Category Archives for "Brain and mind"

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“Make your ego porous. Will is of little importance, complaining is nothing, fame is nothing. Openness, patience, receptivity, solitude is everything.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke

It’s not uncommon for my daughters to run into disagreements from time to time when they play together.  Usually their spats revolve around what an adult would consider “minor” problems.  Here’s a breakdown of the usual causes of discontent and unhappiness:

1. Someone isn’t sharing something with the other.

2. Someone said something that wasn’t nice to the other.

3. Someone hurt the other physically.

4. The two don’t agree on a decision on which they are expected to reach a consensus.

I am sure there are more, but these arguments are, well, “childish,” which is to be expected, because they are children.  They haven’t reached a level of maturity that allows them to transcend above this type of low-level behavior that is, for all intents and purposes, rather harmless and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

When we look at the levels of “consciousness,” and mental functioning, we also have different levels of behavior that we, as adults, can engage in.  Here is a look at the various levels of consciousness that we believe to exist:

1. The Conscious Mind

2. The Subconscious Mind

3. The Unconscious Mind

4. The Divine Mind / Spirituality / Intuition

We have the ability to move “up” the scale of conscious awareness, but in order to do so, we have to “break through” the barrier of transcendence.  In other words, there are factors that limit our ability to move up to the next level, and it’s not easy to overcome these barriers.

To move from utilizing the conscious mind to a utilization and appreciation of the subconsious mind, we need to become more aware; we need to become still and quiet.  We need to listen to our intuition and inner genius.

The biggest obstacle we have to overcome in making that step from utilizing the conscious mind to tapping into our subconscious mind is fear.  Fear is a hard-wired emotion that our brains are designed to experience in order to keep us safe.  One interesting observation about this is the paradoxical relationship between fear and the subconscious mind; the part of the mind that is designed to keep us safe by endorsing the fearful emotions is that same subconscious mind that we are trying to tap into!

Fear is created through a variety of synapses and networked connections within our more primitive areas of the brain, most notably the amygdala.  When the amygdala is stimulated, it calls for stress hormones to be released to help us either defend ourselves or run from danger.   This is a reflexive response; we can’t physically will ourselves not to let this happen.  Our brain and subconscious mind feels we are being attacked and we need to defend ourselves; it doesn’t distinguish between a deadly threat and a bruise to the ego.  The body just knows that we need to defend ourselves.  More accurately, it knows we need to prevent the loss of something, and we need to work hard to avoid losing it.

We could fear losing our life; we could fear losing power; we could fear losing control; we could fear losing a positive relationship with someone.  We could fear losing money or a job; we could fear losing the status quo.  Whatever it is that we fear losing, we work very hard to keep it, but that only amplifies our defense response.

The end result of letting fear hijack our mind is that we become self centered and less concerned or aware of the well being of others.  We become concerned with the “ego,” or self preservation of some sort, and we operate out of a fear and scarcity mindset.  We live in “Ego Land,” where we only are concerned with self preservation.

The result is that we find ourselves engaging in “low-level” functioning and concerns, much like children do when they argue about something that adults would find to be childish.  They haven’t reached a level of spiritual maturity that allows them to transcend above this type of low-level and positivity-sucking, energy-wasting behavior.  People who live in “Ego Land” spend their time engaged in spats over minor affairs, listening to and spreading gossip, griping and complaining, being judgmental and opinionated, and other unproductive behaviors.  People who live in “Ego Land” waste their mind’s valuable resources on self preservation, so much to the point that they rarely engage in talking about ideas or tapping into their inner genius.  They remain rooted in fear and scarcity, so worried about losing something.

It’s time to leave “Ego Land” behind.  It’s time to be still; it’s time to be silent.  It’s time to listen to our intuition — our inner guidance system — and tap into the subconscious genius that resides within each of us.  It’s time to focus on the present moment — not bitter about the past or anxious about the future.  When we start living out of abundant forgiveness and compassion, we start living through a “spirit-based subconscious,” and we become more forgiving, generous, and concerned with the goodwill of others.

