What Our Lives Really Are
The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives. – William James
I’m sure I’ve blogged on this quote before, but it bears repeating – at least for me.
As I learned from a mentor, our lives are not what happens to us and around us, and not even just our thoughts about what happens to us and around us, but the feelings that come from our thoughts.
* * *
What is so amazing about James’ words, and what I’ve gained from Neill’s work, is that it all starts with our thoughts.
James teaches us that whatever we want to create is possible, if we only properly orient our thoughts (and do the work!).
Neill reminds us that we don’t experience the world, we experience our feelings about our thoughts on the world; change our thoughts and we change our feelings – and thus our experience of the world.
* * *
Can’t change (/manage) your thoughts well, or at all?
Meditate.
Can’t meditate?
Sit quietly for five minutes a day.
Can’t sit quietly for five minutes a day?
Seriously . . . ? C’mon! I know you can.*
* * *
* If you have a condition of some sort which precludes you from sitting quietly, I apologize, but I sincerely believe there’s a practice (of some sort) that would work for you as well.