Liberty Forrest

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How To Drive Yourself Nuts in One Easy Step

Photo courtesy of Sammy-Sander at Pixabay

Don’t think about a green striped apple. Whatever else you think about for the next two minutes, do not think about a green striped apple.

Think about rainbows or flowers or cats in pajamas or a new house or marshmallows (although, yuck! Why would you?!) but just don’t think about a green striped apple. Don’t imagine what it looks like. Don’t imagine what kind of green it is. Don’t imagine whether the stripes are vertical, horizontal, or twisty ones like a barber pole (oh, that would be pretty if it was spinning!). 

Don’t wonder if it’s a red apple with green stripes, or if it’s a green apple with different colours of green stripes. 

Get any images of a green striped apple out of your head.

On an entirely new topic…What have you done so far today? Depending on where you are in the world, and what time zone you’re in, and what time you read this, that might only be that you’ve barely got out of bed. 

Or you could be heading back there shortly.

Was it a good day — or is it shaping up that way? What have you got on your mind right now? Work stuff? Deadlines? Laundry? Playtime? 

If that green striped apple wanders through, don’t think about it!

Now… sit quietly for a moment. Just close your eyes and let your mind be still — just for a minute. I’ll wait…

Okay, what were you thinking about during that little break? You didn’t think about a green striped apple, did you?

Chances are, you did. At least for part of the time. It’s human nature to think about what we’re told not to think about. Like “Don’t think about that itch.” 

And as you’re telling yourself not to think about it, you are still thinking about it. So you’re still focusing your energy and attention on that damned itch.

When you’re thinking about what you don’t want, you’re not thinking about what you do want. And when you’re not thinking about what you do want, you’re not doing anything toward making it a reality.

More precisely, you’re keeping it away.

If you’re thinking about how you don’t want to be sick any more, the emphasis is on being sick and you’re not putting your energy toward being well. If you’re thinking about how you’re fed up with not having a job, you’re not spending those moments or that energy doing something about finding one. 

If you’re immersed in thoughts about how you don’t like the situation you’re in, you’re not thinking about ways to get out of it.

All of that is obvious but there’s a more subtle, but powerful impact. You are a fiercely strong magnet. Your thoughts are powerful electromagnetic waves and produce energy. They resonate with the similar energy and you attract more of the same. 

Your thoughts are frighteningly powerful. They can create; they can destroy.

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” — Peace Pilgrim.

Recently, I wrote a detailed piece on how to use your thoughts to create the life you want. I included a look at the science behind it, and videos of experiments that prove it works.

Your life and happiness are in your hands. You hold the key. You have the power to feel better, to have that job you’ll love, to be in a situation that makes you happy, 

See it, feel it, imagine it, visualise it. Take all of those “I don’t want this any more” thoughts and change them into thoughts of what you do want.

That’s the only way you’re ever gonna have a chance to get it.

And for heaven’s sake, stop thinking about that green striped apple.

Spiritual Arts Mentor and Master Teacher, Liberty Forrest, guides you in discovering who you are, why you’re here, and how to follow that path.