Archive for the 'Desire' Category

Imagination – The Way to Empowerment

The power of the imagination is in it’s ability to change the direction of how we perceive the world. This perception becomes our reality and is the difference between being powerless and being empowered.

Inspiration, purpose, meaning, reason and passion all start from imagination. This is the mind state that allows these aspects to begin, grow and evolve. This is the seed of manifestation into the external world.

Imagination exists in the mind at both the physical and mental level. Through projecting our imagination and visualizing it through our bodies and minds we create.

Whether we believe in the power of imagination or not – it’s power to shape and direct our lives still has a very real effect. If we choose to be conscious of this then we gain the opportunity to change our reactions, direct our perceptions and transform our beliefs.

Left to the devices of an unconscious and habitual mind, imagination will simply continue to play out the same patterns, reactions and perceptions. A directed, observant and conscious mind is the key to using imagination effectively.

The difference between a focused mind and unfocused mind is imagination.

The difference between objectivity and subjectivity is imagination.

As much as imagination can be daydreams and idle fantasy when directed it can also be conscious growth, expansion and vision. Imagination will be the difference between feeling trapped in old patterns, going in circles or connecting with purpose, inspiration and vision.
Vision is imagination and without vision we will never continuously sustain a life with purpose and meaning.

It must be remembered that imagination is mind and so it is the flexibility and strength of mind that will enable us to effectively utilize all aspects of imagination.

One factor that seems to discourage people from developing imagination, is that on initial trial of the skill it sometimes seems weak – we sometimes perceive this weakness as meaning that it is not working. It is working it is simply that our former patterns are stronger at this time.

What is actually occurring is that our imagination is very strong in regards to maintaining our current patterns, but it is new and yet unfocused at creating the new. This is why it is important to develop flexibility as well as strength. The imagination and mind is already very strong. Flexibility allows us to direct this strength appropriate to our vision and desires.

Imagination is perspective. It is the same imagination that embodies the energy of despair. It is the same imagination that chooses a feeling of happiness. The difference is which path has been patterned and chosen the longest. This is the path that will be felt and perceived as reality.

Our bodies and minds must follow the same universal laws. An object once in motion will remain on course until acted upon by an outside force. Even the smallest most subtle of forces will enact a change. Sustain that small force and eventually even the largest of objects will have made a dramatic deviation from it’s original course.

Even the largest mountain can be reduced to rubble by continued action.

When we choose to motivate ourselves, this is imagination. We are building our energy, emotions and feelings to perform. When we choose to push ourselves into apathy this too is imagination – we are gathering feelings, thoughts and energy to increase the apathy.

It’s all imagination.

Imagination is the gear stick that shifts our mind from a perception of unfocused to focused and vice versa. Similarly it will shift us from undisciplined to disciplined, subjectivity to objectivity and delusion to enlightenment.

Mind directs the interaction between trained patterns of bio-chemical release and new actions. By imagining mind and body states, we release bio-chemicals which will inter-react in certain ways. By creating the reaction that we desire we are able to transform old patterns into new ones. This is the process of creating a life of empowerment.

Hieu Doan

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The Power of Commitment

Perfecting an art and completing any journey requires commitment. Commitment holds us through to gaining the necessary experience which we then reflect upon and refine into skill. Skill keeps the ball rolling and perpetuates the development of real world applicable knowledge – and this positive cycle continues.

The journey of deep understanding, mastery of the self, empowerment, realization, enlightenment or where ever it is that our own personal mountain peak may be, becomes clearer as we advance, because we gain skill, knowledge and technique. Our mind has already learned to move beyond certain limits and discovered experiences that it could once only imagine. We build on prior experiences, we extrapolate from our skills, exploring tangents, working on grander ideas and simpler methods. We develop guidelines, rules and structures which we have proven to ourselves work time and time again in the real world. These rules give us stability, they provide us with a knowing that we have a partial map of how to get to our destination.

Without commitment however, all the rules change.

Commitment is what will see us standing by our game when skill fails us. It will see us being steadfast when the world is seemingly against us. Commitment is what will give us the humility to honestly look at ourselves. It is what will give us the strength to surrender the parts of ourselves that no longer serve.

