by Frannie Banannie 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I've a little experience in the past with what my mind has done to create a reality for me that would help me resolve or overcome my fear of leaving the cult, but I'm interested in what experiences or actual knowledge any of yall have on the subject. It seems mind power may well be a resource well worth tapping into.
What are yall's thoughts on this subject?
Frannie
There is an interesting book called "The Relaxation Response" you might like. The author is Dr. Herbert Benson, I believe. It talks about how powerful the mind is in controlling stress, the physical effects of meditation, etc.
I've seen a lot of negative things the mind can do. I had a patient once who believed he was unable to use his legs and was able to walk after psychotherapy, for example. I have a hypochondriac friend who expends much of her time and energy obsessing about imaginary medical conditions and makes herself physically sick just from worry. Recently, she missed over a week of work due to the consequences of worrying about a pimple. Seems that power could be harnessed and channeled toward the positive.
There are enormous energies in the unconscious mind but how do you systematically access and utilise them I don't know. Somehow they lie there dormant and unusable and at times I get insights on their existence and even experience their presence but never on a long term usable basis.
Harmful mental blockages and negative moods such as those produced by the demonic forces operating on behalf of the wts can easily be destroyed once these latent forces become functional.
I have the audio program The Psychology of Winning by Denis Waitley.It is very mind-opening to the way we think and how we perceive things.For example,what the mind dwells upon,the body acts upon;if you constantly think you're sick,you probably will be.Also,it's not what you are that's holding you back,it's what you think you are not.For example,you might think you could never be really good at something because that's how you perceive it in your mind when in reality you could succeed at it.
Anyways,I've listened to it many times and I've truly benifited from it.The mind really is a very powerful thing.
Goldminer
The real power of the mind is to make sense of the world using reason. It's a shame more people don't try it.
frannie,
some high-powered "researchers" have attempted to measure this so called mind power with group prayer and worldwide "good thoughts" type concentrations. the results have been coming in for years, and it's all empty. nothing more that circumstantial reading of data on odd occasions while ignoring the bulk of it. so at this point, though the prospect is romantic, i don't think there is any power in the mind to be harnessed outside of funkyderek's materialism and reductionism.
from an evolutionary perspective, while our minds are unique, they really are just high powered versions of ape minds. we're running at 100% capacity, which is depressing but true.
regarding your experience of coming out of the org, i have to say that any of us being out is a remarkable thing, psychologically. just the fact that we have the capability to be skeptical and change our entire lives around based on new facts learned, is a highly encouraging phenomenon. one that us ex-JWs seem to be well aware of. perhaps even more than other people.
TS
The real power of the mind is to make sense of the world using reason. It's a shame more people don't try it.
Ah, Funkyderek. But we were brain-washed into NOT using our own minds by the WT-BATS, yanno. It takes a while to overcome that.
Rebel8 & Goldminer, I've seen people talk themselves into becoming sick simply because they knew they'd been exposed to a stomach virus. It only took my cousin about 30 mins. to convince herself she was coming down with it, too. There was no talking her out of it. She had her mind made up.
Surely, this "making up the mind" could work in a positive way, eh?
There are enormous energies in the unconscious mind but how do you systematically access and utilise them I don't know. Somehow they lie there dormant and unusable and at times I get insights on their existence and even experience their presence but never on a long term usable basis.
Greendawn, I'm sure there are very helpful "self-help" books on this subject, but knowing which ones we could truly benefit from is the dilemma. It may take trial and error to work it out.
I know that in certain instances, I've always found a parking spot "up front" close to the door of the store I was intending to shop. When these instances occurred, they were times when I just KNEW there'd be a primo spot close to the door. Mind over matter?
Perhaps I need to make a diary of when these situations occur, because I've seen somewhere that barometric pressure, etc. can affect our ability to control things with our minds.
Frannie
When these instances occurred, they were times when I just KNEW there'd be a primo spot close to the door. Mind over matter?
- i'd say matter over mind. people always hope they are going to find a spot close to the door. when they find one, it feels like they have really accomplished something in a parking lot full of cars, even though it's complete environmental chance.
- i'd say matter over mind. people always hope they are going to find a spot close to the door. when they find one, it feels like they have really accomplished something in a parking lot full of cars, even though it's complete environmental chance.
Thank you, Tetrapod. It's always good to view the flip side of the coin, in order to obtain a more balanced view of any given situation or subject.
Frannie
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You obviously have thinking ability and can discipline even offer, do i detect, reproof. It would seem that any brain-washing at least for you, would be by choice.
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