Self Reflection

Dear mind, I love you unconditionally, but why can’t you do the same? I don’t know where you get this idea from that you have to punish me if I were to make a mistake. I don’t even know what those words old, thin, fat, wrinkles really mean either.

When we reflect on our thoughts, we notice our minds have the tendency to speak these words unconsciously. And if we are not conscious of it, we readily believe what the mind says. We are our own worst enemy. Sometimes we say things like I’m not good enough, that person is better than me or hey look I’m getting fat. This mental labelling is happening unconsciously and flies around in our head. To silence these voices, we do things like; go shopping, buy more makeup, gossip, use substances, illegal or legal drugs. We may even engage in dangerous activities such as jumping out of an aeroplane or climbing the highest mountain. After going through all of that, we later discover that those voices are still there. So the only option we have left to silence the voices is to go to our favourite pub and hold a glass of vodka in one hand and a cigarette in the other. We live in a discontent civilisation, and we label those kids that can’t sit still as ADD and yet we are still oblivious to the obvious.

Whatever that we are seeking out there in the world to silence the voices, we won't find it. Some even seeking approval from friends and family that they matter or seeking approval from their manager that they are a good worker, for what purpose? Many people walk through life suffering from this inferior complex where they can only do things when people around them give them the approval. Isn’t life more than this? It seems as though we are trapped in our own prison, although ironically the prison has no lock, we can walk out anytime we choose, but yet we want to stay.

As I walk down the footpath with our two beautiful dogs, Gracey and Monty. I reflect upon the life that I have led up to this point. In my personal experience, I too have been caught up in approval seeking. I only do things when my coach or my partner gives me the yes signal until then I wait. As I reflect on my own mind, I notice when I make a mistake my mind will judge me harshly, I too feel inferior to those that are more successful than me. Unconsciously I have been comparing myself with others, through self-reflection and I now come to the realisation that it’s time to step out of my own prison.

Inside you, you know that there’s something bigger than all of this. When you lay awake on that comfortable bed at night. That inner voice that says you can do anything, you are more than this collective mental conditioning. That’s what it is, the mental labelling that our mind tells us is no more than just collective mental conditioning that’s been handed down through generations. You have the power to breakthrough with self-reflection because self-reflection is the only key to inner transformation.

To see the insanity in one’s own mind is the beginning of inner transformation. Become aware of those voices that say you are not good enough, I need my parents, partner or coach’s approval before I do anything, I’m too old for this or too young for that. It’s all just collective mental conditioning that you mechanically repeat without conscious awareness. Self-reflection will bring you back to the authentic you. Who you truly are, which can’t be described because whatever that can be described is not who you are. Take some time to go into nature, feel the breeze, allow your feet to sink down into the earth. 

Breath deeply and observe the voices, don’t judge or condemn, simply just be a witness and remember inner transformation is the only way to free your mind from collective mental conditioning and it can only happen through self-reflection. www.dedytien.com