Who Wants To Join Me In A Mental Diet?
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
June 23, 2007 10:27pm CST
Okay folks you might be wondering what the heck I mean by a "mental" diet. I actually grew up in an environment, thanks to my great-grandmother, who I swear was years ahead of her time, that at least was familiar with the principles of the Law of Attraction...and this was many years before the "new" popularity of both the book and DVD of Rhonda Byrnes "The Secret"I remember seeing books at home lying about, like Napolean Hill's "Think And Grow Rich", the variety of Catherine Ponders' books of the same theme, etc. I even have an old copy of the "30-Day Mental Diet" by Willis Kinnear. Over the years, on and off, I've read snatches of these books, but I have to admit never really put them seriously into principle.
You see I really do believe there is a great power in our minds, the thing is, none of us really use our full potential--in fact, it's stated that the average person only uses about 10-percent of their brain power.
Maybe like you, there are so many things I still want and desire in life...better health, better finances, better success in life. And it truly is within ones mind to go after everything you really want in life...the how is the hard part...which maybe many of you have discovered. It is said we think a thousand thoughts everyday...and most of them very, very negative...Now I'm not saying I'm going to do this miraculous turn around and become a perpetual Pollyanna type...but I do want to switch gears and start saturating my mind with attracting more good in my life. And no doubt so do you.
I have my little stack of books nearby...The Secret, Think And Grow Rich, the 30-day Mental Diet, The Success Principles, Creative Visualization ...I literally want to soak this old brain of mine with positive potentials, and be more positive. It could be a simple thing like...say you wake up in the morning--it's a dreary, gloomy, rainy day...You see this and think.."Gee, what a lousy day." Do you see how negative your day has started already by that one thought? Instead, think, "Gee, we really could use the rain, and a nice rain is so refreshing, and cleans the air out."I know this is all heavy-duty stuff here...but I think a lot of us could use a little mental cleaning of negative thoughts, and try to think more positively, and maybe try to attract some better qualities in our lives--wouldn't you like that?? I know I would.
One way to start...is what I have a "treasure map"--cut out pictures of things you would like to see in your life...things that are representational...are you in bad health? Cut out a picture of a robust healthy looking person smiling...have a dream home you'd like? Cut out pictures of what you want...and on and on..and paste it on some kind of poster board.. I have a gigantic one hanging near my bed..even go and get some fake dollar bills and stick them up there..or write checks in your name for a nice large amount of money..
So are you game? Want to join me in a mental diet?--There is no time limit, although it would be nice to see some kind of positive changes by the end of next month...at least a step in the right direction...but let's start right now!!
Good luck!
12 people like this
16 responses
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
24 Jun 07
Add "Psychocybernetics" to that list of books. For the Christians who are interested, Norman Vincent Peale wrote the book "The Power of Positive Thinking." Writing positive affirmations is part of this process too.
I too, believe strongly in the power of the mind, not only for manifestation of positive happenings, but for healing and health.n We do tend to get into a rut of thinking negatively and it is very harmful. Thanks for the reminder to "Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative and don't mess with Mr. In-between." (Old song.)
5 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
24 Jun 07
Oh--I'm very familiar with Norman Vincent Peale...thanks to my great-grandmother...he was one of the earliest to write down the whole positive thinking principle...There was one story he told,..can't believe I still remember this...He always liked that idea of the mustard seed since Christ gave it as an example...If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ....(maybe you could fill in the rest)---I think it was a friend of his that came up with the idea of encasing a mustard seed in a small glass bubble type thing and made a pendant out of it....Well leave it to my Great-grandmother...she had bought one..years and years ago---well I still have it and have worn it all the time...sadly the seed kind of disintergrated...hey, it must be at least 60 years old?? Well...lo and behold...one day I was e-baying..and I don't know why but I decided to see it anything like the pendant was for sale...I COULDN'T believe it--a seller had the exact same one (called a Caro Bow Mustard Seed Pin)--so I decided what the heck...and bid on it...I won and only had to pay about $4.00 for it!! The others that were fairly similar were selling "buy Now" for $30.00
4 people like this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
24 Jun 07
Sounds like an interesting goal...Hope it works. A mental diet is a good thing since the mind can be a very powerful tool. I have always been a positive person but sometimes it is hard, when life is giving you lemons at every turn.
