Our thoughts are extremely powerful.  Our experience of the moment is not determined by what is happening but rather by the thoughts we are thinking.
 
For example, the other day I was at an intersection and the driver of a car at the cross street thought I was going to pull out in front of him.  He blew his horn and scowled at me as he drove by.  It was a minor case of road rage.  He wasn’t having a very good experience at that moment, and it had nothing to do with me.

I wasn’t going to pull out in front of him and I wished him no ill.  His anger arose purely from his thoughts and perceptions.  At some other time, I might have responded in kind, letting my own thoughts ruin my experience, but on that day I was in a great mood and easily let it go.  If anything, I felt sorry for him that he let a trivial event add anger to a beautiful day.

It’s not the events that determine our experience but our thoughts about them.

Another point to keep in mind is that all of our experience occurs now.  If we remember a past event, we are doing it now, in our current present moment. If we imagine some future event, we are also doing that now, in our current present moment. 

Again, how we direct, control and focus our mind determines our experience.
 
Many people tend to remember negative things longer and in greater detail than the positive things that have happened in their lives. They remember the compliments they received for a few minutes and dwell on the insults they received for years!

By doing so, they become in effect garbage collectors holding onto trash they picked up long ago. As a result, they contine to suffer since they allow their mind to be occupied by thoughts of past bad experiences.

We are in control of our own mind and heart. We can choose to make happiness and joy the center of our world.  Or not. 

Bookmark to: