| Back in the 1960's, a famous psychologist named | | | | press the off button! They are useless, and only |
| Fritz Perls used to say, "Lose your mind and | | | | keep you from enjoying your life TODAY! |
| come to your senses." It is only in recent years | | | | How Can You Stop Identifying with Your Mind? |
| that I understand the profound wisdom inherent in | | | | Here are the steps: |
| that message. I now know the most important | | | | 1. Begin by watching for the following three signs |
| step we can take in our spiritual evolution is to | | | | of spellbound thinking: |
| stop identifying with our minds, so we may align | | | | Sign #1: You feel terrible. Generally, if you start to |
| with our Spiritual Essence. | | | | feel bad, your mind just fed you a spellbound |
| When we "lose our minds" we do, indeed, come | | | | thought. You may feel guilty, fearful, anxious, sad, |
| to our senses. The present moment of our lives | | | | angry, resentful, or just uneasy. These thoughts |
| becomes infinitely richer and more satisfying. We | | | | are so habitual that we sometimes aren't even |
| are able to access deep peace and inner stillness, | | | | aware we are thinking them. Your negative |
| even amidst chaos and confusion. We feel more | | | | emotions are your best signal that spellbound |
| connected to our inner guidance, as we inhabit a | | | | thinking is going on, whether you have been |
| clear space within us, uncluttered by thought, in | | | | consciously aware of it or not. |
| which abundant insight and creative inspiration are | | | | Sign #2: You are dwelling on something that |
| easily received. | | | | happened in the past that bothers you. It is likely |
| What Does It Mean to Stop Identifying with Your | | | | to be the same incident or series of incidents that |
| Mind? | | | | your mind revisits on a regular basis. |
| First, it means you recognize that you are not | | | | Sign #3: You are worrying about some future |
| your mind. As Eckhart Tolle says, you are like the | | | | event. Worry is catastrophic thinking-imagining the |
| sun, while your mind is like the flame of a candle. | | | | worst possible outcome to a current or future |
| Your mind is a valuable tool for you to use, but it | | | | situation. Our minds tend to excel at catastrophic |
| is not who you are. | | | | thinking. |
| Second, it means you stop allowing your mind to | | | | 2. Once you recognize that you are engaging in |
| run the show. Left to its own devises, your mind | | | | spellbound thinking, consciously and deliberately |
| will keep you busy 24/7 with its incessant thinking. | | | | BRING YOUR ATTENTION BACK TO THE |
| Most thoughts are useless distractions from the | | | | PRESENT MOMENT. |
| one thing that really matters-the present moment. | | | | There is not a lot for your mind to do in the |
| When we take back control of our minds, we get | | | | present moment, which is why your mind is so |
| to decide how and where to direct our own | | | | fond of keeping you stuck in the past or dwelling |
| attention, and we can choose to engage our | | | | on the future. Each time you bring your attention |
| minds when it is helpful to do so. | | | | back to the Now, you align with who you really |
| Third, it means you stop practicing spellbound | | | | are-your Greater Self. |
| thinking. Spellbound thinking is one way your mind | | | | 3. Be vigilant and willing to bring your attention |
| maintains control of your thoughts, and activates | | | | back to the Now again and again. |
| your negative emotions. As I write in Breaking the | | | | Your mind is clever and tricky. It will look for new |
| Spell of the Past, spellbound thinking is: | | | | ways to capture your attention and regain control. |
| --repetitive, automatic, and self-hypnotic; | | | | It knows how to hook you. It will assure you that |
| --negative, judgmental, and catastrophic; and | | | | it is only trying to help you-to make you a better |
| --focused on regretting the past or worrying | | | | person. It will warn that without your spellbound |
| about the future. | | | | thinking, you will be hurt, make a fool of yourself, |
| Chances are you have been thinking the same | | | | or become a terrible failure. Paradoxically, those |
| spellbound thoughts for ten, twenty, or even | | | | things are most likely to happen to you while you |
| thirty years. These limiting thoughts first emerge | | | | are under the spell of your negative mind! |
| in childhood when we experience unpleasant or | | | | 4. Be gentle with yourself. |
| traumatic events. By the time we are adults, | | | | It is important to refrain from criticizing or judging |
| thinking the same self-defeating thoughts has | | | | yourself during this process, for that is just the |
| become a bad habit. | | | | mind sneaking in the back door. In fact, each time |
| Isn't it time to stop playing messages in your | | | | your catch yourself engaging in a spellbound |
| head like, "I will never be good enough," "No-one | | | | thought and you manage to refocus your |
| can be trusted," or "I don't deserve to be happy," | | | | attention to the Now, there is much to celebrate, |
| because of something that happened years ago? | | | | for you are choosing the path of awakened |
| Spellbound thoughts will only stop when YOU | | | | consciousness. |