1. Focus on gratitude
There have been studies done on the effects of complaining. These studies have shown that those who complain actually rewire their brains, making it more difficult to appreciate the good in any situation. Every experience in life can be used as a tool to prepare for the next or as an example of failure compared to the last. As you experience disappointment throughout the day, remove the negative emotion and analyze. How can you learn from this? Have you experienced this lesson before? How can you be prepared the next time? When you control your emotions, you control the situation.
2. What you think about, you bring about
The virtue of this statement has been proven time and again. Think about success and you’ll develop the understanding necessary to achieve that success. Think only of your failures and you’ll develop a set of self-defeating habits that cause the mind to create the ongoing cycle of loss. Have a purpose that is larger than you, commit yourself to it, and you’ll develop a sense of being that transcends the limitations of your body.
3. A clean mind leads to a clean body
The body is the servant of the mind. Pure thoughts will lead to a pure body, and adversely an impure mind will lead to a sick body. This could be the reason why dieting and exercise has such inconsistent and short-lasting results. With the focus being put on the body, which in effect, the cause being in the mind.
4. Action comes only after thought
Whether for good or bad, thought is the predecessor to every great achievement accomplished. With this in mind, it behooves us to consider the impact of our thoughts throughout our day, week, month, and year. If you notice consistent bad actions, you might be having consistent bad thoughts. “By the aid of self-control, resolution, purity, righteousness, and well-directed thought a man ascends. By the aid of animality, indolence, impurity, corruption and confusion of thought man descends.” – James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
5. To desire is to obtain, to aspire is to achieve
All the visible world is created by the invisible. Unpleasant circumstances can be overcome by perceiving and pursuing an ideal. Gandhi, John F. Kennedy, Washington, and Martin Luther King Jr. were all able to overcome adversity by pursuing their ideal vision.You will always gravitate toward that which you secretly love most. You will become as small as your controlling desire or as great as your dominant aspiration.
6. Peace of mind is the result of self-control
Success, wealth, and influence are the results of a disciplined mind. In-depth studies have been done about self-control, it’s lasting lifetime effects, how to increase/decrease it, and how to feed it. Self-control has been identified as the one of the single greatest indicators of whether a person will succeed or fail in life. Admittedly, these are all pretty big ideas. Through dedicating yourself to controlling your mind you’ll unlock your own keys to happiness in life. Disciplining your mind is like any other endeavor: it takes consistent practice, focus, and determination. Starting each day by going through these keys will help identify the source of chronic frustration that gets us out of our groove. Improve your day consistently every day to develop a better life for yourself! Featured photo credit: The Lily Padstore via thelily-padstore.com
