Questions & Answers RSS FeedMonthly Mind Power Questions & Answers
April 2003
Q I can work on myself with affirmations, but does it work on others? For example: Is "My 8-month-old son will sleep through the night tonight" effective? Or even fair or ethical? Or perhaps the universe works in its own mysterious way to give me my sleep if I say: "I will be able to sleep through the night tonight." But maybe this means my wife will have the sleepless night, or perhaps the adults will sleep but the baby will yell through the night unattended? (Or perhaps the baby will sleep through the night!)
Pleasantville, New York
A This is a very good question. I liked your statement, "Perhaps the universe works in its own mysterious way." It does indeed work in its own mysterious way. Quite often we get the results we're projecting, but in the most unusual ways. Try affirming aloud to your son that he will sleep through the night. Do this for 2 or 3 minutes each evening when you're putting him to bed. Even though he doesn't understand the words, they will eventually reach his subconscious, which will then act upon them. Regarding being "fair and ethical" - you can help others in your circle of influence, i.e., wife, husband, children, close friends, but you cannot impose your will upon them. If they do not need or want what you're affirming, it will not happen. Your affirmations are only one factor in their unfolding reality.
Q Sometimes when I really need to use my Mind Power I'm very depressed or feel hopeless. What's the best way to get into a better mood to do the exercises and create a positive reality?
Long Island, New York
A The Russian mystic Gurdjieff said, "Don't think of results, just do." The Buddhist meditates every day not because he's feeling good or depressed, he just does it. Mind Powers is a practice. You don't wait till you feel good or in a better mood. You must do Mind Powers as a practice, rain or shine. Yes, we all get into periods where we're using it and not using it. But when you're using it, you're using it because you're doing it every day, not every second day or a few days a week. It is a daily practice. Chart yourself and join the 60-day clubhouse that have done their Mind Power program for 60 days in a row without missing a day.
Q It felt very nice to see this site. It has given me a ray of hope for my future life. My mind is full of negative thoughts. I engaged myself in some stupid astrology and palmistry stuff instead of doing creative things. The negative thoughts are affecting my day-to-day work. Please guide me on how to come out of the habit of negative thinking. Can we change our destiny using mind power?
Tempe, Arizona
A Your life and your thoughts are wed together, always influencing and affecting each other. When you change your thoughts you change your life. It's really that direct and simple. You ask me, "Please guide me on how to come out of the habit of negative thinking." The key word in this question is "habit." Negative thinking is a habit; so is positive thinking. I refer you to two past monthly topics: first, "Eliminating Negatives," the very first topic I wrote for this web site in 1997, and second, "Creating New Beliefs." In fact, if you go to the Past Topics, there will be at least half a dozen topics that are relevant to your situation. Spend time reading them and, most importantly, put some of them into practice.