When Negative Thinking is Healthy

I know what they say about how one should always think positively. People like to say they're "positive thinkers." But everything in creation has a purpose, even negative things. God created everything to benefit man. if you are always positive, you forfeit yourself of the benefits of negative thinking. So, when is negative thinking healthy?

Precaution

Negative thinking allows us enough space to think things over. It's a factor in mature thinking. Inexperienced minds will just go on ahead and do it without realizing the possible effects later. I remember the guy who tried to fly his plane right into the eye of a terrible storm. He was so positive nothing bad would happen to him, until he realized too late that he was wrong. A little negativity there would have saved his life. It's useless to die like that.

I also remember the verse in Proverbs where it says, there's a way that seems right to a man. The man is positive that the way he is taking is the right one. He never entertains anything negative about it because he keeps hearing smart folks (especially in church) saying you should always be positive and negative thinking is foolish. Later, he discovers that the end of it is death.

We should learn how to apply a Godly balance of the positive and the negative in life. A good life is not all positive. You can never become strong to succeed against life's challenges if you never encounter the negative and prevail. God designed life--even eternal life--to have positives and negatives. Jesus had to face the negativity of the cross to have the positivity of the resurrection. Remember what he cried there? "Father, why have you forsaken me?" That was so negative.

Of course, no one could tell Jesus that he should not be negative about it. Not even the Father told him that. Why? Because the Father knew that negative things, faced with the right heart and mind, was good for his Son. The disciples were subjected to the negative effects of Jesus' dying on the cross probably to keep them meek and also to make all that lead to their maturity. Experience makes you wiser and more mature the next time around. 

Remember to consider negative thoughts where they count because they may keep you safer and wiser in the end. Faith after all is not thoughtlessly dashing headlong to whatever it is that is before you. It is making sure that what you're doing is indeed God's will. That thought is quite relaxing, and a relaxed mind is a powerful mind.

Mind Control Over Pain

Pain often controls our mind. In fact, it can control how we live life. Because of our fear of pain (and especially when you're addicted to comfort) pain overwhelms the mind and the emotions and controls our very person. In this case, mind control over pain is impossible.

Pain is not God's will but he permits it often. It builds our spirits and toughens our resolve to survive--if we master mind control over pain. Pain is not designed to rule us but to train us to be tough mentally. If you can master mind control over pain you can easily overcome most odds. 

When Pain Strikes

When pain strikes, the pain waves easily scatter all over the body if you let it, so that you seem to be terribly sick. For instance, a toothache can make it feel like the whole jaw, and then the cheek, and then the entire head is aching. Later, your body joins in the chorus so that you're somewhat too "sick" to do anything. 

Talk about headache, it likewise can radiate to the whole body so that often you feel like you're about to have a fever. When the eyes are too stressed it can lead to a terrible headache, and later affect your entire body so that you feel like you need to go to the doctor. But if you feel like you do need to a doctor, go ahead.

The point here is, a little pain can overwhelm you if you don't know how to handle it, especially if you have a low tolerance for pain. Handling pain and training your body to raise your pain tolerance level are keys to mind control over pain. And here's how you handle pain and train for pain tolerance.

Pain Tolerance

MENTAL SOUNDNESS. First and foremost, you should be mentally healthy. A powerful mind can easily control the body and submit it to obedience. It can command it to do things. To empower the mind you need meditation. The bible is replete with passages that urge meditation. God intentionally subjects believers to suffering and pain for character molding and spirit empowerment. Hence, the bible's insistence on meditation. 

Meditation builds sharp focus. Can you focus on what you're doing despite lots of disturbances? Can you focus on reading a book or writing even with loud sounds all around you? If not, your mind is still weak. Noise can easily overwhelm and control your mind and body. Most likely, you also have low tolerance for pain. So you need to meditate more.

HOW TO MEDITATE. Meditation is shutting up all thoughts and "concentrating" on emptiness. Actually, it's not even concentrating, because most people deem "concentrating" as the full use of the mind. Meditation is emptying the mind. And because Mindlaxing espouses mind power and relaxation God's way, emptying the mind should go with deep awareness of God during meditation. It's awareness, not thinking, of God.

Mastery of meditation does not come overnight. You should patiently practice it regularly. Perhaps after about 6 months or a year of meditation, you can gain some mind-control-over-pain ability. 

