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Post by luz18 on Mar 21, 2006 5:47:19 GMT -5
Our thoughts are powerful tools that can either make the life of our dreams come true, or destroy us and our hopes, as well as amplify our fears and doubts. How many of you have trouble controlling your thoughts? Is there a thin line between your positive thoughts and negative ones?
I'd love to know all your opinions....
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Post by Sáille on Mar 21, 2006 7:25:10 GMT -5
My thoughts often get me into patterns of fear and confusion, so I don't always like them. But overall my thoughts are very important for me because I always get new ideas and insights from them...
I often find that I lack the will to think positively about the things that happen in my life. But I can translate this negativity in such a way that it doesn't affect me anymore. So I don't know what to think about thought.
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Post by muirrin on Mar 21, 2006 8:52:53 GMT -5
My thoughts can be divided into four categories:
Those that are positive, and help me
Those that are negative, and hinder me
Those that are negative, and help me
Those that are positive, and hinder me
So it's necessary, but at times drags me down.
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Post by luz18 on Mar 21, 2006 11:43:11 GMT -5
So what you guys are saying is that there are even things to learn with negative thoughts we have? Have you ever been through a period of time where everything in your life is just fine, but your mind always wanders and thinks about the worst case scenario for everything? Why do you think this happens to people??
Xxx, Luz
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Post by radaeron on Mar 21, 2006 13:55:02 GMT -5
Mind is both friend and foe, I suppose. If we're taking the mind in such a context.
Your question, Luz, "Have you ever been through a period of time where everything in your life is just fine, but your mind always wanders and thinks about the worst case scenario for everything?"
Yes. Yes it has. When I am perfectly contented with my life I often thought something like "I wonder what would happen if I got a phonecall saying my mother had just had a terrible accident." Or something worse.
I think the reason our mind does this is to keep us on our toes, as it were. Can you imagine a person who had gone through life trouble free? Not even aware of death or violence? And what would happen when they were introduced to violence midway through their life? It would probably appear entirely strange, and I expect they would have a serious mental cavein.
It's like.. we are subtly conditioned, to be ready for something bad to happen so we can deal with it. Consider it as... Your mind doing weights. Exercising your doubts and confidence all in one..
Hmm.. Even though it does this, I love the thoughts I get. Be them positive or negative, they are all useful. Whether its for a brilliant insight, or merely a moment's entertainment.
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Post by Shaelyn on Mar 21, 2006 14:05:45 GMT -5
So what you guys are saying is that there are even things to learn with negative thoughts we have? Have you ever been through a period of time where everything in your life is just fine, but your mind always wanders and thinks about the worst case scenario for everything? Why do you think this happens to people?? Xxx, Luz yes and yes. ...so that they can prepare for the worst. as for learning from negative thoughts...I've learned from every experience I've had...and I've been through some pretty rough times. Even the most negative experiences have blossomed into a beautiful learning experience. so yes, I've learned from negative thoughts. I typically know when I can blow them off, or if it's actually a legit concern. example. my mind often worries about me never getting anywhere as a singer. it's a legit concern...and from that concern, I am looking for a back-up plan. the worries do get excessive, and so sometimes I blow it off...or just need to vent, and then I'm ok. but I know what I can do with the concern. ...and thinking up the worst-case scenerio is always just a concern...the worst-possible one, but still a concern...so that, if it's legit, we can think about other options. I used to let the negativity get me down...but I have come through that period of my life, and now I am stronger than ever...and bless that negativity for giving me that strength, that willpower to be happy with where I am, no matter where that is. this is another example, another reason why I don't really believe in the polar opposites "good and evil" "right and wrong" etc. out of the thorniest stem comes a beautiful rose, out of the ugliest duckling comes a beautiful swan. any "bad" situation can still be used for "good."
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Post by muirrin on Mar 21, 2006 15:22:04 GMT -5
as for learning from negative thoughts...I've learned from every experience I've had...and I've been through some pretty rough times. Even the most negative experiences have blossomed into a beautiful learning experience. so yes, I've learned from negative thoughts. I typically know when I can blow them off, or if it's actually a legit concern. ....... it's a legit concern...and from that concern, I am looking for a back-up plan. the worries do get excessive, and so sometimes I blow it off...or just need to vent, and then I'm ok. but I know what I can do with the concern. ...and thinking up the worst-case scenerio is always just a concern...the worst-possible one, but still a concern...so that, if it's legit, we can think about other options. ........ this is another example, another reason why I don't really believe in the polar opposites "good and evil" "right and wrong" etc. out of the thorniest stem comes a beautiful rose, out of the ugliest duckling comes a beautiful swan. any "bad" situation can still be used for "good." Don't think there's anything more I need to add...
