Monthly Mind Power Questions & Answers

A There are two very different opinions on whether one should put a time limit on achieving a specific goal. Some people feel it's very important and others say it doesn't matter. I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other. If it is important to you to achieve your goal by a specific date, then by all means include this in your visualization. It seems by your e-mail that this is important, so definitely include it.

A Relax. As Winston Churchill once said, "There is nothing to fear but fear itself." At sixteen you're going to go through many cycles of ups and downs, sometimes feeling confident, sometimes inferior. Something has obviously triggered some emotional turmoil within you, and now you're feeling that nothing will ever work out for you. I can assure you that this will pass. Here are some suggestions: Think of your situation in athletic terms. All athletes go through slumps, where nothing seems to be working. However, if they persevere and train hard, these periods pass and they are soon back on form. Treat your situation as a temporary slump.

What can you do to change it? Start training. Begin by getting rid of the "morbid habit of deliberately entertaining negative thinking." See the past topic Eliminating Negative Thoughts. Practice the Acknowledging technique. Visualize yourself in the future at 20 or 25 having a great life and the things you desire. This will take the sting out of what is happening now. Contemplate that all your present concerns are temporary and will pass. In other word what I'm suggesting is to practice what I preach and overcome this temporary difficulty. Think of yourself as an athlete of the mind and myself as the coach. Follow the coach's instructions and all will work itself out.

A This is quite a common question that I receive from people, and it results from a confusion between spiritual and material things. I, for one, do not believe that they are mutually exclusively of one another. But only you can make that decision.

Do you feel that your job is out of harmony with your spiritual growth? If so, then you must change to something that is more appropriate to you. Our inner development necessitates that we find an occupation that we feel in harmony with. Now having said this, it's not always the easiest thing to find something that you love. I refer you to my past monthly topic, "Follow the Call." When we follow the call, when we find something that feels right for us, then we find that it nurtures us very deeply. What constitutes correct action and values in the marketplace of life? It's very simple. One does to others what one would like done unto oneself. You deal with people honestly. You deal with people compassionately, and you try to make a difference in the world. This doesn't mean finding the cure for cancer or becoming Mother Theresa, it just means being in tune with your own personal values. When you learn to listen within, the inner voice will speak to you and instruct you in all these things.

A First of all, using mind powers is very goal oriented and I believe absolutely in the importance of each and every one of us being successful. Having said that, it's also important to realize that life is a journey and not a destination, and that we be sure that we appreciate and make each day full. That we bring love into our life each day. That we have joy in our life each day. That we have insights in our life each day.

And certainly living in the modern world we will have judgements and we will be thinking of the future. I'm not suggesting that we eliminate this. We live in the modern world. What I am suggesting is that we make sure that each day is full. Enjoy each day. Appreciate what's happening to us. And when we can live our life appreciating the moments of each day, then the goals will naturally look after themselves via the use of mind powers.

One of the things that attracts me to Zen Buddhism is that it is the exact opposite of Mind Power. Mind Power teaches you how to use your thoughts to create your reality. Zen Buddhism takes the approach that we should just flow with what life gives us day by day. And because they appear to be in direct contradiction to one another, this in itself is very attractive. What you'll find is that on the surface they appear to be a contradictory, but actually one can take both practices into one's life.

I'm glad that you have gained the insight from both books, Mind Power Into the 21st Century, and a Vision of Power and Glory, because both have different messages but they are very complementary with one another.

A Congratulations on your turning your life around. Every time I hear a story like yours it touches my heart. You're an inspiration to many people who are presently battling with addictions. Well done.

A Each person needs to explore their spirituality in their own way and at a time that is appropriate for them. My spirituality is a mixture of Christian mysticism, Zen Buddhism, the Jewish Kabala and shamanism. Quite a grab bag of beliefs and practices I know, but it works for me. Each person needs to discover for themselves a path that has "heart." You are right, I purposely avoid one type of spirituality in my writing, for the simple reason that I myself follow many.

I want my readers to feel included not excluded. Whatever your religious beliefs, I want you to feel comfortable with what I teach. Also, if you have no spirituality I want you to feel comfortable exploring this area without pressure toward any particular religion. My desire is to reach everyone and provide a system that can be applied whatever one's present circumstance.

A The mind likes diversity. Try making your visualizations interesting. Firstly losing yourself in the images and making them "real," rather than just going through them in a mechanical way, will help immensely. Assuming that you really desire that which you're visualizing, "making it real" in your mind will excite you while you're doing it. Also try different visualizations on the same theme. For example, if it is confidence you desire, you might have one of you confident at work in a business setting, another confident in sports, another confident in social settings etc. That way the mind can have different things to focus on. Remember too that this is a mental exercise and sometimes it will be boring. When it is, just do it anyway. You're right, persistence is the key.

A I like your choice of words, "creeps into my head." When we are worried about money or security, we begin picturing ourselves in impoverished situations and we allow these images to take over. Because you knew poverty as a child, scarcity consciousness has been imprinted, and you probably have an inner fear that you might end up back there. Don't worry; this is natural, considering your past. Simply spend time each day practicing the principals contained in the chapter on Prosperity Consciousness in Mind Power into the 21st Century. Your mind will work with whatever images you feed it. Because of your background, it isy meecially important for you to feed it with prosperity beliefs.

