that make up our personality. It is the way we show the world whom we think we are. In other words, what we think of ourselves. Though only sometimes true. It is how we act and may change as we change how we think. The Self will not change. It is you—the you that was created for you. Your Self is your own, given to each one of us. None is the same. Life evolves, but the Self does not change, it does not shrink, it does not grow. It can be smothered. Then, of course, you will not be able to express yourself.
The way we think is what smothers the Self. It will not let the real one surface. The self is there for all of us to be. It is not about how one behaves. That has more to do with our personality.
Personality
Personality, unlike the Self, is a group of character traits that help to define who we are. This grouping is the most affected by the seeds of doubt. Doubt is the root cause of disordered thinking—our thoughts, feelings, and how we act change, but we do not. Of course, if there is no conflict, which would be with the Self. One of the ways that the things we believe in are shown is through our character. It is how others view us. It is also part of us that tells what we think about ourselves. At times this will vary. However, it will only be the real you when it matches your Self.
We are born with a map of who we are. It makes up the person that is you. The person you were meant to be. It is the core of the human being and does not change. As with all things, our physical side changes with time. Our genes, of course, determine how we will look. We have no say in this. It is part of our creation. However, we do have a say in the life we create, as we do with whom we create our offspring. And this would be the other parent, the co-creator of this new life.
Disordered Thinking
Some will say that a person has changed, that they do not act the same. They may have changed how they act, though they are not different. Not a thing has changed about who they are. They are still who they have always been. What has changed is how the person thinks, feels, and acts. The core of their being, the soul, has not changed. You cannot sell it, and you do not lose it. It is the real you. You cannot be who you are not and will tire out trying. Yet, many do try. Your disordered thinking is what keeps you from being real. It keeps your Self from shining through. This creates an image that is not who you are. I am the one who I have been looking for. Not the one you thought you knew.
Self—It is Who You Are and Forever Be
The Self Is The Core And Soul Of You
To be self-aware is to know who you are. The Self is our core, the essence of you. It is where we go to be ourselves. A place we would never leave on our own. Our power and strength come from there. If your mind and the ways of life have kept you away, it is a choice to go back. It takes work to do. That is unless it is what you want. And you must want to above all else. You must listen to learn and learn to listen.
How we think, feel, and act comes after we are born. It is not born with us. It is not the Self. These are things that make up our personality. It is the way we show the world whom we think we are. In other words, what we think of ourselves. Though only sometimes true. It is how we act and may change as we change how we think. The Self will not change. It is you—the you that was created for you. Your Self is your own, given to each one of us. None is the same.
Life evolves, but the Self does not change, it does not shrink, it does not grow. It can be smothered. Then, of course, you will not be able to express yourself. The way we think is what smothers the Self. It will not let the real one surface. The self is there for all of us to be. It is not about how one behaves. That has more to do with our personality.
Self or Personality
Personality, unlike the Self, is a group of character traits that help to define who we are. This grouping is the most affected by the seeds of doubt. Doubt is the root cause of disordered thinking—our thoughts, feelings,, and how we act change, but we do not. Of course, if there is no conflict, which would be with the Self. One of the ways that the things we believe in are shown is through our character. It is how others view us. It is also part of us that tells what we think about ourselves—it will vary at times. However, it will only be the real you when it matches your Self.
We are born with a map of who we are. It makes up the person that is you. The person we were meant to be. It is the core of the human being and does not change. As with all things, our physical side changes with time. Our genes, of course, determine how we will look. We have no say in this. It is part of our creation. However, we do have a say in the life we create, as does whom we create our offspring with. And this would be the other parent, the co-creator of this new life.
We See You
Some will say that a person has changed, that they do not act the same. They may have changed how they act, though they are not different. Not a thing has changed about who they are. They are still who they have always been. What has changed is how the person thinks, feels, and acts. The core of their being, the soul, has not changed. You cannot sell it, and you do not lose it. It is the real you. You cannot be who you are not and will tire out trying. Yet, many do try. Your disordered thinking is what keeps you from being real. It keeps your Self from shining through. This creates an image that is not who you are. I am the one who I have been looking for. Not the one you know.
Space—Without It—There Is No Place To Be.
Space is Time, Time is Space
Time we cannot see; we are only aware of changes that occur in the space of time. Do we truly know what time it is?
What is it that makes time so important? Why do we speak about it like no other? There are times what we say about time should come with an explanation. It is time, your time, my time, what time is it, now is the time. And let us not forget; I do not have time for this. What do you have time for when the only thing of value that is our own is our time. Let no MAN take away from your time and your existence—your life. And yes, I say, man, for it will be men if we let them. Or even worse, women trying to emulate men.
Each one of us is the caretaker of our time. No material wealth should take on more importance than our time. Nor should any person, whether near or far. There is one person with that power, and that person is you. No mortal Man has that power unless you relinquish it to him. And just how much sense would that make—none.
Time is space, and Space is time. And all things that exist occupy Space. There was space for us from conception. That space was in our mother’s womb. We arrived in time, have lived, and are living our time. No human being has the authority to take that away. Please, do not let them think they do. We are now thinking what we had up until now thought was unthinkable by many. I am not one of them. We are not living in a movie. This is real-time—yours and mine.
