From the Inside Out

The human mind is a creative force of nature, and throughout history our propensity for imagining new perspectives and concepts allowed humankind to come a long way in a relatively short period of time. By being able to think outside of the box and devise better and more efficient ways of utilizing resources, coupled with a concept of future existence, we gained the foresight and ability to improve the quality and longevity of life by planning ahead; giving us all the more free time to conceptualize and explore our environment.

However, this same ability to think beyond given parameters can also give rise to thoughts and actions of a not so beneficial nature. When infused with irrationalism, insecurity, negative assumption or the emotional onus of past experiences, our perceptions and interpretations can be unjustly laden with bias and negativity; unfairly skewing the view of others, ourselves and life in general.

The existence of creatively modified negative perspectives is often exacerbated by the in-your-face social environment that exists today as many subsequent attitudes and knee-jerk reactions can be more quickly acted out. Such concepts and issues are further perpetuated by the fact that for many just being aware of, much less being able to work through, a myriad of biased perceptual disparities and misplaced relevance can be an ongoing and often indeterminate impediment to enjoying life.

Granted, it is normal to want to minimize guess work in how we interpret life. The precept of sanity alone, or at least the appearance of it, drives most of us to attempt a consistent and somewhat predictable comprehension of our surroundings - that along with not wanting to appear too wishy-washy of course. But the simple truth is we are all capable of much more than questionable snap decisions and our gut reactions to them!

There may be many situations and outcomes beyond anyone’s control, such as the thoughts and actions of others, but such variables aside, our daily notions, attitudes, actions and reactions to life, to ourselves and others, are not purely random. Nor are we mere victims of what our heart and mind may or may not conceive and then force upon us, though I’m sure there are those who would disagree. We all have the ability to daily affect and exert critical control over our thoughts, perceptions, actions, reactions and ensuing life experiences!

Ironically, this natural inclination to judge quickly and hold fast to perceived realities, regardless of how accurate, when mixed with self-doubt, can become a tenacious hindrance in how you see yourself - with negative assumptions becoming an all too prevalent part of your self-perception. However, like utilizing the power of choice in creating helpful or more positive perspectives in life, it is also a matter of choice whether you maintain denigrating self-perceptions or positively enhance your self-image from within!

Creating and believing conceptual variations more representative of who you really are or want to be, along with living a happier more fulfilling life, cannot happen overnight, however. Such a shift can be difficult to put into motion for a variety of long standing reasons and perceptions, and is affected by your ability to replace dubious self-perceptions and attitudes with more positive ones of yourself and others that are aligned with how you want to think, feel, act and be perceived. It also requires a deep seated desire, definitive personal choices, imagination , ongoing effort and willpower. You must also be willing to support the implementation and progress of these perceptual variations with congruent and consistent attitudes and actions while maintaining a clear view of your desired end result.

Fortunately, if you do want a happier, more productive outlook on life and yourself, if you do want to live a more enriching life in line with your true self, you just happen to have a very powerful tool at your disposal; the aforementioned creativity of the human mind wrapped in one of the finest machines ever created by nature; the human brain. This gift, when used properly, gives you the mental dexterity to think beyond emotional and intellectual boundaries and status quos. We are all capable of growing, changing and positively affecting our hearts, minds and perspectives in life, and you really can improve your self-image and elevate your view of the world and your place in it. So, when are you going to start treating yourself more fairly? Every day is both a time of new choice and opportunity! Are you willing and ready to move forward?