A There is an old saying that you choose your friends, but you inherit your family. I don't know the dynamics of what has caused the unpleasantness between you two, but since she's always going to be your mother-in-law it would be nice if you felt better about the situation.

Your letter states that you "cannot let go of the negative feelings..." but "you do want to change." Wanting to make the change is the first step, and a very important one. Here are some of my suggestions:


1. You can always let go of negative feelings. Reread my topic of the month "Eliminating Negatives" (Sept 97)


2. When you state, "I do not want to even admit that she might deep down inside be a nice person," it suggests an approach that works well when we have issues with people. Spend five minutes each day, thinking about her positive qualities, the friendship and compassion that she shows towards other people. Chances are many people are helped and nourished by her. Give her credit for this.


3. Assume the "real problem" is with you, and look within to see what might be causing this situation. What changes can you make?


4. Visualize having a good relationship with your mother-in-law rather than focusing on what has happened in the past.

As we change our thoughts towards people, our relationship often changes to match the new images we have within.

Be proactive in changing how you feel and react towards your mother-in-law. Changing the within always produces results without. Give it time and be persistent in these practices and you're sure to see changes.

A The twenty to thirty minutes a day (my recommended daily mind power time) that you devote to mind power practices will influence all of your thinking. You need not be vigilant and on guard every moment of every day. Use the techniques for eliminating negatives as it feels appropriate (see past monthly topic "Eliminating Negatives"), and you will find that you naturally begin thinking in a new way. Reread the Mind Power book many times until it becomes ingrained. You will be amazed at what changes happen within the first month or so.

A Yes, I do. I suggest you take the approach that professional athletes use when they use Mind Power, and I've worked and trained with many. When they visualize, they imagine themselves playing at their peak level, being successful at dealing with the numerous situations that happen during the contest. It would be ludicrous for a cricket player to imagine himself scoring a century every time at bat, or a baseball player hitting a home run every time up. Why? Because it's not going to happen.

Instead they imagine numerous situations, including dealing with temporary setbacks, so when they happen they are prepared. In sales, you will always have far more rejections than successes. That is the nature of this profession. So when you do your affirmations and visualization, allow there to be the very real image of rejection, and when you are rejected, see yourself handling it good-naturedly and perhaps leaving the people with a positive thought or message. If you only visualize success at every sales call, every time you are rejected, it's like a slap in the face. Prepare yourself ahead for it.

Now this is not preparing you for failure. You also see yourself having brilliant sales presentations, with people buying your product or service regularly. But sales is like a sporting event, and you have to love the game in all its aspects, and that includes the reality of people saying no. Let every encounter you have with others be positive and nurturing, regardless of whether you make the sale or not.

You can do this with your attitude and when you do, not only will you be more relaxed and the experience more enjoyable, but you'll make more sales as well.

A There are countless books available on North American Native wisdom. I can't think of one that specifically deals with the potlatch, but I suggest you go to a large bookstore to browse and see what catches your attention. One of my favourite Native books is Seeker of Visions by Lame Deer, a Sioux Medicine Man.

Let me thank you for passing on The Practice of Happiness. The number one way that books become known is by recommendations from others.

Hello to all my friends in South Africa. I will be there in 2005.

A Karma is a very real aspect in one's life. Not only do past actions cause karma, but from a Mind Power perspective, one's thoughts cause karma as well. For those not familiar with the term "karma," it can be summarized as cause and effect. An act in the past causes karma, an effect in the present. Studying hard will undoubtedly cause the karma of good test results. Being friendly causes the karma of people liking you, etc.

Regarding past lives, I find too often people blame past lives for their present misfortune, which may or may not be true. However, it often becomes an excuse for complacency, for accepting things without trying to change them. I do not teach reincarnation in my mind power program, not because I don't believe it, but because it complicates matters. What I do know is that all past karma, whether a year ago or a lifetime ago, can effectively be dealt with by how you think and act today. Change your thoughts and change your actions and your karma will always change.

A Money cannot buy or guarantee happiness. Then again neither can poverty. I have known many wealthy people who are happy and many who are not. I have known many people of very little means who are happy and many who are not. I have never seen a direct relationship one way or another between money and happiness. Happiness always comes from within. In my book The Practice of Happiness, I outline various practices such as following your call, trusting life and loving kindness, which, when practiced, bring happiness. A fun, interesting and happy life is available to all who desire it.

A Everyone's life goes through different cycles, and sometimes negative things happen to us. What is important is how we react to that. Being depressed and having negative thoughts is what you don't want to do. Your thoughts of today create your future. You must train your mind through Mind Power to think positively and have positive expectations regardless of what is happening to you. You say you have read questions from various people, but have you actually practiced the techniques of Mind Power? Unless you enter into a daily Mind Power Program and persist with it, all this will only be an interesting concept. Read and study everything on this web site and begin changing your life by changing your thoughts.