THERE IS NO RIGHT TIME TO THINK WRONG
When how you think is disordered, how you act will reflect this way of thinking. A person or any other entity will not soon realize it, for it is how they think. And one of the most challenging changes to make is to change how you think. First, you must convince yourself that the change is precisely what you should do. When things are not right, we first look at all the other places for an answer. But those who are willing to listen will realize that their answer is the one not working. A closed mind is a symptom of a road to nowhere. The road is littered with fossils of the past.
For sure, though, none of us would harm ourselves with full knowledge of our intentions. It goes against the first law of nature. That is growth and survival. There is no surviving what your elected leaders have in store for you. Are you going to act in time, or is this the end? What a price to pay. Up in smoke or, more appropriately, nuclear fallout. Civilizations have come and gone. We are not the first and will not be last. Only the last of our kind.
Space to Think
DISORDERED THINKING: The actions and behaviors of “newsmakers,” both in public and private, that result in adverse outcomes originate and have their roots in early childhood. You do not make decisions that will cause harm to yourself and others and the very source of your existence if not for dysfunction in the family setting and possible mental defects passed from one generation to the next. It is not in the water; it is in the DNA.
“First, God made heaven & earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening, and there was morning, one day.”
All things that come into time and space with life will depart—when there is no more of this life to live. It will be a new day, a new place, and another time. There is space for all to fit. To yonder, we will go.
Time, as we know it, is a concept of “man.” And many cut theirs short by how they live their life: the things they say and do. And they do this not realizing how little time they have. They do this, of course, because of how they think, and how they think when they think this way is disordered. When you act in ways that hurt you, you are hurting inside, and there is where it hurts the most. And each time that hurt is acted out; it takes from the time you have to be yourself.
TIME IS WHAT SPACE IS
When you think of your time, you should first think about what you will do with it. What is just as important is how you feel while doing it. To get the most from what you have, you must understand what it is and how to use it wisely. The longer it takes to know what to do with it, the less time you have to do it. Because for sure, you will not get your time back.
WHAT CLOCK WILL TELL THEM WHEN IT IS TIME TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS
The clock on the wall has less to do with the outcome than the actions we take and what we do. Time will be the same no matter the clock on the wall. It is whole, as it is with space. We will not divide it. There is but one time, and it is the same all the time. The concept of our view of time was imposed on us by us. All things live by the rhythm of nature. However, we are the ones who live by the clock. We do—though—need the means to note what we do and when we do it to keep our lives in order. To know why we are where we are at all times.
On the whole, a clock or any instrument to measure time is a way to know when or not. A means to note the times of our lives is one of the things a society must have to maintain order. Otherwise, it would be utter chaos. So, you cannot build a society without it.
If we had the power over the nature of time, what would we do with it, and where would we put it? Would we add a little here and take a little there? For sure, it would be the “final step” to the end. Wars would be fought over it. It would be stolen, and some would lie, cheat and steal to get more of it. Those with no power would get none.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH IT
- CAN YOU EAT it
- CAN YOU RIDE it
- CAN YOU MAKE LOVE TO it
- YOU CAN NOT LEND, NOR CAN YOU BORROW it
- SAVE, LOSE, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH IT
- YOU MUST RESPECT IT
You should not make your decisions based on time alone. It will not accomplish a thing on its own. Decide what you want to do, then make good of your time to do it; this should be the order of how you decide. No matter how much you have, if you do not know what you are going to do with it, you will not know how much you need. What matters is how you are going to fill the space. If you bake a cake for the required time but use the wrong ingredients, you will not get the cake you want. Then, you would have a cake you cannot eat and time you no longer have. This was your time.
Let us take a look at God’s time, which does not change. You add or remove items from a room. It makes no difference when you move these things; the space does not change. No matter what you do or when you do it, the space remains the same other than its content.
WHERE ARE WE WHERE ARE WE HEADED
We may ask much of time, but it does not give. The question asked most is for more. Time will not answer. It is closed to us and does not hear what we have to say. It stands still to infinity. We cannot stop it, slow it down, or speed it up. Nor can we waste it. The thing that we can do with time is live what we have doing the very best for you. When there is no more time, there is no more to live. We do not start it over. It goes on; our time on this planet does not. So, live it. You cannot get it back once it is gone. Let no one lead you astray.
WHEN WE GO, WE DO NOT TAKE TIME WITH US
Time for all things was here before us and shall be when we are gone. It is the only thing out of all things that we can depend on. Remove all things that exist—what is left is the space. There is no void in space, for the “Almighty” created it for life: We are here, and so is the rest of all that exists. It has been complete from the start when God created it. In the beginning, there was space for all things. All we are aware of, which does not amount to much, and the much that we are unaware of and do not have the vision to see. We must have the vision to see beyond what our mind has not been able to imagine before.
It is perfectly natural to follow the leader as long as they lead in the right direction. Death and destruction are not right. I will not die for you and your interests. The leaders are not God.
We are the master of the life we have. Each of us has one to live. All lives are single. There is no plural life. We have one life to live, and no two are the same. Not one breathes the same breath. When we can, we decide what to do with our lives. It tells the type of life we will have and the path we will follow. As straight as this may be, many do not understand this simple truth. They still try—but can never succeed—to live their lives for and through others. Some even assign their thinking responsibilities to others, the leaders, those you have chosen to follow. That is not good; just the thought is bad.