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
24 Jun 07
There have been times when a 55 gallon drum was needed, but I didn't have enough sugar...:}
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Jun 07
Oh--I have a lot of sugar...want to come over with your lemonade drums?? LOL
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
24 Jun 07
Make lemonade...hehhe....with some of the things I have been through I could have made gallons..LOL
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
24 Jun 07
Be nice if a lot would join in...the more the merrier
4 people like this
@AmbiePam (120988)
• United States
24 Jun 07
I love your idea. Last night and today I'm been really down because of some upsetting things, but if I can get out of this funk, I want to do that. It just may take me a day to shake this latest "thing" off. I think that is a wonderful plan that could benefit us all.
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
24 Jun 07
I think it would be a great plan....and yes very beneficial
4 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
24 Jun 07
Hello black cat. I have been mastering the art of positive thinking for weeks now. One thing I noticed about it was the big changes in my mood. I'm more lively and was able to stay in focus.
However, one thing I discovered was that for you to be able to work out your positive mind, you need to cast off all the negative thoughts as well as the negative people surrounding you. There's one book "Positive Energy" by Dr. Orloff who referred negative people as the vampire energy. They are the individuals who can easily suck the energy out of your system.
I am already halfway through reading "The Secret" and I will definitely instilled more positive thoughts in my mind. All of the above you suggested are a surefire steps in becoming successful in our life.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Jun 07
Oh--I'm so familiar with the people who are vampires in our lives...I hate to say it but my own mother was like that...Yes it's not just negative thoughts to get rid of...but to stay away from those people as well...Glad to know your on the path there too....Have you seen the DVD of The Secret??
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
24 Jun 07
so it's making visuals to concentrate on the positive? that's a good idea-keeps your mind focused on the higher goal instead of the negative:)
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
25 Jun 07
i will have to do this..
a daily reminder of goals :)
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Jun 07
Well having something visual can help...if you have a poster board filled with images of the things you would like to have in your life, and look at it everyday, it's supposed to help...one of the things I had put on mine...and I had made it a few years ago, were images of a computer system since I didn't have one....well,...now I have one!!
1 person likes this
@bbsbeesknees (124)
• United States
11 Aug 07
I've been trying to do something like this as well. I call it "The List of 30", and it's essentially a life list-30 things that, at the end of my time on earth, I want to look back and say, "I did that." Some of them are basic, weight loss (naturally :), pay off debt; some are a little bit of a stretch-visit all 50 states, and then all 7 continents, tour my ancestral home of Scotland; publish at least one short story in a national fiction magazine, funky ones like ride a camel/elephant, skydive, learn 3 languages or more...but the number one wish is to be the kind of person people say they'd like to know. To a be good, kind wife, mother, and friend. (Having kids is number 2 on the list. :)
The idea is to remember that you really can do anything.
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
25 Jun 07
I am game. Thinking positive is something I always try to do. I admit there are times that no matter what I do it seems hopeless and then out of the blue it turns and all is good again.
This is something Iam trying to work on more so now because we are in a major jam and all I can do is look for the silver lining on this cloud cause it is the only hope we have of getting out. And I know there is an end to this hard time and that is what I am looning forward to every day.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Jun 07
I went through a very challenging time just last month...very long story there...but not only did I visualize a positive and quick resolve of the problem, I took action to make it happen...So it's my wish that you too will resolve whatever it is your going through..for the positive.
;-)
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
24 Jun 07
Mental diet? Why not...you can picture yourself as skinny as you want to be...be careful, we don't want you to be anorectic...
