Questions & Answers RSS FeedMonthly Mind Power Questions & Answers
October 2002
Q Regarding change. I am 50 years old and feel very uncomfortable in my present job. There is very little satisfaction in it, and I have a strong feeling that I should be doing something else. I really don't know what direction to follow. How does one get direction and the knowledge that it is right?
Durban, South Africa
A I see no reason to stay in a job you feel "very uncomfortable" with. Life is filled with too many opportunities and possibilities to restrict yourself and settle for too little.
I want to share with you a couple of quotes: "It takes courage to do what you want. Other people have a lot of plans for you." - Joseph Campbell
"Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how... The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark."
- Agnes De Mille.
Your feeling of being "very uncomfortable " is your call for change. Honor that call. Look within and act boldly. An excellent book to read if you haven't already is "Practice of Happiness." Two chapters, "Follow the Call" and "Trusting Life," are very applicable to your situation.
Q I am feeling a problem that I have no weight in my speech. Nobody pays any attention to my words. This happens most of the time I am with my colleagues. I feel too shy to give them an answer in humour. Why does this happen? Sometimes they appreciate me when I give a good comment or answer or a talk. But this doesn't happen every time.
Is there any way I'll be able to give a good impression of my personality to them, and that my speech could carry better weight?
A When we feel shy or intimidated we become self-conscious in expressing our opinions. As a result we often don't express ourselves the way we would like to. Then we get the feedback that others do not respect or appreciate what we have to say. One thing feeds on another and we find ourselves either trying too hard or saying very little.
I would focus on the times that I do express myself well. Acknowledge yourself often when you do. Don't beat yourself up with your thoughts when you don't do well. Accept the fact that sometimes you will be appreciated and sometimes not. Create visualizations seeing yourself doing well. Get your affirmations working for you. If you continue to do this each day, gradually you will find yourself speaking well, with people appreciating what you have to say.
Q All I have seen is inspiration in this site, and now I visualize to the best of my ability what I want to achieve. How do you clear your mind of conscious thought so you can have maximum concentration on what you're visualizing?
Gainesville, Florida
A Our mind is naturally very restless, jumping from one thought to another. You are absolutely correct in wanting to clear your mind to have maximum effect. Here are two methods that will help:
1.Deep breathing. Try to slow down your breathing for several minutes. Be conscious of your breath going in and out; slow it down so your breathing is more relaxed. When you slow your breath, your thoughts will slow as well.
2. Affirm to yourself for several minutes, "I feel calm and relaxed. I feel calm and relaxed." This also will help slow your thoughts. As well, regular Mind Power exercises will naturally tune your mind, just as regular physical exercises tunes the body. When outside thoughts do enter your mind during exercises, just gently sweep them away without reacting. You are bound to get outside thoughts; it's only natural. Don't let it bother you. The more you practice, the easier it will be.
Q I want to imprint such beliefs such as "It's an abundant universe," and I can affirm it to myself, but I have trouble making new beliefs real to myself, or to claim them in my mind as real! Will just affirming the "new belief" help me to believe it? Because I feel it's not really something to think about, just something to believe.
Cape Town
South Africa
A When you start imprinting new beliefs, it is not uncommon to doubt or be sceptical about what you are doing. You are replacing a firmly entrenched belief with something new, and it takes time for the new belief to become "real" for you.
The best practice is to ignore whether it "feels real" on a daily basis. Sometimes when you do your exercises it feels empowering, and other times it feels almost as if you're fooling yourself. However, if you persist on a daily basis, eventually this new belief will take root within your subconscious and be accepted as a fact and reality. When this happens, then you begin attracting new realities into your life. Your new beliefs will emerge from your daily practice and persistence.
Q Can affirmations such as, "I want the best for other people," "I love it when people are successful," or even, "I enjoy people being happy," bring about a permanent change in my personality? Because it seems that I don't want otheucedo be happy or successful, and I really want that to change.
Cape Town, South Africa
A Yes, the affirmations will help. I'm glad you want your attitude to change. Your intent and will to make this change will help you immeasurably. Feeling critical of others, being jealous of their success and having a generally negative attitude towards others only helps to keep us stuck. This negative energy is what our subconscious will work with, and this will be reflected in the circumstances we draw to ourselves.
Practice being genuinely supportive of others. Not just with your intention but with your heart and spirit. Notice how good it makes you feel. You might add an affirmation such as, "The more I support others, the more the universe supports me." And when you DO support others, look for and expect help from the Universe.
Changing your attitude in this way will make a huge difference in your personal success and happiness.