The only thing you do when you do this is live your life being a “parrot,” repeating the words that someone—someone you think is wiser than you—put in your mouth and doing the old monkey see monkey do. Self-interest will always be there for them. The only question, which is not much of a question, is how much interest will be left for you.
Your time is the only time you have. Do not say I cannot do it for me. I will let someone else do it. No one can do for you what only you can do for yourself. Do not let them think they can.
MaleFemale
God created it not to be changed; it cannot be changed. The existence of life is one of them. If this is not so, who would turn off the lights after we know how to do it our way, and there is no more to see. It is not within our reach. We will not change the nature and makeup of life. It is not for us to do. Humans did not assign roles to our species, and we cannot reassign them. But we can destroy what we have that until now was more than enough. You are not God.
NO1WITHOUT2
time to learn how to think
We will be learning about how we think and the workings of the brain as long as there is the power of thought. There can be no end. Just as it is with life, there will always be much left to learn. It would be a lofty goal to want to know why there is life. To think we can know this reveals a great deal about how we think. And it is a road with no end, as well. We are yet to discover why one would take a life. To indicate how far we are from these incredible feats, researchers who study the brain are still trying to figure out why we sleep. Sleep: a thing that seems so basic, and they do not know. We have dreams, and no one knows why. Space!
Time is what we need, and we know we have that. What we do not and will not know is how much.
Brain Power Power of The Brain
The power of the brain is what guides our lives. It is the first organ to grow from the seed of life. The foundation for the brain is set early. Three weeks after conception, a sheet of embryonic cells called the neural plate folds and fuses into the neural tube. This tissue will become the central nervous system. The brain’s “master” role is evident by nature. Encased by the skull bone, it is our most protected organ and the command center for our actions. What we fail to realize, at times, is that it provides us with all we need to do our own thinking. “Use your head.”
The brain is made up of physical parts and has a mind of its own. Once it knows, it does not forget unless that is what it wants to do. More times than not, it is to protect us. But, of course, when there is damage to the brain, which can and does happen, it is not so clear.
The brain records all things of our world, and there is no erase button on board to be used. It can figure it out. It is, of its own design. But, as much as we know, little is known about how the brain works. There is no way we will understand all there is to know. That is because it is not meant to be. Humans would be in charge, and we know how well we do when we are.
This Little Brain of Mine
Our brains have the same makeup but different—as we are—in what they can do for us. Our thoughts are one of them. As long as there is the power of thought, we will be learning about how we think and the workings of the brain. There can be no end. There will always be much left to learn, just as it is with life. The end of thought means there is no more. Life, as we know it, is over. The brain no longer works. It is dead.
The brain is the control center for every activity necessary for survival.
Parts of The Whole
The adult human brain is made up of approximately 100 billion neurons (nerve cells), neuroglia (supporting tissue) cells, and other tissues. Neurons transmit and analyze all communication within the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Neuroglial cells are twice as numerous as neurons and provide structural support to the neurons. Three protective meninges (membranes) cover the brain. A clear liquid, the cerebrospinal fluid, surrounds the entire brain and protects the internal portion from varying pressures. This fluid also transports chemical substances within the nervous system.
THE BRAIN appears as three connected parts: the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. Two other major parts, the thalamus and the hypothalamus lie above the stem underneath the cerebellum. Most high-level brain functions take place in the cerebrum. Its two large hemispheres are divided into five lobes: the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes and the insula. The cerebrum receives information from the sense organs and sends motor commands (signals that stimulate activity in the muscles or glands) to other parts of the brain and the body. Many areas of the cerebral cortex (surface) correspond to specific functions, such as vision, hearing, speech, emotions, thinking, and remembering.
The cerebellum coordinates body movements. It is divided into two lobes connected by a bundle of white fibers. The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements by fine-tuning motor commands from the cerebrum. The cerebellum also maintains posture and balance by controlling muscle tone and sensing limb positions.
Parts (continues)
The thalamus and the hypothalamus connect the cerebrum to the brain stem. The thalamus relays sensory signals to and from the cerebral cortex. All sensory input to the brain, except the sense of smell, connects to the thalamus. The hypothalamus lies beneath the thalamus and regulates vital drives and activities, such as eating, drinking, sleep, emotional behavior, and sexual activity. It also controls the internal organs, interacts closely with the pituitary gland, and helps coordinate brain stem activities.
The brain stem is responsible for sustaining the basic functions of life, such as breathing and blood pressure. It contains relay stations for neurons transmitting signals to the cerebral cortex, as well as many reflex centers— pathways carrying sensory information and motor commands. Sensory and motor nerve fibers connecting the brain with the rest of the body cross over to the opposite side in the brain stem. The left half communicates with the right half of the body and the right half with the left half of the body.
Twelve pairs of cranial nerves connect the brain with the head and neck. Some are motor nerves, controlling muscle movement. Some are sensory nerves, conveying information from the sense organs. Others contain fibers for both sensory and motor impulses.
Be sure to feed your head with the food for knowledge.
Time is Space Space is Time
Do You Really Know What Time It Is
Time
What is it that makes time so important? Why do we speak about it like no other. There are times what we say about time does not make sense. It is time, your time, my time, what time is it, now is the time. You will not know when it is time to do a thing until it is done. How many times have you said it is time and it was not? If it has become a reality, then it was the time. One thing is for sure; we live for time. Without it, there would be no space for things to go. Time is space. And all things that exist do so in space. There has to be room to exist. Space was here when we arrived. We are the occupiers. We do not touch space. We only move around in it. We live when it is given.
