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Thursday, January 24, 2013

WHAT DOES A THOUGHT WEIGH?



I have often struggled with ideas that can communicate the power of a single thought. Our brains have been labeled as the 3 pound universe and in many ways this is totally appropriate. But if our brains only weigh three pounds and we have literally millions and millions of thoughts stored somewhere, what does a thought weigh? Those seems like kind of a non-sense inquiry-but wait a minute.

It has been estimated that we think some 60,000 thoughts every day. In addition to our thoughts, we handle tens of thousands of bits of information as a result only of external stimuli. Others have approximated the amount of negative information each of us process to be representative of at least 90% of the stimuli we process. Indeed, I would add that for many, the vast majority of their inner thoughts are also negative.

Now if you think of our 3 pound universe that way, then how much does all of the negativity weigh? Perhaps the true weight loss program we should all endeavor to maintain is the one that’s aimed at losing those negative thought patterns. All of the no-don’t, you can’t, you’ll never succeed at that, etc. and so forth. In other words, every self-limiting, self-imposed notion that proscribes what we will try and how well we will do at it. This is the kind of weight loss that applies to most of us.

The role the subconscious plays in limiting one’s success, in motivating their buying patterns, in establishing their beliefs, in fact–in literally every aspect of one’s life cannot be understated. Indeed, the evidence is in: the subconscious instructs the conscious what to do, what to say, when to act and more and it does so as much as 60 seconds before the conscious mind responds. The mind is very much like a large container that you can fill with anything you want, but then that input becomes it program. Years ago I likened this to the old computer programmers GIGO meaning Garbage In Garbage Out.

Most of us desire to change something. We want to improve our lives in some way. Change-that seems to be the theme of the day everywhere. During this last election cycle I found myself doing several radio interviews regarding subliminal communication and the art of persuasion. There were subliminal ads aimed at both political parties and there were a number of other psychological techniques employed to gain your vote, but then there’s nothing new about that. What did impress me was the number of people on both sides who were just totally fired up about the election. There was a new level of energy, a higher sense of enthusiasm and as a result, some deeper divides. Passion-that is the word I would use to describe this last presidential election; passion on both sides of the aisle.

Pundits for both sides had plenty to say but ultimately everything came down to one word– “change.” The dynamics of the election were such that change was virtually assured in some way regardless of who emerged victorious. Change is what the world wanted as well, and change is what the world celebrated when President Obama was chosen by Americans. Our time now is a time of change and change is what we want and change is what most people resist when it gets right down to it. Change is actually attenuated by fear-fear of the unknown.
My staff has asked me over the years about our products and our philosophy. Whenever I am asked this question I think of Bill Gates and his book, “Business at the Speed of Light.” Gates explains in this book how the railroad companies used to think of themselves as in the business of trains. Had they recognized that their business was transportation, there would have been a different future in front of them then that of trains alone.
Whether it’s about business or a matter of a more personal nature, change begins in the mind. Real change is not possible until there is agreement between the subconscious and the conscious mind. Claiming your right to succeed consciously may well be later undermined by unconscious/subconscious beliefs, motives and mechanisms.
Think for a moment, what would you like to change? If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be? What would you change that is changeable? Would you like more energy and enjoy feeling and looking much younger? Would you like a greater sense of inner peace? Would you benefit from a better memory or an enhanced learning ability? Would you like to improve or attract a relationship in your life? Would you like to find the perfect employment? Would you like to change your body image or end some addiction? Or how about becoming fitter and/or more athletic? Again, what would you change?

My research over the past 30 years has repeatedly verified a simple hypothesis. In order to truly change-you must change your mind.
About the Author:
Eldon Taylor has made a lifelong study of the human mind and has earned doctoral degrees in clinical psychology and pastoral psychology. He is a New York Times best selling author and the CEO of Progressive Awareness Research, an organization dedicated to researching techniques for accessing the immense powers of the mind.
For more information on a special offer for Eldon Taylor’s latest release, Mind Programming, please go to: InnerTalk

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