In the chapter The Great Leap to Freedom Ricard talks about renunciation and freeing one's mind from negative or selfish thoughts. In my own life I have attempted to free myself of such thoughts by debating with myself about how logical these thoughts are in order to find the most reasonable path that will not only bring peace to myself but to those around me.
I would like to know what any of your tactics are in the battle against your own thoughts and impulses.
I can't say I really have many "negative" thoughts or negative impulses. I rarely anger, and when I do I seek understanding with the object of my anger and the feelings tend to dissolve once I reach a compromise or point of action. I also make sure to evade or avoid similar circumstances in the future. Learning from the mistakes in the past and preparing for the future has always been my philosophy and it works for me.
ReplyDeleteControlling impulses has never been an issue to me, even in childhood. I was often the victim of other people's impulses, so my own were either repressed, ignored, or simply forgotten.
anytime i have a dark cloud of negative thoughts looming over me; whether its from a mistake i have made in my personal life, or something thats completely out of my control, i tend to MAKE myself busy. i put my brain to work doing something productive rather than moping in bed.....which i have tried with negative results. i dont think that doing the dishes by hand instead of putting them in the dishwasher is a "head fake" that would work for everyone, but it does the trick for me. i guess Ricard would not approve of my method of avoidance after the fact...but if it aint broke, dont fix it.
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