Time, as we know it, is a concept of “man.” And many cut their time short because their minds will not let them be. You would certainly think that is what I have tried to do. I was known for being where the action was. Where it was not, I would get it done, the good and not-so-good. Was it being at the right place at the right time? Or was it just being there when it happened because that is where my life put me? What about making it happen at the right time? Either way, I was there. From childhood, my life has been on a trajectory. This is so even when at the wrong place at the wrong time. It seemed I had been along for the ride, or better put, tortuous journey. There were countless times when I felt on the outside, looking in. I wanted and tried so desperately to help me. Guiding the vessel when I could.
Time Is What Space Is
No matter what time it is, time does not change. What happens in the space of time does. Time is not changing; we are. For you and me, it is personal. It starts for each of us when our parents create us and is not shared. You cannot lend, nor can you borrow time. And your time is the only time you will have. More time will not be given when we have no more. Time, though, is not as important as what we do with it. When you think of the time you have, the first thing you should think of is what you will do with it. What is just as important is how you feel while doing it. To get the most from the time we have been given, we must understand what it is and how to use it wisely. The longer it takes to know what to do, the less time you have to do it. Because for sure, you will not get it back. Our life moves on even when our mind does not. You can “live” in the past in your mind. You cannot be there.
Two Kinds of Time
There are two kinds of time in my way of thinking. It is the time given to each of us—our own time—and universal time/space, which is the greatest of all; it was created to do nothing. It does not change. It may be clearer if it is thought of in terms of the world as we know it thus far. There are seven world time zones. The United States uses nine standard zones. Therefore, the question is, what time is the right time? With every area of the world having its own time zones, how can you know what time it is? Neither of them is correct when next to the other. A time that can change is invented by man. It is never the same and is not correct. The time that is, which is the time of nature, will always be. If we had the power over the nature of time, what would we do with it—where would we put it? Would we add a little here and take a little there? For sure, it would be the final step to the end.
Why Not
You should not make your decisions based on time. Time will not accomplish a thing on its own. Decide what you want to do, then make time to do it. This should be the order of how we decide. No matter how much time you have, if you do not know what you will do with it, you will not know how much you need. What matters is how you are going to fill the space. If you bake a cake for the required time but use the wrong ingredients, you will not get the cake you want. What you would have, then, is a cake you cannot eat and time you no longer have. This time was your time. Let us take a look at nature’s time. In a room, there are things. They come and go; some are added some are removed. It makes no difference what time these things are moved or changed; the space does not. Time is space. And there is a time for all things.
What clock do you watch to know what time it is?
The segmentation of time was born by us. The clock on the wall has less to do with the outcome than what we do. The concept of our view of time was imposed on us by us. All things live by the time and will of nature. However, we are the ones who live by the clock. We do need it to keep things in order. To know why we are where we are at all times. It is a means to know the ebb and flow of life. It is a way to monitor and control how and when things are done. It is one of the things a society must do.
A system of time for each of us starts when life starts. There is a time to be born, a time to live, and a time to move on to the other side. Once we are, there is a time for all things. We do not know the future. We do live for the promise. We do not control time. But, for the most part, we do have control over how we spend our time and live our life. Time does not change. Things happen. It will be the same no matter the clock on the wall. Time is whole, as it is with space. We will not divide it. There is but one time, and it is the same all the time. It is life, it is nature, and it is one.
Where to Keep Your Time
We may ask for much from time, but time does not give. The question asked most is for more. Time will not answer. It is not moved by what we have to say. It stands still. Doing what it does best, nothing. Though we do plenty to fill in the space. We cannot stop it, slow it down, or speed it up. Nor can we waste it. The thing that we can do with time is live it. When there is no more time, there is no more to live. We do not start it over. Time goes on. Our time does not. Live your time; it is yours only. We cannot get it back once it is gone.
Time for everything was here before us and shall be when we are gone. So it will be for all time. It is the only thing out of all things that we can depend on. If all things are removed, what is left is the space of time. There is never a void in time. It has been full from the start. In the beginning, there was space for all things. That has not changed.
Use Your Time Wisely
We are the master of the time we have. Each of us has been blessed with a lifetime. All lives are one. No two are the same. Not one breathes the same breath. Depending on the circumstance, we decide what to do with our lives. This tells the type of life we will have and the path we will follow. As straight as this may be, many do not understand this simple truth. They still try—but can never succeed—to live their lives for and through others. The only thing you do when you do this is live your time away. Live it, do not live it away. Your time is the only time you have. Do not say I cannot do it for me. I will let someone else do it. No one can do for you what only you can do for yourself.
You never know how much time you have left to use the time you have. Therefore, time should always be put to its best use. When you do not know what to do next, do what you know now. Your next step should never be rushed or forced. We can never breathe the next breath. It is not for us to know it all. It is for us to understand what we need to know. The time of man is not precise. When a thing will be can never be known. Just as it can never be known when it will not, all that we can do is plan. The future is not ours to know. It can be over just when we think we do.
