Dealing with Reality

I would love to share an article with you.
It’s written by a teacher of mine : Prophageus
You can say that he is today’s guest blogger. Enjoy !
 

Will

The dictionary defines will as something with which one makes a choice, especially with purposefulness or determination. That is a very useful way to look at what we all have available to us. And, if you take any event, and it’s perceived outcome you can trace it all back to a single choice. One of the better tools we’ve been given, free will is definitely one of the most useful if we learn to use it. Many of us don’t really make real choices, we make frivolous ones based on many outside factors that may or may not be too relevant.

So, what goes into using our will to make a choice? What are the key ingredients to expressing our will in a useful and meaningful way? Do we really have a choice? Are we in enough control of ourselves to make real choices with purposefulness? When’s the last time you made a choice, I mean REALLY made a choice and stuck to it and did it? Will is the ultimate tool, but how do you use it?

The first step to expressing your will successfully, in a manner that’s useful to yourself and others, is to realize that you have WILL. So, how do you realize you have will? You look at yourself, deeply, and observe your choices. Ask yourself, why did I really choose to do THAT? Many choices we make aren’t really expressive of our will, sometimes they express other’s will. We make choices based on others opinions, on the unknown, on ‘facts’, on our own sometimes unrealistic perception, on other’s unrealistic perception, on ‘experts’, on feelings we might not necessarily interpret correctly, etc. So, analyze the choices you make throughout a day. Count how many times you actually made a real choice. A choice where you actually really wanted something, and you made a real determined, purposeful choice to do it/get it/etc. Observe yourself, and your will, how you use it daily. That is how to realize you have will, and how intertwined it is in everthing that occurs in your life. You can begin to see how your will leads you to everything you experience, whether you give others power over your will or use it yourself, everything is up to you.. it’s your choice.

So, after we realize we have will, then what? Well, now you start to use your will to really make a choice to get to know yourself. You cannot really make realistic clear goals of what you want in life if you don’t even really know yourself. So, get to know yourself. Then, use your will to decide what you do and do not want in your life, and make a firm choice to stick to that. Start exercising your will. Even with something simple, like a habit you KNOW you should stop, but you just haven’t for ’some reason’. Use your newfound will to stop that habit ‘cold turkey‘, and be aware of how powerful and alive you now feel. When you really start to make real choices, and you use your will to do so, you’ll notice a change in yourself and your reality.

Will power is a human potential that is worth developing.
With will your consciousness is making firm choices and putting your will into action further empower your act of consciousness.

Will is the action of your consciousness by making choices.
That is why one needs to learn about choosing.
It is simple, but may not be easy.

With will your consciousness is making a choice and heading towards its goal.
Consistent will will enable you to manifest the reality that you desire.

Having will power is very useful in dealing with yourself,
which is controlling your own emotions and mind,
instead of being controlled by them.

Weak people are easily swayed by outer stimulus,
For example people who are over sensitive (having low emotional quotient)
can become extremely unease and tensed when someone just call them “stupid” or “useless”
(It is obvious that emotionally strong people would not let themselves being controlled by anger just because of some petty labels)

Some people even commit suicide just because their inner voice and emotions have controlled them. That is very sad.
Therefore we need to develop our will power to control ourselves well.
We need will power to be able to make choices and control our own reality.
(Remember, choices should be made by your consciousness (will), not your inner voice nor your emotions)

Choose to develop your will power to control your emotions and mind.
Whenever your emotions and inner voices are trying to influence you, choose firmly not to succumb to them. You are the master of yourself, not your mind nor emotions.
With consistent will, you will gradually develop your will power and your emotions and mind will have less influence over you. You should control them, instead of being controlled by them

There are ways to develop will power and I shall blog about it in my future post.

Life is about making choices.
Make them well.

If some men conquer in battle
a thousand times a thousand men,
and if another conquer himself,
he is the greatest of conquerors.

- The Dhammapada

For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories.

- Plato

It is better to conquer yourself than the reality.
Before you can control the reality,
you have to control yourself.