One meditation I often do is to just enjoy God's presence as I shut off all thoughts. Relax your body, especially your shoulders, as you sit or stand up. Close your eyes or stare at a small detail of creation--like a leaf or a flower petal. But don't think of them. Just enjoy God's presence. Close your eyes only to condition your mind for emptiness, but then open them so you'd get used to focusing even with eyes open. Remember, it's so vital to always relax--relax your mind and body. A relaxed mind is a powerful  mind.

Isolate Pain

When pain hits you, don't let it radiate to other parts of the body. With regular meditation, your mid will be empowered to do this. Limit the pain waves to that tiny spot where it started. If it's a toothache, confine the pain to that tooth. Your mind should command your body to quit relating to the pain source. Ordinarily, the body parts all share in whatever is happening to the body. But then, the body need not suffer because of  pain in a small area.

If we're talking of the church, Christ's Body, the whole church need not die just because one member died. Instead, each member should contribute to the benefit of the church. One member should never control the church. It's should only be the Head of the church controlling it.

Separate the Part in Pain

Finally, the advanced mental power is to separate the part in pain. Your mind should tell the body, "It's not part of me." If there's a terribly painful boil in your leg, for instance, tell yourself the part of the leg where the boil is growing is not yours. The principle is that, the mind tends to think that when a part of the body is in pain, it thinks that "YOU are in pain." No, it's not You who is in pain. It's just a small part of your body that is. And you can "excommunicate" it or treat it as persona non grata, as it were. 

Mental Power to Influence People

Do you have the mental power to influence people? It's easy when you have invested on it enough time and practice. You can easily persuade people into doing what you want them to do.  After I tell you the secrets, I hope you'd do it to help people, not abuse them.

What is Precious to People

First, find out what's precious to a person. That's the key to influencing or persuading people. It's not what's important to people or what they consider a need or want. It's what's precious to them. And to define what's precious, it's what they guard with their whole lives. A need or want may make them content or happy, but I doubt if they'd guard it with all their lives.

An example of what's precious is a favorite son or daughter or family name or religion or business. They become precious because they mean life's meaning to them. They're the reason for living.

If you learn how to support people in what's precious to them--or even just try to share their fondness for what's precious to them--you can easily find your way into their minds and hearts and influence them. Better if you can share their zeal for what's precious to them. This is the key to having the mental power to influence people.

Expertise in what's Precious to Them

This becomes even more powerful if they see you having some kind of expertise or knowledge about what matters to them most. You can persuade them to do things as long as you tie up the matter with the thing they value most. For instance, most parents naturally see their kids as precious. Anything you talk to them about that would surely benefit their kids would be an interesting thing to them. They'd listen and even do what you suggest or offer.

You want to influence your boss? Find out what's precious to him, especially in his line of work or what's relevant to his position or promotion. Anything you want him to do for you, tie it up with that interest. You'd never go wrong with this mental power to influence people.

Of course, this comes with tact--the proper and wise way of using words with manners to influence people. Practice this for some years and once you master it you'd be able to easily persuade or influence people. That gives you so much mind relaxation eventually (less stress with mindlaxing). And a relaxed mind is a powerful mind. That means more mental power to influence people and make them do or think what favors you.

Extra Mental Sensitivity to the Spirit World

Most people have mental sensitivity only to the material world. And this includes most church people, even those in born-again churches that claim spirituality. They can relate and see only in the material world. They are disconnected to the spirit world no matter how much they claim to be spiritual, prayerful, or worshipful.

Extra mental sensitivity to the spirit world requires genuine living in the spirit daily. And among the important prerequisites here is depending less on the material and physical for your daily sustenance and living. The less you depend on the material and physical, the more extra mental sensitivity to the spirit world you have. Hence, Jesus said the Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.

Paul also said to set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Setting the mind on the spirit world means starving the ego to death. The ego thrives on the material and physical--especially the flesh. Anything that feeds the flesh makes our minds less sensitive to the spirit world. We may talk about spiritual things, especially in church, but the reality is that, we don't see anything in the spirit. And once we do see them, we get scared and call everything "cult."

I've seen a lot of churches claiming to be "in the Spirit" but really see nothing in the spirit realms. (I talk mostly about the church here because church people are supposed to be deeply knowledgeable about the spirit world, as their Acts counterpart was). And once God makes himself seen a few times they mistake him for the devil. Jesus' disciples saw him walking on water (to make them see the God in Jesus) and they called him a ghost. This was the time the disciples didn't have yet an extra mental sensitivity to the spirit world. They still had interests in this world.