Not a thing that was created not to be changed can be changed. The existence of life is one of them. If this is not so, who would turn off the lights after we know how and there is no more to see? It is not within our reach. We, humans, did not create life. It created us. We will not change the nature of life—it was designed to produce. It is not for us to do. The pattern was cut for us.
Still Learning How To Think
We will be learning about how we think and the workings of the brain as long as there is a power of thought. There can be no end. There will always be much left to learn, just as it is with life. It is a lofty goal to want to know why there is life. To think we can know this reveals much about how we think. And it is a road with no end, as well. We are yet to discover why one would take a life. To indicate how far we are from these incredible feats, researchers who study the brain are still trying to figure out why we sleep. Sleep: a thing that seems so basic to know. We have dreams, and no one knows why. Time is what we need, and we know we have that. What we do not and will not know is how much.
Thinking About Thinking
Thinking A Good Thought
You do not know how good a thought is until you know how good it was. Thoughts keep the mind busy and give it what it needs to think. Thinking is what you have to do before you act. You may say that you were not thinking when you did what you should not have done, but that is not possible. It may be that you did not think long enough or did not have the right thoughts to think and, therefore, did the wrong thing.
Regret and disappointment are just two examples of what can happen when you do not think your thoughts through—there can certainly be more severe consequences. We think for a reason. The reason is our thoughts. Not all thoughts are good for you to think. A thought of things that—if acted on—would do harm is one of them.
Once you have a thought, do not try to pretend you did not, even though it is a thought that is unpleasant to think about. You must place the thought where it now belongs without thinking another thought about it. And that place would be your memory. The best way to do that is to have better thoughts to think. This could mean, and usually does, that you have to change what your thoughts are based on. The substance of our thoughts comes from our perception of what is in our world, what is around us—all that is within reach of the mind and imagination—the people, places, and things in our lives.
u have a thought based on your perception, and perception—simply put— is how we view our world, be it near are far away. If you are aware of it, it is in your “environment.” We can only have thoughts or think about those things we are aware of. If you don’t know about it, you cannot think about it.
Thinking Is Not The Problem
If you feel a certain way and you rather not, you have to change how you think by having different thoughts to think. You either have something else to think about, or you must change your perception of what is in your world to think. You have to change your mind. For if you do not, you will continue to live your life as you have always done; misconceiving, making premature moves, and devising unworkable solutions to perceived problems.
When how you think is causing a problem with how you feel and act, it is time for a change. This could mean a change in your relationship with others, or you may need to change where you work or live. It is difficult to change how you think when your thinking comes from your perception of how you are treated where you work, live, or sleep. Yes, some or all of these could be the change that you need. There is one thing for sure; you can only have thoughts about the things you have to think about, which would be those things that are a part of your life.
You will not be running away. Instead, you will be moving closer to your Self. For it is how you think. And how you think is how you will act.
Thinking Black Magic Woman
Self Awareness Not Self Control
“To tell a person what to think will not teach them how to think. We are how we think.”
Self
Here is where you should be if you or you know someone who has ever lived with the hurt and pain that only a dysfunctional childhood and emotional trauma can breed. The seed is planted and grows from family life— no matter its makeup—that does not provide the nurturing, caring, and protection to produce a healthy mind. Childhood must be a safe and loving place to grow strong of mind and character.
You may ask, as many do, why you feel the way you do. When not all is right, and you think it should be, and you see no reason it should not, disordered thinking is the cause of your anguish. When how you think is disordered, it will take you further away from your true Self. The mind now has a mind of its own. It is making decisions without you. There is no time or place that this should be. You are the master of your mind and must always be in charge of you. Being in charge of yourself is not to be confused with self-control. Self-control is not a goal to strive for; the Self should never be out of control. Self-awareness will win the day if all is well with your thinking parts.
Awareness
There is but one stage of your life where your mind will take leave of you. It stems from early childhood trauma and a dysfunctional family life, which allows you few good thoughts to think. And how you think today has its roots in what happened to you “yesterday.” I will show you why and how this might happen. And there will be times when I will do this in a not-so-conventional way. It does not mean that I have strayed; it merely says that the road back to Self will, at times, be without a marker.
Control
You will not hide your true feelings for long. Some try to do so by self-control. This is not the answer. It takes an effort that pits your mind against your own Self to do so. Life is all about being who you are, the real you. You can only control your Self for a short time. Any effort to do more will produce no better results. At this point, your control will lose its grip, and your hold will give way. That is when you will act the way you really feel. This is what you are trying to hide when you use self-control. It happens when a thing you have worked for is at stake, and it is close at hand. If it does or not, what is for sure, you will lose self-control at some time or place.
You must strive to be self-aware. You will not lose it once you have it. To be self-aware is to know who you are. It is your core. It is the Self.
Some of what I say could cause you—when you first read it—to question how it applies to how you think. And my answer will be that everything you do requires you to think. My words will challenge some of the things you have come to believe as certain truths. It will take you up, around, and back, but the steps will lead back to you. Where the road leads, we will follow. You must know how you think to think better. You must always know what is on your mind. There is no wrong to be said here; it will be how you think and feel about what you see. Who are you? Do you really know? Are you, you, or are you the product of someone else’s invention?