Many people obey and succumb to the voices in their heads (mind) and their emotions.
The mind is the tool of our consciousness
and emotions are what we feel.
We have the choice of not being controlled by the “inner demon” in us.
People who cannot control themselves are like being dragged by their emotions and inner voice all the time.
They lack the will power to control themselves.
Easily they live their lives like puppets.

It is true that it is not easy for a normal person to control their mind and emotions at first.
Many people become agitated when they try to control themselves or meditate.
However, practice makes perfect.
If you choose to learn to control yourself consistently,
you will gain the will power to live the life you truly desire,
without being pulled or pushed by your mind and emotion.
Your consciousness should make the choices,
not your emotions and mind.
Learn how to control them.
with patience you will win yourself.

Some people say that not adhering to emotions and thought is being hypocrite.
They think that one should swear and being cunning to “fit” into the “real life”
They believe that by doing so, one is being honest to (her)himself.
If you choose to act according to your inner voices and emotions,
you will stay stagnant and limited
and you will always be controlled by your own mind and emotions
end up you will get stuck in your own “reality”
That is your choice in life… so choose well.

Choose not to be a slave of your own mind and emotions.
Overcome them consistently and you will gain the will power
so that you can control yourself and your own reality.

There are a lot of things that we can talk about,
but we are required to have actual experience to truly realise certain things.

Philosophers may talk a lot about interesting theories (bla bla bla)
that does not mean that whatever (s)he says is right.

It is better to observe and do things
than making assumptions and talking things.

Are you a talker or doer?

Do whatever you have promised.
Practise whatever you have preached.

It is easy to discuss certain things but not many people are willing to put their words into action.

Putting words and ideas into action and getting result is a difficult but important lesson that we have to learn in life
because in this process we encounter a lot of obstacles like negativity, fear, discouragement etc.
and we have to learn to overcome these obstacles.
That is why there are only a few people who are truly successful in their lives.

We need to control not just our inner state like mind and emotion,
we have to be aware of our actions as well.

Do instead of just talk.

Many people have the concept of the mind = inner self

Actually, the consciousness is the real you.
The mind is just a tool.
Both are not the same.

The mind is a useful tool. It can analyze and interpret things when we need it.
The consciousness is the one that observes and make choices.
It chooses whether to accept things suggested by the mind or emotion.

However,
The mind is a good servant, but a bad master.
Many people let their inner chatter (mind) lead their lives,
Without realising that inner chatter is not the one that makes choices
It is your consciousness that is the master of your life.
You can choose to accept or ignore your mind or your emotion.
You have the will of making choices.

People who meditate know that when they observe with their consciousness,
the mind (inner chatter) arises and gives a lot of distraction (suggestion)
It is for us to build our will power
so that our consciousness can overcome the influence of the mind and control it.

Use your mind well.
If you treat your mind well, it will serve you well.
Learn to control your mind with your consciousness (will).
Use it only you need to.
Your consciousness alone can observe things objectively.

It is beneficial if you are able to control your mind well,
instead of being controlled by your own inner chatter (mind).

The person who can control his own mind, desire and emotion
is the person who conquers (her)his “inner” self
(S)He is a wise chooser and controller of (her)his own life.

We all need to realise that we have free will and we can choose.
If we do not make use of our free will and make conscious choices
we will be controlled by other people or reality itself.

Realise that free will is in your hand and make conscious choices all the time.
The reality is yours to control so live your life that you wish.

You have the free will to choose to do anything accept taking people’s lives or limiting and damaging other people’s free will.

We must respect other people’s free will as well.
Attacking their choices in life is negative.
Everyone has their own choices to make and they will “grow” in life as they choose.

Some people choose to be nasty and treat others badly.
Well, sad for them. It is their choice and they will reap what they sow.
There is no need to attack nastiness with more nastiness because that will not rectify the problem.
It only brings more damage to life.

You do not need others to control you.
You can choose the way to live
and you can choose to do whatever you want.
So make your choices well.

Do or don’t do.
There is no trying.

Make firm choice on your action with will,
not throwing uncertain words like “trying”.

Being a Doer is far better than being a talker.
So do instead of try.