What explains thinking?What explains thinking?

We experience what we think as We experience what we think as real to us.real to us.

The principle of The principle of ConsciousnessConsciousness

What explains thinking?What explains thinking?

Our thinking naturally changes, Our thinking naturally changes, moment-to-moment, as we moment-to-moment, as we constantly create thoughts. constantly create thoughts.

The principle of ThoughtThe principle of Thought

How does thinking How does thinking work?work?

The process of The process of creating thought is creating thought is the the same same for for everyone.everyone.

The thoughts we think are differentdifferent from everyone else’s.

How does thinking How does thinking affect us?affect us?

We know the We know the quality of our quality of our thinking by the thinking by the way our reality way our reality looks to us. looks to us.

That is our feeling That is our feeling state or state or state of state of mindmind..

An angry state of mind

Tension

Mood

Natural Flow of Thought

UpsettingUpsettingThought Thought

XX

I’m upset and angry!

A calm state of mind

Tension Mood

XXUpsetting Upsetting ThoughtThought

Natural Flow of Thought

Mind quiets;

Positive feeling

State of MindState of Mind Level of ConflictLevel of Conflict Problem SolvingProblem Solving

Compassionate, Grateful

Calm, Clear-headed

Happy, Enthusiastic

Okay, but Stressed

Unhappy, Distracted

Confused, Frazzled

Despair, Resignation

Unity

Good will

Team spirit

Urgency, impatience

Controlling, rigid

Angry, blaming

“Dog eat dog”

Collective Accomplishment

Effective, Productive

New Ideas

Activity w/o Results

Errors & Mistakes

Poor Performance

Chaos and uproar

Th

inki

ng D

rives

. .

.Th

inki

ng D

rives

. .

.State of Mind Matters

People move up

and down across the line all the time

People move up

and down across the line all the time

State of Mind is like State of Mind is like the weatherthe weather

When calm prevails:When calm prevails:– Warm, clear and comfortable Warm, clear and comfortable

When state of mind is neutralWhen state of mind is neutral– Partly sunny, variablePartly sunny, variable

When stress and upset prevailWhen stress and upset prevail– Stormy, nasty, unpredictableStormy, nasty, unpredictable

How do I change?How do I change?

You are the thinker of your thoughts.You are the thinker of your thoughts. The life of any thought is as long as The life of any thought is as long as

you think it.you think it. Thinking is a dynamic process; Thinking is a dynamic process;

thoughts naturally come and go.thoughts naturally come and go. If you don’t like the way your thinking If you don’t like the way your thinking

looks now, looks now, leave it aloneleave it alone and it will and it will change.change.

Leave my thinking Leave my thinking alonealone??

(You must be kidding!)(You must be kidding!) We are trained to “process” thoughts, We are trained to “process” thoughts,

especially if they seem important especially if they seem important (either positively or negatively).(either positively or negatively).

When we aren’t processing thoughts, When we aren’t processing thoughts, they pass quickly:they pass quickly:– We forget thingsWe forget things– We get over thingsWe get over things– We see things differently as perspective We see things differently as perspective

shiftsshifts

What if I’m OK and What if I’m OK and others are still in others are still in conflict?conflict?

When one person changes, the When one person changes, the relationship is differentrelationship is different– Less fuel to the fireLess fuel to the fire– Infusion of common senseInfusion of common sense– People are drawn to good will, positive People are drawn to good will, positive

feelingsfeelings– People want resolution, but just don’t People want resolution, but just don’t

see how to find it.see how to find it.

How do we bypass How do we bypass anger?anger?

Not taking our own negative Not taking our own negative thinking seriously;thinking seriously;

How do we bypass How do we bypass anger?anger? Not taking others’ thinking Not taking others’ thinking

personally;personally;

How do we bypass How do we bypass anger?anger?

Understanding that Understanding that everyone’s personal everyone’s personal thoughts are thoughts are different - we all different - we all create separate create separate realities;realities;

How do we bypass How do we bypass anger?anger? Seeing stress and upset as Seeing stress and upset as

warning signals to quiet down warning signals to quiet down and allow our minds to settle;and allow our minds to settle;

How do we bypass How do we bypass anger?anger?

Learning that when we leave Learning that when we leave our thinking alone, it will our thinking alone, it will change - thoughts and moods change - thoughts and moods come and go;come and go;

Natural Flow of Thought

How do we bypass How do we bypass anger?anger? Learning not to trust or act on Learning not to trust or act on

ideas we get in a low mood and ideas we get in a low mood and a stressed state of mind;a stressed state of mind;

How do we bypass How do we bypass anger?anger? Recognizing that we are only Recognizing that we are only

one thought away from one thought away from wisdom.wisdom.

What about insight?What about insight?

Insight (literally, sight from Insight (literally, sight from within), arises from a quiet mind within), arises from a quiet mind in a positive feeling state.in a positive feeling state.

EffortlessEffortless NaturalNatural ResponsiveResponsive OrdinaryOrdinary

A secure state of mindA secure state of mind

Attachment to insecure thoughts Attachment to insecure thoughts disappears.disappears.

Gratitude, love and hope re-emerge.Gratitude, love and hope re-emerge. InsightInsight and common sense return.and common sense return. We have good judgment, make good We have good judgment, make good

choices.choices. We feel awake, alive and present.We feel awake, alive and present. Our body’s healing potential revives.Our body’s healing potential revives.

And the best part And the best part about it …about it … We scarcely notice it because We scarcely notice it because

it is naturalit is natural..

Our intellect and our inner wisdom should work together to create harmony in our lives. However, if the intellect lacks wisdom, chaos reigns.

Sydney BanksThe Missing Link, p. 132

Our intellect and our inner wisdom should work together to create harmony in our lives. However, if the intellect lacks wisdom, chaos reigns.

Sydney BanksThe Missing Link, p. 132

A A Final Final

Question Question

How little does it How little does it take for you to take for you to give away your give away your peace of mind?peace of mind?

A final A final

thoughtthought

Life is too Life is too important to important to take seriously.take seriously.

For further For further information:information:

Judith A. SedgemanJudith A. Sedgeman

West Virginia Initiative for Innate West Virginia Initiative for Innate HealthHealth

P.O. Box 9147P.O. Box 9147

Morgantown, WV 26506Morgantown, WV 26506

(304) 293-8188(304) 293-8188

jsedgeman@hsc.wvu.edujsedgeman@hsc.wvu.edu