It Is How You Think
Through this blog, I will address many issues around why we all think the way we do. We will see how changing how you think will change how you feel and relate to the people, places, and things in your life. And you will see how becoming the “true” person you are meant to be will give you the vision to see what is, not what you may have thought it to be. You will better understand your thoughts and thinking process just as I have come to know the real me. I am talking about the person I was created to be. Because, for sure, you have to be you, and I have to be me. When you try to be someone you are not, you are no one until you find yourself again. How we think is what makes life better or worse.
What is done here will not only better the lives of those who follow “It Is How You Think,” but it will also touch those who are touched by those who do. My goal is to give you the tools to help you change how you think, therefore, how you feel and act. It is a new day and a new way. If you, a family member, or a friend has been touched in any way by childhood trauma or otherwise mishandled by others, this is the place to be.
Change Your Mind
What is here—if you listen—will take you where you did not know that you had ever been. It will help you see where you thought you were, is not where you were at all. It is about change: a change in how you think. You will find no words here formed that will tell you what to think. Before help can help you, you must help your Self. No therapy, counseling, or medication will be effective until you do. When I say you, I am talking about the Self, your Self, her Self, and him Self. All of the “Selves who need to find their way back.”
Welcome Home
The Self is your core; it is your soul—it is the essence of you. It is where you go to be your Self. A place you would never leave willingly. Our power and strength come from our Self. It is how we survive through the worst of times. If the ways of life have forced you away, it is your choice to go back. First, though, you must have the will to do so. It is not an easy thing to do until you know how. And nothing is hard to do. You just do not know how to do it yet. Now you will know.
From Self to Self is when you have achieved an enlightened way of thinking, if that is your destiny. It is not so much what is done to you as it is what you do for yourself that determines what your life will be. You have to change your way of thinking to get in touch with you. The best that you can ever be is to be you. You must always be true to Self. Never do a thing to take away from who you are. But first, you must know.
Self Sufficient
What we do here will clear the clutter from your mind. It will guide you through what it takes to live a better life by examining and understanding your thoughts and how to think them. I will illustrate and make clear how disordered thinking is the root cause of negative feelings and behavior. You will see your Self as it is, not how you may have thought it to be. You will relate to and recognize a part of yourself that you have only known in passing.
If you listen, it will open up a way of thinking that will allow you to become the complete person you wish to be. The real you. Welcome home.
The body and the mind both have the ability to heal themselves, but the body put up the least resistance.
Dependent Thinking Has No Place to Go
DEPENDENCY
Dependent state of mind. It is talking to you. Should you listen? To understand what comes next, you must become a part of what you hear when you read. But you do have to listen to what you hear. They are not the same. You must put forward the effort to listen, hearing you do not. It has to sink in and be what you want to do, not what you are told to do.
“It is what got me here and would not let me leave until it carried me away.”
If you want to listen to what I have to say, then say what you have to say. Nothing but the truth is the only way we can understand who we are and how we feel. Now is the time. Fill in the blanks, if only in your head.
My name is __________and I live in___________. I am__________. My______________. I now realize that_________. And it is because____________. When I was growing up, my_______. I got_________. Why________. There are times when________. I have tried_________. No one________. I need________. If_________. Then________. They__________. It_________. I am open to__________. I just feel________ I think_________.
Dependent Are You
There are two characters: You and I.
Dependent or not, much of what I say may not be clear to you on first reading. But it will all be clear to you once you start to listen. It may take more than just a glance; we do not always understand the “new” when we first look. And this is change. What we think we know is not all there is. What you read here, and if so inclined, listen to, is just another way to look at life. If you are dependent on anyone, or you have been, you will see yourself and understand. It is not a story. What you see is the truth. There are two characters: You and I. There is a reason why our lives are the way they are. No matter how you live, a dependent state of mind only grows until you think it away.
It keeps me from sinking, but it doesn’t allow me to swim.
You can only tread water for so long. You have to swim, or you will sink. And you must know how to swim. Someone must teach you: few of us learn on our own. When you refuse to give in to defeat, you do your best at learning from what you think about what you see. And what we see may not always be what we think it is. But until you know, say so.
Dependent with no one to depend on
It all begins with a walk through the mind. At some point, many will become dependent on others. They are not soon to realize the gravity of this burden until they are bowed by its weight. You are now where you need help to help yourself. What is this, you will say to yourself and find it depressing even to have to ask? I never knew that I thought this way, you will think. One thing you will know without delay, it is a sign of weakness. Looking back over your life, you realize it is nothing new. It is your background and upbringing that was a breeding ground for this type of behavior. And what was set in motion then still gets in your way today.
The Quick and Easy
Once the dependent mindset comes to life in the mind, it will tug on you for many years to come. It will hold you back and become a way of life. And many of your choices are made with this way of thinking. You reach for the quick and easy. You will do that when you are willing to settle for less than your best. And you pay for it by letting go of what dignity you have left. And you know, the independent things you did when you were growing up could not help you overcome the weakness in you. It was all deep down inside. It held on and would not let go. No doubt you have had accomplishments and did not have the mind to hold on to them. Employment, marriage, leadership, and positions of respect, all of it you have let or are letting slip away.
Do not do it; not a day longer.