There will be times on the path when it seems like all our teachings, knowledge and understanding have failed us. Perhaps there will be many times. Look down at your feet and just concentrate on taking the next step.

In this moment here and now commitment is just taking that next step.

We talk about empowerment. We talk about enlightenment, magic, healing, self-mastery and personal development. The real magic is commitment. When we find ourselves at the very last step of our lives and we look back at everything that we have experienced and reflect on the directions that we have chosen, we will know that what brought us to this final step was commitment. The question is not whether commitment was there – it is whether we have been committed to what is important to us.

Have we lived lives that are integral to us or have we forgotten our meaning? Are we truly okay with our compromises? Or do we wish for more?

Commitment is power when we are committed to purpose and meaning.

If we seek greater intimacy in our relationships, more passion in work, enhanced spiritual awareness or connection to meaning and purpose – commitment is what will have us standing at the pinnacle of those goals.

Seekers may argue over the relevancy of different types of technique and skill, and even masters may quibble over the specifics of knowledge and concept. That’s just the way it is. There are many ways up the mountain. Even half way up there will be people who tell us we’re going the wrong way, “that you need to climb up the other side!” Or that perhaps we are climbing the wrong mountain. The one thing that cannot be denied however, is that the journey takes commitment to succeed. And interestingly the details of right and wrong will usually become apparent as we continue the journey. At times we may even turn completely around and head the other way only to find that we are closer to what we truly wanted after all. There are many mountains. What is important is that we climb somewhere and continue to climb. Through this journey we connect to the source of who we are.

Hieu Doan

Pride and Strength – Balancing your Inner Powers for Mastery and Success

Pride needs to be tempered with true strength unless it begins to think that it can run the show. Pride that is uncontrolled will give in to lapping up praise and seeking the path of glory. To this end it will do whatever it can to avoid looking at any truth that could be perceived as limiting or negative in any way.

While pride can encourage us to excel and reach our potential, it can also prevent us from looking at what it fears – namely, being wrong.

The deciding factor about whether we control pride or it control us is strength. Where pride will avoid looking at perceived weaknesses, emotional limitations and personal obstacles, real strength is honest. Real strength will not hold back from acknowledging weaknesses, limitations, mistakes, hypocrisy or flaws. Its goal is not the boosting or soothing of the ego. Its goal is truth and personal development. It is weakness that allows pride to pretend that there is nothing wrong and that we are in control. It is more interested in images and illusions. Strength on the other hand is interested in real control, not simply the illusions of it.

Real control comes from being honest and acknowledging both strengths and weaknesses. It is only through awareness of our weaknesses that we can improve them. Pride would seek to keep us ignorant of them to preserve an illusion of mastery.

As much as pride can encourage us to excel, it does so because of weakness. It acts to protect discovery of this weakness unconditionally. The result is that this weakness does not get a chance to become strong, rather it remains hidden.

Strength throws the doors open to weakness – this is what gives it the direct opportunity to become strong.

It is the prideful mind that has the ridiculous notion that as long as it does not admit weakness, that weakness does not exist. This is as crazy a notion as closing our eyes and striving to believe that the rest of the world has disappeared. Crazy or not, this is how pride works. Pride is like a two edged sword, the solution is to develop a mind that can wield it skillfully. This is the difference between letting pride run the show, or letting the cultivation of self-mastery run the show.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying pride at a job well done, or a journey accomplished. The problem arises when we become so attached to the feeling of pride that we cannot let go of it in order to accomplish more.

Achievement and growth always involves effort and struggle in some way. This is part and parcel of stretching and expansion. It does not need to be something that we have aversion to. In fact when it is understood that our purpose has real meaning, this too can be a source of pride.

Essentially achievement is about priorities, and the reality of priorities is about strength. Inner strength will not allow any aspect that would prioritize limited gratifications to control the show. Inner strength has the ability to see and it also has the ability to deliver results. Pride on the other hand works well as an engine. It can be a great motivator – its weakness is in its inability to see things straight and true. Delegation of skills is the key here. Use pride as an engine and let strength steer the way. Recognize that pride, like a stubborn bull may quite often want to go its way and let strength show it who is in control.

Hieu Doan

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