The mind, like life, is made up of many pathways, all intersecting in an endless variety of combinations. Our thoughts follow patterns based on our circumstances, our genetic history and our personal choices. The result is our personality and our life. As humans we use a relatively small portion of the capacity of our minds, yet even that small portion has produced a seemingly infinite variety of unique personalities and ideas in this world. Within that originality can be found patterns that link different minds together. These patterns, when studied, have revealed much about how the brain works and has allowed us to understand people better with the hopeful end that there may some who can benefit from such knowledge.
When circumstances occur to human beings, thoughts are a natural result. Mentally, we are the sum of what we have thought, based on what we have experienced. Those thoughts cause us to feel emotions which then cause us to act. Each time this process occurs, the mind records every detail of the event as a pattern so that when or if the same or similar circumstances occur again, the mind can set in motion the same thoughts, feelings and responses automatically. This amazing process allows us to be efficient and effective in everyday life and provides quick-response protection in times of danger. These become the habits of our lives.
Additionally, when we are born, we are given a genetic predisposition of one sort or another. This may contain ready-made connections from ancestors we have never met. These are automatic responses that were not programmed by our circumstances. I believe that some talents and some vices could fall into this category.
Dangerous or destructive circumstances or bad genetic predisposition can cause people to form habits of thought and behavior that are also dangerous and destructive. But individual choice has the power to override both circumstance and genetic disposition. But in order to be effective against automatic responses, choices have to be planned in advance. When undesirable automatic responses hamper progress, or cause pain, one can choose to carry out a predetermined plan and figuratively speaking put up a “Road Closed” sign on a destructive path in our mind with a detour pointing to a different road and a new thought. Thoughts and the pathways they create, can be either constructive or destructive. Basic analysis of each thought will reveal it's nature. Armed with that knowledge, one is free to choose accordingly. Unfortunately, as with bad roads, destructive thoughts can be temporarily ignored. Also, destructive thoughts, feelings and responses printed on the mind while very young, can cause continuous pain throughout a person's life and can actually keep part of the mind from growing beyond that point. When that happens, complete growing up only occurs when careful and deliberate choice intercepts the brain's automatic response and builds a bridge to new and constructive thoughts, feelings and responses.
I believe that the power of the mind will be the real power of the future. We have hardly begun to tap it's tremendous capacity. Have you ever wondered where all the new ideas in the world come from? We don't even know what an idea is yet, but we know that it is changing our world, daily. So, if new ideas that change our world can be discovered or invented daily, why can't I come up with a new and constructive idea to change my life?
It's just a thought.
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