The Healing Power of the Positive Mind

This is a re-post from a few years ago but during this time of long Covid lock downs and restrictions I felt it was a good reminder --for myself anyway.  Since the beginning of the pandemic almost a year ago I have tried very hard to remain present.  It definitely isn't always easy, but it has made having to cancel and postpone trips and events and be o.k. with changes a bit more bearable. To be here for my family in the most present way possible requires one to stay positive, yet realistic.  It has been a year of living with things as they are, not necessarily how we thought they would be, or hoped they would be or want them to be.  During moments of anxiety, fear, disappointment, loneliness, etc. coming back to my breath has been my constant. 

We had been gifted with some Shambhala Sun magazines. Without looking at the date and reading them I would not have known that they were written almost 25 years ago because much, if not all of the writings are still very relevant today.

One article that caught my eye was "The Healing Power of the Positive Mind", by Tulku Thondup Rinpoche in the November 1996 edition.

He writes," If we habitually dwell on and struggle with the negative side of our situation, our whole mentality, perception and experience will inexorably become negative, constantly thinking and talking about how awful or painful it is, makes even minor problems insurmountably big and solid like a mountain, sharp like a knife, and dark as night."

I'm sure we can all relate to this. If our attitude is negative to begin, then everything will seem like a problem.  So it is best to try and see the positive aspect of a circumstance, even ones that appear negative.

Tulku Thondup Rinpoche also writes though that if we do have a negative thought or feeling, "it is important to be gentle with ourselves."

Instead of making the situation worse by beating ourselves up because of our play in the problem, better to redirect the mind from the negative cycle to the correct path.

Come back to the breath.

Then know that, "strong positive energy can prevent or ease suffering." and that "the most significant result of a positive attitude is not necessarily to keep suffering from happening, but to keep it from becoming a negative and painful force when it does come."

Of course all of this is easy to say when we are calm and collected, but as this article reminds us, it is better to make friends with your problems, ask these difficult emotions what they want so that you can relax and stop grasping and find a solution.

"When we no longer are so concerned about having to protect and cling to the self, suffering becomes a means of realizing peace and happiness."

Wishing you and your families good health and peace of mind,
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.BlogSpot.com
plnyogastudio@gmail.com

www.plnyogastudio.com

Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, Level 3