Nothing has seemed to change your dependent way of thinking. It could be you who wins just to lose on purpose, unaware, or refusing to be aware. I don’t know, just a thought. It is a thought worth thinking that no one would put forth the effort to win and then lose on purpose. Your mind—yet again—telling you what to do. When you should have been the one doing the talking and telling your mind who’s the boss. You did not do the best for yourself, and it was all caused by your insecure feelings and low self-esteem, which had always been there. It—in turn—caused you to think in ways that made no sense. You did not have the space to learn to love yourself. You do not hurt that which you love. And hurt is what you were doing.
Hurting is the reason for it all. You need to feel loved to give love.
When your roots are planted in loose soil, it will cause you to feel uncertain about who you are. All you can do is search for something to hold on to, to keep from blowing in the wind. Only a drive to survive is what you own. And one day, you open your eyes. It is then that you realize you have become dependent on those around you. It got the best of you and drove you to the wall.
The Hunter Is Now The Game
When you live your life as a dependent, you always have to keep the edge—stay in control—which you cannot do. When you let go of your grip and try to be yourself, your advantage will give way, and so will your hold. You have to be yourself first because that is who you are, and in doing so, there is no need for control. When we are not being who we are, it will not be us, they know. If you have not had this experience, think about what it was like for those who have. The hunter is now the game. Do not think your “Self” into the grip of dependency. Though there are aspects of life that must be as we expect them to be. We depend on this as we do life itself. It is nature’s way, as intended.
now you do as I say
Now you see it. Now you don’t. It was an illusion.
To depend on is a way of life. The way it is meant to be. To be dependent on a person, place, or thing is just a way to say I quit. It shows a lack of “Self” awareness.
You should never think you cannot accomplish goals on your own. That you need the help of someone else just to be whole. It is not how anyone should live. Never think you have no choice. In a relationship, on the job, or at any other time or place, you have to feel free to be yourself. We have the right to be who we are. Our role in life depends on it. We can be no one else. You only do this when you find it hard, for whatever reason, to be yourself. No one can know who you are when you do not know yourself. How can they? Though they will try, with your help, to tell you who you are. If ever we stray from our SELF, we must find our way back. There is no other way to look at it.
We can search, but we will not find a thing more important to us than being aware of the Self. If not, we cannot have reliable expectations of what life has in store for us.
You are the only one who can say who you are
Our world has to be made ready for us before we arrive. We are born for others to take care of us. It is to be that way—that is—until we can take care of ourselves. To do so, we have to be made ready. These are the things that we get from those who are responsible for our care. If we do not, our life can be a difficult road to travel. And no one will be eager to help if they think you should already know what you do not. Many will see this as your fault—the person who this lack of care and guidance has hurt. That is unless they have a reason to care. Not at all, though, if they feel they have no choice but to do so.
You cannot lift yourself up when your mind is holding you down. To be dependent when you should not be is not a good thing to be. But, it is what you do when you do not have confidence in yourself. It will not let you grow. You can be in a relationship where you are being held back by how you think your thoughts, not knowing what would cross the line that you know is there, if you could muster the strength to be you. All along, you are feeling your status is in doubt. And, of course, how could you think otherwise.
Depend not on a source when you do not know what you give for what you get. Simply put, this means when someone is helping you, and you do not understand why. For that which you are not sure, not a thing about it can be for sure. There is not much we can be sure of when we are not sure of Self.
When you are dependent, you do not know if your feelings are true or if you are just trying to survive. I would do what I thought I must do. I was bound by my status. You don’t know if you should draw a breath when you are not sure if you should breathe. My thoughts were disordered. They caused me to think myself into this. It would be another step like the other steps that got me here. I did not want to leave, but I could not stay. I, at last, heard myself calling. And I listened to what I had to say. It was the only way I could be me. There was no room for me there. But, of course, we do have to depend on life for what we need. It is one of the rules of nature. It is how we survive.
dependent thinking has no place to go
where there is a need, there is a way
We do have to depend on life for what we need. It is one of the rules of nature. It is how we survive. To depend and to be dependent on others are not the same. One we must, and the other we should try with all our might not to be.
Thought Think Feel Act
How We Think About Thinking
The Power of Thought
Here is where you should be if you are someone you know has ever lived with the hurt and pain that only a dysfunctional childhood and emotional trauma, whatever the cause, can breed. The seed is planted and grows from family life— no matter its makeup—that does not provide the nurturing, caring, and protection to produce a healthy mind.
Childhood must be a safe and loving place for a child to grow strong of mind and character. And to change how you feel about your past or any other issues causing you concern, you must change how you think. All that we say and do is preceded by thinking. And how we think determines—to a greater extent, the outcome. How we see others act and the impact of their actions is the result of how they think. And this applies to all occupations, positions held, authority possessed, or not. No matter the station in life, age, gender, or any other characteristic, it is about thinking and how you do it. Here we will explore thinking and thought as it relates to our lives and events on the local, regional, national, and international stage.
Nowhere to Run—Nowhere to Hide
I suffered what felt like a lifetime of living while trying the best that I could to last through the day. Through hurt and pain, I tried with all my might to understand the meaning of it all. My question was, who am I? What is my role and purpose in life. My road had been long and weary, and the answer came to me when I was not waiting for it nor expected it. I was ready for the first time, and I knew it. I had found what I was not aware I was looking for: my Self. What I once could not see is clear to me now. I understand and must move what I have learned forward.