I have the same weight now as when I was 14 years old...I have the same clothes size...and I can eat what I want and when I want...
When people ask me why I am skinny, I always say, because I want to stay at the same weight...and my mind is always over my body..
Anyway...I am supporting your diet in 100%
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
24 Jun 07
ha, ha..I did, but alone with other pictures about money...I get an idea about real diet of yours...
After reading it second time...I am still confused...because diet is related to reducing not increasing...
p.s. as long as you know what you want..I am supporting it..
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
24 Jun 07
Uh--Oops someone didn't really read right here..LOL--it's not so much a mental diet to loose weight though...a mental diet to attract more positive things in one's life...
3 people like this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
25 Jun 07
I think these are all really great things! I have been trying so hard to think positively the last two months. It's hard at times but I'm doing okay at it I think.
I don't know that I will make a map but I'm up for being positive :) Cause I truly believe the mind is more powerful then we give it credit for.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Jun 07
Making a "map" is actually fun....you should really try it
1 person likes this
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
24 Jun 07
You have hit on a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I have read many books on this subject and related subjects. Positive thinking is a step in the right direction. Even just becoming aware of your thinking is a start.
Going beyond positive thinking, if there is something you want or desire, I think you need to ask yourself why? When you can define a reason for wanting something, you place yourself in a position to get it. Don't worry about the how. The universe offers any number of ways to fulfill your desires.
I think the hardest part for many is to get busy doing something toward their dreams. As you go through the process, you will be directed by your connection to the universe in which way to proceed. That connection comes through your mind and it's thoughts or ideas. Most people fail to change anything because they want instant fulfillment. Our society is like that...everything right now. The universe does not work that way. So if it doesn't hasppen quickly, they give up. And many people give up anyway because they lose sight of their dreams or don't believe it is possible to attain them.
The laws of attraction will not work if you are sitting on your couch watching TV 6 nights a week. You have to follow your ideas and get busy doing something. Any little thing is a start. Do not kid yourself, things will take time. But most do not want to make the effort or wait for things to happen. If you move in the direction of your dream AND never give up, you can't help but realize its attainment. Look at all successful people (or most of them). They all didn't wake up one day and have this new life to live. Many started with nothing and worked to lay the foundation for better things. And why did they succeed? They never gave up. But it didn't happen over night.
I firmly believe that everyone is where they are at based on their thinking. The thoughts you are thinking right now are shaping your tomorrow. Circumstances have little to do with what happens in life. Whether or not you believe this, you are always attracting whatever you get in life. The bad or the good. So whatever you have in your life right now, was attracted by you in some way by your thinking process. Most peole waste time worrying about what they don't want in life. And before they know it...it arrives. Take command of your thoughts and start thinking of what you do want and decide why you want it. It is your choice to think about the things you want and take action to make them a part of your life.
1 person likes this
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
25 Jun 07
Thanks for best response selection. It sounds like you are well on your way to reaching some of your dreams. I am no expert at this and often struggle to understand what it is I am trying to do. I think it helps to write out how you are thinking about these kind of things. Like in a journal. There are many methods and teachers out there. It can get confusing. I have been reading so many different things about the law of attraction, that I have to eventually decide to follow one thing. I feel like I go off in too many directions and nothing gets done. I would suggest to keep studying about these things and find one person whose methods you can follow. I know you can do whatever you want and become the person you want to be.
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
6 Aug 07
Well... I don't really know where to start with this. But I am here at your invitation.
First let me say that I have not read any of these books because it is not who I am.
Second... there is a fine line between being negative and realistic. If you tell me that you are going to buy a lottery ticket today because you feel lucky and I tell you that you don't have a chance in hell to win...
You will call me "negative"
I simply call it realistic.
So you want to make a poster board of all the good things you wish to have. This is what we call "dreams". Nothing wrong with that. Dreams are good and make you want to live. I had my share of them.
