The Power of Repetition
As we become more aware, we notice how our lives are often
ruled by the conditioning we have been subjected to. Childhood and cultural
conditioning affect the beliefs we live by, the decisions we make and the paths
we follow. As we become aware of this conditioning, we have the chance to re-
condition ourselves to live our life in a way we find happier or more in keeping
with who we are.
If we surround ourselves with unhappy people, we learn how
to be unhappy. If we surround ourselves with successful people, we learn
success. As we learn to surround ourselves with the people, circumstances and
conditions that can make for a life that we want, we move into that sort of
life.
Repetition is a powerful form of conditioning. The simple
process that follows can be adapted to be used in many different situations:
- Decide what quality you want to be a part of your life. For example, if
you are finding life noisy and overwhelming, you can start with the idea of
peace. Or if you have been feeling unhappy, work with joy. If you have been
skimming the surface of life, you may want to condition yourself to a deeper
appreciation. Use any feeling you like: joy, compassion, devotion,
kindness.
- Find a way to steep yourself in that quality at least once a
day. If you long for peace in your life, find a quiet corner where you can feel
peaceful for a few minutes each day. If you are cultivating joy, devote yourself
to an activity that you find joyful, such as a walk in the park or meditation.
Make that time special. Make it quality time. That way you have a strong mental
impression of that feeling that you can carry through the day.
- Several
times during the day, recall with pleasure that you gave yourself that time.
This is an important step. By calling up that memory you imprint it strongly in
your mind.
- Several times during each day, recall the feeling that you
evoked during that special time. If it was joy, allow yourself to feel that joy
again for a few minutes. If it was calm, make a bit of space to feel that calm
again for a brief time, even if you are involved in another activity or project.
This takes only a moment but the visceral connection to that activity or quality
evoked during that activity conditions not just your mental activity and stream,
but it affects your emotional energy and it affects you at a cellular level.
Your cells remember how joy feels - or calm, or compassion, or peace.
As you condition your life to a way you find more in keeping
with who you are, you'll find that the rest of your life will begin to follow
along. Old friends or acquaintances that dragged you down will not be quite so
interested in your company if you are now cheerful. The very basis of your life
becomes imbued with the quality you cultivated. So even if one day is hectic,
your overall sense of peace will still be present, or if one day is difficult,
that deep sense of joy you have been cultivating will prevent the difficulty
from defeating you.
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