But once they had set their minds only on things above, they became different. Their minds became very sensitive to the spirit world and easily discerned what was of God and what was of the devil. Any mundane interest blocks our minds' ability to penetrate into the spirit world and clearly see things there. Even churchy and religious interests, like denominationalism, earning titles and degrees for recognition and promotion, achievements in this world, and everything else that feeds the ego to make it feel good, eliminates any chance to genuinely relate to the spirit world, especially to the Kingdom of God.

Some demonic cult practitioners understand this, those who are seen possessing the "powers" of the dark. They also do away with materialism in some sense, although they crave for power precisely to gain more in the material world. There's big money in it if you show off your power. 

But genuine and supreme spiritual power from God--like the ones seen in Christ--is gained by dying to the flesh and to the material world. Yes, you need material things--like money to pay your bills and fulfill other obligations in this life as part of your being a responsible individual. But fulfilling duties and obligations like these never feed the ego. The material excesses are what feed it.

And the advanced phase of having extra sensitivity to the spirit world is displacing even your material needs and replacing them with spiritual and supernatural satiation. 

Make it a life to let your mind dwell on things spiritual, not earthly. Turning spiritual and mentally sensitive to the spirit world means depending lesser on anything of this world. And when you have become that spiritual mentally, that will be awesome mind relaxation--bereft of any mundane worries in your mind. And a relaxed mind is a powerful mind.

How to be Sick and Relaxed

Okay, you've done all you can to be healthy. But fact is, our bodies are apt to get sick now and then even with proper care. At past age 25, our bodies get more numbers of older (and dying) cells than young cells. Even Abraham died, though he lived more than a hundred years. That because aging brings in less young cells due to oxidation. So, what do you do when you get sick? Fortunately, there are tips on how to be sick and relaxed.

Enjoy the "Vacation"

Just think you're on vacation. Get relaxed as much as possible. Enjoy your room, your home, your family. Enjoy your surroundings. Have you ever spent time really appreciating your home and surroundings? Have you checked the wonderful and unique details? Each home has them, one only has to look intently around. Walk leisurely around and contemplate. Have you really watched your family members and see their wonderful traits and lifestyles? This is the proper time to do it while on "vacation"? That's how to be sick and relaxed.

Read Books

Confined to your bed a long time? It's the opportune time to read books. Intersperse that with watching good DVDs. As you do them, enjoy tall  glasses of fresh fruit juices. Reading good books, like the bible, is good therapy not just for the soul and spirit but the body as well. The Book of Proverbs says wisdom from reading God's Word is good for the bones and body, and that's literal. Something miraculous happens when we seek God.

BLOG

Writing is therapeutical as well. Experts say writing diaries about your life does good for the mind and body, especially when you're after recovery. Write about the good things in life, counting your blessings, and finding meaning in the bad ones as well. Everything has a reason, and a good and beautiful reason at that. Write about them in your blog. Blogging is good because of the thought that there's a good chance other people would read about them online. It's a good feeling to know you have an audience, people who'd listen to you.

Walk Around

If you're not disabled but yet sick, walk around the house leisurely even if you can memorize every detail of it. Walking gets your blood and respiratory circulation going well, and that does well for health and recovery. Better if you have a staircase you can slowly go up and down with. Exercise is good, always. And that's how to be sick and relaxed.

Disabled?

If you're disabled, get a wheel chair. I notice that some disabled hate the idea of wheel chairs. But it's a wonderful opportunity to relax and get around. The vital thing is to see new places and get some fresh air. Don't confine yourself to your room. My dad tried a wheel chair when his ailment kept him from walking. He enjoyed it a while but later it was difficult to sit him up in a comfy position. When his ailment worsened. we kept him company.

Have Someone Keep You Company

It's vital that the lethally sick have his loved ones around him. It somewhat lessens the pain or makes it a bit more tolerable. Before my dad died, he asked us all to be there in his room with him. The pain he suffered was terrible, but I saw that he felt somewhat relieved to see us around. This also works even with mild sickness. Sick with the flu? It will make you better to just see your kids or grand kids or wife or girlfriend around or know that they're there while you get some sleep. Or at least be aware that they'd reply immediately with their cell phones if you contact them. That gives the feeling that they're just around. That's a powerful tip how to be sick and relaxed.

