Saturday, December 31, 2011

How to Be Mindful in the New Year


Ah, a new year 
and a clean slate.

I think everyone looks forward to this time of year, when we all get an opportunity to wipe out the last twelve months and start fresh. On January 1st I almost feel as if someone has breathed new life into me. My lungs are open, my eyes are focused and my body is full of energy. 

What is it about the first day of the New Year that makes us feel this way?

Is it because we now have a new list of things we are hopeful for? Is it that we can associate the new year with a new date, and so now we're able to leave the past behind us? Is it because the New Year really does promise us something special?

It's interesting that we think tomorrow into a different day than it was today...make ourselves believe we will be different than we were yesterday, just because the date changed.

Our minds are very powerful things.

Our mind is strong enough to make us do what I just mentioned and just about anything else we think about. But yet our brains can also discourage us enough to actually procrastinate and fail.

Our brain can be our best friend or our worst enemy.
And oddly enough, we have control over which one it is.

Ever hear these quotes: 
"Don't believe everything you think" or "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right"?

A profound book that goes into more detail on this subject is, 'Think & Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill
It may sound as if the title suggests the only reason you ought to read it is because you want money. 
Well not entirely, because quoting from his first chapter:
Thoughts are Things:"The object of this book is to help all who seek it to learn the art of changing their minds from failure consciousness to success consciousness."

In the book, he describes how powerful the mind is and if we harness that knowledge, and power, we can succeed at anything. 

Or fail at anything. 

Towards the end of that chapter Hill makes this statement,  'we are the masters of our fate..." and that our brains become magnetized with the dominating thoughts which we hold in our minds...."

In his book, he describes things like:
  •  Auto-suggestion and it's power over your success
  •  The 31 major causes of failure
  •  How decision plays a large part in your wealth

So, if you are looking at your New Year in a positive light, and are only expecting good things, you most presumably will have them. But, if you cannot envision happiness and success, determine whether or not your mind is on your side.

If it's not, tell your brain to get on board and check these out!



Good luck with your New Year's Goals and Resolutions-
 You can do anything you put your mind to!

Visit Y. I. on Wednesday to see which One Word I chose for 2012!