When you can be still and tap into the wonderful subconscious mind within you, you can then proudly proclaim to yourself, “You are now leaving ‘Ego Land.'” Enjoy the ride!

Photo source: freedigitalphotos.net

Tune in on Mondays at 12 PM Central for Positively Empowered Radio!

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Join me for my radio show on Monday, June 11 at 12 PM Central!

My guest on June 11 and 25 at 12 PM Central will be Vipin Mehta

Vipin Mehta, P.E., M.A.P.A. was born in India and raised in Mumbai during the Independence Movement inspired through Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence.  Shortly after migrating to the United States in 1969 with only a few dollars to his name, Vipin became a licensed Professional Engineer and established MEHTA Engineering, which has since evolved into a 30-year engineering and construction management firm for roads, bridges, airports, and other infrastructure related projects.  After arriving to the U.S., Vipin also received a Masters in Public Affairs from Northern Illinois University and has since played a very active role in local, state and national politics and has been addressed as the Metaphysical and Spiritual Counselor to many politicians – both Democrat and Republican.

Learn more about Vipin by visiting my Weekly Spotlight Page!

I will broadcast my interview with Vipin over two episodes.  The first part will air on Monday, June 11, and the second part will air on Monday, June 25, both at 12:oo PM Central!

Don’t miss the interview!

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“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” ~Buddha

Yesterday I was in church with my family, and my six-year old daughter, Brianna, was trying to inch her way up my legs and chest so that I would end up holding her during one of the songs we were singing.  As she continues to grow and get heavier, it’s harder to hold her, and while she is six years old, I don’t like to say no to her when she wants me to pick her up.  Don’t get me wrong — I don’t carry her around everywhere.  Most of the time it’s when I am standing still when she wants to treat me like a jungle gym or wants me to give her a lift.

I know this time in our lives (Brianna and mine) won’t last forever.  She won’t be six forever, and she won’t be giving me that look she always does when she wants to be held in my arms.  I know too well already that time passes quickly, and she is growing up right before my eyes.  This time of precious innocence only lasts for a short moment, and so I know I need to take advantage of these moments with her whenever I can.

As she crawled up into my arms during the service, I playfully stroked the bottom of her feet with my fingers, and she let out a joyful squeal of delightful laughter; she crawled ever higher into my arms, pulled me close, and snuggled in tight.  It hit me like a lightning bolt, and my eyes welled with tears.  It was an awesome feeling  and a moment I absolutely wanted to seize forever.  In that instant, my thoughts immediately focused on the present — the awesomeness of the “here and now.”  I knew that I was right where I wanted to be; I didn’t care about the past, and I didn’t worry about the future.  I just soaked up the wonderful present, and took it all in.  It was pure bliss, and I was completely happy and content.

The present is a tremendous gift.  It’s so easy to reminisce about the past, or worry about the future.  It’s so easy to spend our time focusing on what we lost, or don’t have, or won’t have, or can’t have, that we lose perspective on the wonderful gift we possess every second of every day — the present.  The present becomes the gift, but unless we focus on the present, we completely miss out on it.

Are you spending a lot of time obsessing over the losses or mistakes of the past?  Are you worrying about the prospects of the future?  Let’s try to spend more time simply being present.  Let’s focus on enjoying the joys that exist in the here and now.  Let’s enjoy what our life is right now, moment to moment, and focus on the gift we possess every instant we are alive.

Yes, sometimes we need to plan ahead, and sometimes we need to learn from the events of the past.  However, we need to remember that the present is a worry-free and blissful moment in time.  It’s a time to truly cherish the wonderful lives we live.  It’s a time to truly enjoy the joys of life, and the wonders of the world.  The present provides us with an opportunity to lose ourselves in the moment, and temporarily set aside our worries or concerns.

Take time to enjoy the present that becomes the gift.  Take time to love the moment of now!