Please feel free to back up a post or two below to see how I began this conversation with the mind in order to calm it. Comments and responses are always appreciated.
Dear Mind: if you are going to attempt to
know the hearts and minds of others, which I know you will, how about knowing
mine? Knowing mine (minding my mind) and remembering the positives. There are
so many that there are some that I’m probably not aware of. Perhaps you can
remind me of that! Oh, and while you’re at it, remind me of my strengths,
previous successes, and perhaps other encouraging words (we tend to think using
words).
Dear You: this is step 2 for calming the mind.
When you notice yourself being
self-critical, which may not have been too long ago, just notice the words and
language that you are using toward yourself. Are you calling yourself names,
for example? This approach to calming the mind is known as Cognitive Behavioral
Psychotherapy (CBT), which I use and refer to often. It helps to cultivate what James Swartz refers
to as a Reasonable Mind-a mind that
is not inclined toward superstitions, opinions, and beliefs that do not
correspond to common sense and reason (How to Attain Enlightenment: The
Vision of Non— Duality). Just by noticing the negativity that is being
attended to by your mind and being aware of how your mind is working in this
regard, is a significant step toward being released from it.