But there are unrealistic dreams and realistic dreams. Dreaming of buying a computer is realistic. Dreaming of buying the perfect house when you can barely afford the rent for the shack you living in is not realistic.
I worked full time during the first 25 years of my agoraphobia and learned to live with it. But it got worse... and in 2000 I decided I could not do it anymore. I had to find a way out. And I did. I created a home business from scratch by building a website on the Internet.
At that time I was full of dreams of success and I was more positive about it than the most positive person on earth. But people... and particulary my friends... started to ridicule me and proceeded to give me every reasons on earth to talk me out of it. I ignored them and continued. But it turned out that the people I was trying to do business with were just as negative as my friends.
I persisted for six years with that website. The first three years... I was putting 50 hours a week in it. I finally did throw the towel in... totally disgusted with people attitude and negativity. This website made me lost my faith in humanity. People have no imagination. They want everything today because they cannot see further than the tip of their nose.
So that's my story of negativity.
1 person likes this
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
7 Aug 07
I think I am confuse...
I tell you how positive I was... and that the negativity of my friends and clients did sink me.
And you feel sorry for me because I am so negative... Helloooo!!!
Lets put that positiveness of yours in action...
Let me introduce you to the real world...
You want to sell your pictures... Right?
I will build you the website, maintain it, promote it, and take care of the sales...
All you have to do is provide the pictures, sit back and enjoy your money.
All you have to pay for is the domain and the cost of hosting. I can get you some cheap hosting to start with.
My fee is 25% commission on every sale.
What do you think? No negativity please. You'll find out that I was right soon enough.
@arcadian (930)
• United States
7 Aug 07
A realist with 25 years of agoraphobia-?
the people you were trying to do business with were just as negative as your friends?
Who acquires negative friends??
Sweetie, you are so far from realistic it is sad. I mean it in the kindest possible way. You are living in fear -of what?
Yours is one of the saddest posts I've read yet. Maybe the fact that you don't know that is a form of anesthesia-keeps you from feeling the pain? My hope for you is to find some comfort in life.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Aug 07
Then I really feel sorry that you have such a negative attitude toward life in general---no I don't think it's unrealistic to have a vision board of all the things one would like to have in life, including eventually owning that "dream" house....and this is true especially if one is taking steps toward that eventual targeted goal and I would like to think I am. In other words I'm not just sitting around wishfully daydreaming or thinking that gee that would be nice to have...no, I'm taking steps little by little to accomplish my goals..they might be small baby steps at the moment but one day it'll all pay off so to say
As far as your friends who may have been negative to your own goals and trying to talk you out of them,--Who knows? They might have actually been jealous that you did have goals and ambitions, while maybe they didn't have their own or at least not really ambitious ones. As far as the people who you did do business being just as negative....well have you ever heard the expression, Like attracts Like? while you may have had your own business and all, and goals, I think in general you may have been a very negative person all your life..at least that is my take on it...and you attracted more negative people by your own general negativity...
I've just about ditched anyone that has a negative attitude in life..they can be emotional vampires that like to suck out any good feelings you may have, any goals you may have ...my own mother was the perfect example of this...she was my emotional vampire
Even in that tape program I listen to, by Lucinda Bassett, she says to actually seek out people who are more positive, who can give you a sense of empowerment and make you feel worthy in life--somehow with you it seems you've only been drawing negative people
What you call "realistic" I believe is very negative for the most part...I agree in one sense that I don't go out of my way and spend money on Lotteries thinking I'm going to win--although there have been occassions that I have won money and seemed to be on some kind of roll there..but it does seem to amuse me to see people putting down at least $50 without blinking an eye--I'd rather put my money on a sure deal.
all I can say is that I really feel sorry for you that you do have such a negative frame of mind in general..and it's because of this you've attracted more negativity in your life---I can't help thinking maybe you have a deeply rooted low sense of self-esteem for yourself?? Just wondering.
