Power of Your Mind

Our minds have limitless power-power we have only begun to harness. But, as long as we are not aware of what makes us act the way we do, we are allowing ourselves to be controlled by painful events from our pasts. We think we are free, but most of us are controlled like puppets, blindly reacting to old wounds and childhood misconceptions. We may believe we act with a great deal of deliberation and thoughtful planning, but the truth is that our lives may be governed by our preconditioning. This preconditioning is the mental programming instilled in us as children by events that were traumatic to us, because, as children, we were unable to analyze and assimilate painful experiences. Until you become aware of the secrets your mind holds, you may be trapped in recurring patterns of behavior and limited by old beliefs, emotions, and decisions buried in your subconscious.

Far too many people believe that their emotions control them, that other people make them angry, or that feelings of depression arise out of nowhere. This is not the case. Anger is a personal reaction, an individual interpretation of present circumstances based on prior experiences; other people might not become angry under the same circumstances. And no one can catch depression like a cold. There is a reason for depression, although it may be subconscious.

Psychotherapy helps people uncover their unconscious limitations, attitudes, and beliefs so they can analyze them consciously and choose healthier ones. The good news is that you can use therapeutic techniques yourself and explore your own mind, without going to a therapist. Long before there were licensed therapists, people successfully healed themselves through self-analysis by exploring their minds and thoughts. In fact, some of the techniques in this book have been used by spiritual teachers for thousands of years and are now being rediscovered and adapted by therapists.

Most spiritual teachers recognize the reality of how past experiences affect us, counseling us to clear our pasts and learn to know our true selves: the innocent, loving child who lives inside us all. Ancient Hindu scriptures and recent books such as The Celestine Prophecy teach that we must peel away old layers of falsehood, misconception, and pain in order to reach enlightenment.

Spirituality and psychology are inextricably intertwined; the mind is the key to both, and both involve clearing out false beliefs. Spiritual realization doesn't require adding anything to what you already are, but it demands that you strip away the false beliefs that prevent you from seeing your true self and the miracles around you. Spiritual exploration and psychological healing are both paths on the same journey to self-awareness. Both teach that the secret to freedom is inside your own mind. Awareness will set you free. You have choices only when you are consciously aware of what you are doing and why.