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Post by radaeron on Mar 21, 2006 15:27:52 GMT -5
this is another example, another reason why I don't really believe in the polar opposites "good and evil" "right and wrong" etc. out of the thorniest stem comes a beautiful rose, out of the ugliest duckling comes a beautiful swan. any "bad" situation can still be used for "good." I don't think there ever has been, nor ever will be a being of pure good or pure evil.
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Post by Kivawolfspeaker on Mar 22, 2006 3:48:07 GMT -5
Whether the mind is friend or foe depends on how one views the situation.
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Post by luz18 on Mar 22, 2006 4:54:21 GMT -5
Rad - I really liked your point about our mind doing weights. I never thought of things that way.... But have your negative thoughts ever gone out of hand to a point where they effect you badly? I understand that our negative thoughts help to keep us grounded and out of a fantasy world where there are no worries or concerns, etc. but can't we know those things already without the use of bad thoughts? Shaelyn - "out of the thorniest stem comes a beautiful rose, out of the ugliest duckling comes a beautiful swan." I really liked this The answer I'm trying to find, in short, is what do we learn more from: Negative thoughts, or positive ones? Some would say the negative, because they teach us new things and help make us stronger as human beings. But how about positive thoughts? Do they teach us more/less? The answer to this would certainly change my view of how we think in general. I mean, do we put ourselves down knowing it'll make us stronger? Do we inject ourselves with fear knowing that it'll increase our faith in the end? Xxx, Luz
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Post by waterjag on Mar 22, 2006 5:07:31 GMT -5
I have the odd negative thought or imagination thought cross my mind that involves me or someone I know having an accident, these just occur, and I do not know what to think of them. Most of the time I try to stay in positive thoughts, but at this time in my life, that is a bit difficult for me. I would say that we learn more from positive thoughts.
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Post by muirrin on Mar 22, 2006 6:55:37 GMT -5
Waterjag, sounds a bit like me. I'll see a potentially dangerous object, and can't help thinking about how it would be if I managed to stab myself/poke myself/run into/whatever it... then I'll get a funny sensation in that area, twitch/shudder, and get over it. Noooo idea why it happens, but it does.
I reckon we can learn equally from either positive or negative, depending on the depth and/or relevance of the thought.
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Post by Pearl Dancer on Mar 22, 2006 12:44:33 GMT -5
Luz,
We can't learn from the positive thoughts without the negative ones and vice versa. They are equal forces and of equal importance though we need to find balance with them each day.
There is no night if you do not know day. What joy is sunshine if you have never felt the rain? How would we know the sweetness of spring flowers if we'd never lived through cold dark winters? How would we know to keep the faith in winter if we'd never experienced the beauty of spring?
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Post by luz18 on Mar 23, 2006 9:33:41 GMT -5
Thank you for that, Pearl Dancer
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Post by Shaelyn on Mar 23, 2006 11:55:10 GMT -5
I believe I have learned more from my negative experiences than my positive...
I also believe this is one of those things that depends upon the individual.
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Post by waterjag on Mar 28, 2006 8:27:36 GMT -5
If anyone can pray for my imagination, I would appreciate it, thanks
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Post by muirrin on Mar 28, 2006 8:30:49 GMT -5
*prays for waterjag's imagination*
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musicman aka New guy
Guest
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Post by musicman aka New guy on Apr 7, 2006 21:05:47 GMT -5
In regards to muirrins post on March 22, I too cannot help but imagine sometimes a sharp object being driven into a part of my body when I see it, and then have it twitch, but I have noticed that a lot of this is fear of the object. If you have a mind that's very good with it's imagination, fear is an energy that will run rampant if not controlled. I have also experienced the opposite effect. With my violin, if I cannot play a certain passage of notes a certain way I have to stop and use my intuitive side to get me through it. I calm down and visualize all the parts of my body needed to do the job and feel them out. My mind then makes a way for my body to get the job done. I know when this has happened when I feel my whole arm relax or pretty much change shape, in the ever so slightest way. It takes knowing without a doubt, as clear as day. Love has to do with it too. You know when you love somebody.
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Post by muirrin on Apr 10, 2006 7:54:52 GMT -5
I should try your trick when I can't play something on the piano *coughBACHcough*, musicman Thanks for that!
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