God is Your Nurse

In one bible version, a verse in Psalms is rendered, "When sick, God is your nurse." When I read that I was instantly powerfully nursed! I felt relaxed though sick. Imagine God nursing you personally, and at the same time being your Physician, medical Specialist, and Healer. Nothing can be more reassuring and comforting--the best tip on how to be sick and relaxed.

And that relaxes your mind. A relaxed mind is a powerful mind.

Sick: A Project Eden Thriller

How to be Less Stressed

If you can't believe you can be stress-free then maybe you can be something in the middle of stressed and stress-free and want to know how to be less stressed. Some professionals, like teachers and business people, cannot but be stressed out. You can be less burdened by it if only you:

LOL! I do it often. I find something funny in what I do or in my surroundings and I   mention it casually to my colleagues and we all laugh. If they don't find it that funny, at least you'd see that it took some load of stress off them. They start smiling or saying something light. You can do things seriously while also retaining your sense of humor. Believe me, it works. It's definitely how to be less stressed. 

Forget it! Do your work well and work well with other people. But frictions and disagreements are often unavoidable and sometimes even necessary. You cannot be all yes men all your lives. Someone has to present an anti-thesis for everyone to get a good synthesis. In that case, offense is inevitable. If you get offended, just take it easy. Sure it hurts to get offended sometimes, but just shrug your shoulders and go on with life as a happy guy. 

And learn to forgive from the heart anyone who hurt you. There is more to life than counting and recording your hurts. After a session of discussions and debates, leave the scene without take-home hurts and offended feelings. It's over and go on with a new chapter of your life. In this life, nothing matters except your relationship with God. All others, no matter how important they seem at the moment (even if they are vital to your job or business), are secondary. Often, I even tell myself they're unreal. Only God is real.

EAT! Every now and then leave everything behind for a while and go out and do what you want to do . In my case, it's spending more time with my wife and kids and eating together. To me, that's food for the soul. That's eating. Or, sometimes I would take a long leisurely walk to the sugarcane juice booth at SM North Mall and enjoy a full ice-cold glass of the health juice. Or eat a slice or two of my favorite pizza. Just don't make the treat too expensive that it would result to another stressful problem, like drinking or gluttonous eating.. Rewarding yourself now and then is how to be less stressed.

Seek the Word. Last but not least, seek refurbishment of zest for life. And you can only get this genuinely from the book of LIFE; the Word of God. I don't care what religion you have--or if you don't have any--just grab the bible and start browsing. I suggest Psalms or Proverbs in stressful times. I do it daily myself. It's not only how to be less stressed--it's mind relaxation. And a relaxed mind is a powerful mind. 

Run for Your Mind

Go out and run for you mind! Do it regularly! Every now and then, when I had too much typing on the keyboard, I stand up and go out to brisk walk or run. It gives you renewed brain strength and even better creativity. When you go back to your seat, you get new ideas and feel better about everything! 

Why so?

Because you breathe in more fresh air. The more oxygen you get into your lungs (fill lung capacity!), the more food you give your brain cells. Your cells feed on oxygen, among other things. After running, slow down a bit doing deep breathing. Don't stop abruptly--walk around and deep breathe. That's a lot of oxygen intake. And that strengthens your brain so that your mind works excellently. Not only that, you whole body benefits from the action. Go out and run more often. Run for your mind!

At the office, I stand up and leave my desk and hit the stairs up and down. Going to and from the office, I brisk walk and take longer routes. And while at it, enjoy your run or walk. It's vital to enjoy what you're doing. It shouldn't be sacrifice or punishment. That wouldn't be mind relaxing. What we want is to empower body and mind. A powerful mind and body work wonders. So, run for your body, run for your mind!

It wasn't mentioned in the Book, but I can easily imagine Jesus often running in the great outdoors. He didn't just walk with God; he ran with God. Technology is good, but we let it limit our physical movements so that today there's a proliferation of deadly diseases due to a sedentary life. God designed our bodies for physical activities all day long, and that includes mind activities. And running achieves both excellently. When running, you decide what routes to take and decide how fast or slow you run. Those decision-making activities are good for the brain. More so if you enjoy the sights and analyze. 

So, from now on, determine to run for your mind!