Though I had taken years of university courses in Psychology and studied the field extensively, that is not what did it for me. It did not hurt, indeed; I learned a great deal. But, no, it is much deeper than that. It is about telling what you know. Letting it come out when it has hurt too long from keeping it in. What I have written came to me as naturally as the flowers that grow and the birds that sing. It is a process that flows easily. I wrote the words as they appeared to me. My whole life is the reason that I am, and what I now know is the foundation of my beliefs. In this life, you and I both have a role to play.
Thought Is Not Thinking
When I say to think a thought, I mean that thought and thinking are not always the same. Stay with me here; this requires a new way of thinking. Your life will be better off for what you can digest from what I have to say. A thought is just a thought until you think about it. You cannot think of a thing until you have a thought to think. And our thoughts are based on how we perceive what we see, hear, and feel. A thought just is until it is not. Think of a thought as being inert, not doing a thing from when we have it until we think of what we want to do with it. The time between the two is quick. There is no way to measure it. We are yet to know when someone has a thought or what they are thinking.
Thought is not only what we had. It is also what we have. You thought, and you have a thought. It is what we have thought and what we have to think. You cannot force a thought—trying to do so is called thinking. Once we have a thought, we think it, or it moves to our memory. It will not be undone. It is the same as it is with life. We cannot change the life we have lived; it is what it is, forever. Think about this. What exists to us is all we know. And we decide what we are going to do with it.
It Is How You Think
Say you are walking down a big city sidewalk, and along the way, you see me in the distance coming from the opposite direction. You will have a thought based on your perception of me and my presentation. This is the first thing that will happen. You will then think about possible scenarios and interactions. If you feel at ease, you will continue on your way. If you do not feel safe for some reason, you will go in another direction or proceed with caution. Or you may not have strong feelings either way. No matter how you feel, your feelings will be based on what you think. And you will act according to how you feel. We perceive, have a thought, think, feel, and act. That is the course of an action process, as I believe it to be.
Thought To Think
We are taught how to think and must decide what to think. You should not think in a way that tells you things you do not need to hear. Your thoughts belong to you. No one can think for you, though many will try. Everything I say about thought, thinking, and how we perceive the world around us has just one purpose. I am not trying to tell you what to think. I am merely giving you something to think.
We are all born to think but must learn how. One of the most challenging things to take as a child is that I could be told what thoughts to think. I did not want to be hurt, and what I heard did just that. We must decide the thoughts we choose to think. No one can do this for you. But, when we are taught from the start by someone who cares, we can. Thinking is what feeds the mind and tells it what to do.
“I had a thought but don’t remember what it was.” Have you said this to yourself? The reason is that it was not a complete thought. When this happens, it is not a thought that held the mind’s attention. (I did not think it was important then, maybe later.) I believe that there are two kinds of thought. Have you been asked by someone what you think about a thought that they have. As in, I had a thought about us going shopping today. What do you think about that?
Thought To Think (continues)
Their thought is the first thought. You can answer but should not until you know what they think. You could ask, what do you have in mind? What do you think? Your thought, then, is pending. A pending thought is still just a thought. As a reminder, there is nothing that we have the sole responsibility for than when, what, and how we think. It cannot be talked about enough; it determines how we live, if we live and what is done with us when we do not. It also determines whether we win or lose, go or stay or just be in the way.
Now back to the question, what do you do with your pending thought? You do not know what you think yet. It is a thought that has to wait for the first thought. Someone is yet to think and act. It is the person with the first thought. When asked what you think about a thing, if you do not think about it, you will think nothing. Therefore, there is nothing you can tell them. On one level, they may want your help to make up their mind. They must think first. Otherwise, they are asking you to think for them. This you cannot do.
To try to think for someone is not good thinking. One can let another decide for them. But it will not be their decision until they decide. To think is a process that must end. The power of thinking is in when you act. Before you do, you can feel happy or sad, good or bad. How you act, how I act, is the best that can be known about how we think. This is true no matter what.
Let Them Talk
Wait until you know all that you should.
You should not act on what you think someone is going to say. That is, to the extent that you have your say before they do. It is a fault that I had during my early years. I did not see it as a problem. Though I could tell there was a problem. It was not well received. I was this way because I was always on guard. I was trying to protect my feelings the best that I could. This was my stance and my ready mode. Wait until you know all that you should. What you think may not be what you think it is. That is because what we perceive and think we know may not be true. Perception can be real or not. What is to us is not always what is.
Thinking is a process; there is a start and a finish each time we think a thought. Once you start, you cannot stop until you are done. What we expose ourselves to will be the source of the thoughts that enter our mind. It is then up to us what we do with them. You should not let thoughts that are not wanted stay where they do not belong—these kinds of thoughts you should refuse to have anything to do with. No matter the source. Let them go to your memory and let them stay there. Do not think them. They are of no value; no good can come from them.
You must open your mind to allow what is outside to come in. Only then will you know if what you hear is what you want to keep. So take some time and think along with me here. You will undoubtedly have to think in a way that is different from how you have before. What you have thought to be may not be that way at all. And what you have been taught to believe does not always look the same when you learn to think your own thoughts better. This, of course, many thought they already knew.
THE MESSENGER
James R. Yarbrough
Thought
What Do They Say To You
Snapshot In Time
I SEE YOU
Community
THE BEAT GOES ON
BLACK MAGIC WOMAN
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