@urbangirl (1456)
• Australia
25 Jun 07
Hi Pyewacket!
Your post could not have come at a better time for me. I have seen "The Secret" in bookstores, thought about buying the DVD and might actually do that now. I have been in a weirdly negative cycle lately which is unlike me. I know that positive thinking does make a difference but above all, I think persistance does as well. There were times in my life when everything seemed to come very easily for me when others seemed to have such a hard time. I am talking about marvellous coincidences that whatever I needed at the time would miraculously be there for me. I need to get back into this kind of positive cycle again. So thanks for the prompt. Let's compare experiences... :-)
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Jun 07
I just recently got the DVD of The Secret as well...at good ole e-bay for a lot less than otherwise...talk about visualzation...I really, really wanted to have that DVD--but I have to admit I'm on a budget...then it popped in my head..Hey why not try e-Bay? And sure enough it was there for so much less..And it's great..I think...
And yes...I'm game in sharing and comparing experiences too. :-)
1 person likes this
@saralee1 (1982)
• United States
25 Jun 07
my big thing is to write a 260 page book. it is 260 pages, because I already wrote a 160 page book. It was difficult, but very fun, and I have already contacted a publisher, because you see, I am already affirming that it will happen!
Here is the weird thing. I am going to pay for the publishing. Not because nobody will publish it, but because I know how hard it is for authors to publish. And, I want all my own royalties. I have already contacted a publisher, who is willing and ready. Now, I just got to get it out! So, wish me luck, and please become a fan! Support the law of attraction! :P
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Jun 07
I most certainly will wish you luck...I too am a writer...but haven't written in awhile...but starting this very week I'm going back to it...even if it's to only write three pages a day...it's a start.
1 person likes this
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
8 Aug 07
If you're having a lousy day, sometimes you have to go with the flow. One thing I've learned is to let myself feel bad and not fight it. Thinking it through, there's probably some lesson I needed to learn from it. In any event, I do read a lot of the power of positive thinking books and I do try to make lemonade out of lemons, but it doesn't always work. Perhaps having those lousy days is just one way of learning to develop new coping skills.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Aug 07
It's true --one can't be in a great mood all the time...but I'm getting better at it...LOL
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
24 Jun 07
I haven't read the books myself, I'm not much of a book reader, especially in English. But yes cleaning our mind of negative thoughts is a good thing. Sometimes negative thinking is useful because it could be our hunch that something is wrong and it happened before. But some of them are proven unnecessary to me, so yes I'll join you!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Jun 07
Well I know what your talking about with the hunch that something is wrong....But glad you will join me on this quest! :-)
@Hart57 (359)
• United States
24 Jun 07
What an inspiring discussion! I too am a great believer in the law of attraction, and I will be delighted to join you on this "mental diet." I find that the more you believe something, the quicker it materializes. "According to your faith it is done unto you."
I have also discovered that what you intend to manifiest does not always materialize in the exact form that you envisioned. For example, you may visualize and attempt to manifest an additional $100 this month (or whatever). But it may come in a different form than cash; it may be a new line of credit that is offered, or a coupon that shows up offering huge savings on an item of interest. Get the picture?
I have also discovered that the law of attraction works on its own timetable. What you desire and ask for may not turn up exactly when you expect it to. It's a matter of relinquishing attachment to the outcome. Once you surrender, things start happening. It's really quite amazing! I recommend reading "The Power of Intention" by Wayne Dyer (if you haven't already). It's really a powerful and inspiring read.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Jun 07
Oh I get the picture...LOL--yes sometimes there's something we want/desire, and we want that particular thing --whatever it is, but sometimes we don't get it, as maybe it wasn't written in the cards for that thing or maybe we're not really for it...but it might turn out that something better is on it's way--like that saying..when one door closes, another one opens...I've heard of Dyer, but haven't read his books yet--will!
1 person likes this
