Week 16 An ideal mind
Is there such a thing as an ideal mind?
Let me begin by asking you another question. Are you wealthy? hmmmm…….
Did you think of how much money you have in the bank, or how many material possessions you have accumulated! Maybe you are not materialistically minded and associated it with having lots of friends and other stuff.
‘The most commonly accepted definition of wealth is that it consists of all useful and agreeable things which possess exchange value. It is this exchange value which is the predominant characteristic of wealth.’ (Haanel 16:2)
Taking a more materialistic view for a moment, what is it that we want when we make a ‘value exchange‘? We exchange something for something else every day (often with money, as this is the currency we use to purchase goods and services in this world). Let’s say you exchange your money for that top of the range convertible sports car you’ve dreamed about? Did you really buy a car???
Admittedly a car is a purposefully constructed piece of metal and other materials, and a spanking new Ferrari sitting on your drive gleaming in the sun light may impress the neighbours, but what use is it unless we actually drive it?! So….. it is not the actual ‘car’ we really wanted, it is the pleasure of driving. If driving is the ‘exchange value’ why don’t we want any beat up old car? It’s cheaper and would get us from A to B (hopefully!) hmmm….ok……, so we want something more than the car, and we want more than to just drive ourselves from A to B. So what is ‘exchange value’ really all about?
What we actually want is the pleasure, happiness and harmony that comes from the freedom to drive where we want, the satisfaction, ease and pleasure of having a comfortable, reliable, fast vehicle that makes the drive that much more enjoyable, and the satisfaction and achievement of being able to buy the car of our dreams. So we actually exchanged our money for a feeling!
‘Wealth should then never be desired as an end, but simply as a means of accomplishing an end. Success is contingent upon a higher ideal than the mere accumulation of riches, and he who aspires to such success must formulate an ideal for which he is willing to strive.’ (Haanel 16:5)
So going back to my original question, ‘Are you wealthy?’ we see the answer depends on the criteria used for measuring wealth. If the feeling of happiness and harmony in your life is used as the benchmark rather than material possessions, is your answer different from earlier, the same, or are you not sure? …… But ….. how can we measure wealth based on feelings when our moods and feelings change daily? Just because I feel happy or wealthy today, doesn’t necessarily mean I will feel happy tomorrow! Does it? Does your happiness depend what happens tomorrow!? As tomorrow is a bit of an unknown quantity, how can I predict if I will feel wealthy tomorrow until tomorrow is here?!………….Or do you have a choice???
‘Thought is the plastic material with which we build images of our growing conception of life. Use determines its existence. As in all other things our ability to recognize it and use it properly is the necessary condition for attainment.’ (Haanel 16:12)
We have spent many weeks on the MKMMA understanding that the ‘world without’ (our daily lives) is a reflection of the ‘world within’ (our thoughts). If our thoughts are determined by our feelings (exhilaration and freedom, the wind in our hair, the fun and delight of travelling the open road and pleasure of driving a fantastically made, comfortable car that satisfies our sense of achievement and accomplishment) then hopefully it is becoming clear that consciously focusing on feeling first is integral to our happiness in the future, as our thoughts are ‘driven’ by our feelings. (Ok enough puns! lol) 🙂
‘Whatever enters the mind through the senses (meaning our bodily senses) or the objective (conscious) mind will impress the (subconscious) mind and result in a mental image which will become a pattern for the creative energies. These experiences are largely the result of environment, chance, past thinking and other forms of negative thought, (what we see and witness around us daily) and must be subjected to careful analysis before being entertained. On the other hand, we can form our own mental images through our own interior processes of thought (visualization, imagination) regardless of the thoughts of others, regardless of exterior conditions, regardless of environment of every kind, and it is by the exercise of this power that we can control our own destiny, body, mind and soul.‘ (Haanel 16:15) (blue explanations and underlining are my own)
So imagining and creating the feelings we want first in our heart and mind through directed use of our imagination, and visualising our ideal is within our control. This will impress our subconscious, raising the positive electromagnetic energy we radiate and the Law of Attraction will do the rest. It is a Universal law that is unwavering and inevitable, like electricity and gravity. We have the choice and will power to direct and guide our thoughts just as we have the choice to throw a stone or use an electrical appliance. The laws of nature are exact and the result is sure.
Imagine you’re making a mould for a statue before pouring in the molten metal to create the masterpiece, the impression has to be correct and clear first, otherwise the statue will be disappointing. But who created the original mould? YOU!!! If you don’t think about and prepare it carefully, decide exactly how you want the statue to look, and then make the mould appropriately, you have no one to blame but yourself if the final statue is wonky and not what you wanted. Is there such a thing as an ideal mind? You decide!!!
Today a friend shared something that resonated with him and I pass it on to you in the hope that it may resonate with you too. “The difference between my reality and my vision is defined by the gap between the person I am and the person I am becoming.” Fill the gap with positive, directed feelings and become the person you want to be! Think. Feel. Feel. Think. Thank you Claes for your inspiration.
Your power is within.
If you have enjoyed this post and want to find out more about the MKMMA, sign up below and I’ll send you the details of the 2015 class later this summer. You gotta be in it to win it :