You are what you think.
~ Ashtavakra Gita
Our thinking mind is based on concepts. In this sense, our concepts and the meaning we’ve given them, make our reality.
Fear
Take for example, “Fear“: “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” (Google Dictionary meaning)
What started as a survival mechanism to warn us of real dangers from the real world like that of a lurking wild animal, in the course of evolution has become an emotion that is simply triggered by thoughts, beliefs. i.e. Most of the fears we hold onto these days, don’t have a basis in reality except in our own mind.
How about we see “Fear” as “FEAR“, an acronym, “False Evidence Appearing Real“, or “False Experience Appearing Real“, or “False Emotion Appearing Real“!
If you embrace this as the new definition, the new concept of “Fear”, it can help put that rising fear in check, enabling you to regain the place of peace and calm.
You can even use this positive suggestion: “Face Everything And Rise” to also act on the recognition that fear is not real.
Fail
With the concept, “Fail,” consider the following:
Old -> “Fail”: “be unsuccessful in achieving one’s goal.” This old definition makes us give up and feel bad and can affect us for the remainder of our lives.
New -> “FAIL“: “First Attempt in Learning.” If we embrace this new definition, it makes us want to acknowledge the first attempt, the learning, and want us to try again!
End
With the concept, “End,” consider the following:
Old -> “End”: “a final part of something, especially a period of time, an activity, or a story.” This old definition makes us feel that we’ve reached a finality in an endeavor and if it hasn’t worked out for us, it means our effort in that endeavor was in vain.
New -> “END“: “Effort Never Dies.” If we embrace this new definition, it makes us acknowledge our effort in a given endeavor, and gives us confidence that it won’t have gone waste.
No
With the concept, “No,” consider the following:
Old -> “No”: “not any“, or “used to give a negative response.” This old definition makes us feel a rejection when we hear “No” for something we are asking or seeking.
New -> “NO“: “Next Opportunity.” If we embrace this new definition, we can readily acknowledge that we can move on to the next opportunity and not treat the No as a rejection and remain dejected.
Worry
With the concept, “Worry,” consider the following:
Old -> “Worry”: “a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.” This old definition, like that of fear, is a state of mind and feelings over something that may or may not be real.
New -> “WORRY“: “Weak Outlook that Routinely Robs You.” Robs you of what? Robs you of your peace and calm. Embrace this new definition, and you can choose to not let anything rob you of your peace and calm, including a weak mental outlook based on an uncertainty.
Greed
With the concept, “Greed,” consider the following:
Old -> “Greed”: “intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.” This old definition makes us feel that this a desire that can be fulfilled, whatever that desire may be about, and has us in the ongoing pursuit of that desire.
New -> “GREED“: “Great Rapacious Eternally Endless Desire.” Embrace this new meaning, and you can see greed is an eternal, endless grasping. i.e. Nothing you can do will ever fulfill it. Knowing this, you can see the foolhardiness of engaging in an activity that can never result in fulfillment.
An Interim Measure
In this way, you can reframe your concepts, and rewrite your personal story of life. It has some value. But at best, this is an interim measure. It is another attempt in self-improvement.
What you are here for is not to improve yourself. Rather, you are here to realize yourself, your eternal true nature. You are here to realize Reality and be that.
Reality, however, exists before your concepts, prior to your conceptualizing mind. Reality cannot be framed through concepts. Reality is beyond your personal story.
Being Reality implies being silent. Silent not just in speech, but in thoughts, feelings, and in stillness of the body. Real freedom from your personal story exists only in this silence.
Want this real freedom? Be silent.
Love
Sundar.
~~–
Silence is a pointer to True Self, your real nature. It is not just that in silence, thoughts don’t exist, but in real silence, the thinker doesn’t exist. Do you find that being silent is really hard? Come join The Peace Practice. It is live, online meditation on all weekdays. It is a very simple meditation, that helps you be silent, by guiding you to rest attention in the heart. This is a free live meditation stream.
Want to discover your real nature? The book, “Awaken: An Experiential Exploration of Enlightenment” provides a guided Self-Inquiry approach. It is the direct path to Self-Realization.