Training Your Mind to Help You

Our friend, singer and songwriter Chuck Pyle, likes to say, "The mind is like a bad neighborhood-you should never go there by yourself." If you're mind hasn't been trained to help you, via methods like meditation, shamanism or NLP, it might really be a bad neighborhood. Our minds constantly absorb thoughts, behaviors, and responses from our environment. These various thought patterns and responses may or may not be in alignment with our goals. So, unless we actively train our minds to be responsive to our needs, we may be in for a wild chariot ride (and 6 out of control horses)!

From a shamanic point of view, we say that each person is a spirit with a mind and body. In other words, we are spirit and mind and body are tools that we, spirit, can use. However, just because we have mind as a tool doesn't mean that mind, in its current form, is a good tool for us. The untrained mind is a lot like an untrained animal-be prepared for the unexpected!

Have you ever sworn to yourself (say on New Year's Day?) that you're never going to fall for the wrong kind of mate again? Or you're going to lose 10 pounds this year? Or you're going to . the list is endless. Then what happens? We forget what we've promised ourselves, or we find other priorities that are more important. That forgetfulness is a sign that mind isn't trained to help us with our aims. Mind is doing its own thing.

So what can we do to train mind? Segment intending, one of our favorite exercises from Abraham-Hicks, is a simple way to train your mind to help you while also accomplishing a lot each day. Here's how you do it:

1) Pick the length of time for your "segment." It can be any length of time, but no more than an hour. Thirty minutes or an hour works well. Decide exactly what time the segment will start and end.

2) Decide on your aim for that segment. It could be a list of tasks, a state of being, or both. For instance, you might decide that you will strive to remain light hearted while you return phone calls for 30 minutes.

3) When the segment start time arrives, start your segment with no second thoughts. Put your attention solely on the tasks for that segment and nothing else.

4) If you get interrupted during your segment, you need to decide whether the interruption is important enough for you to stop your segment (for instance, if your boss stops by your office for a chat). If the interruption is not important enough, keep going on your segment. If the interruption is important, make a conscious decision to stop your current segment and start a new one (one centered around the interruption).

Practice doing these segments throughout the day. Each segment is a training period for your mind, and will teach your mind to assist you in whatever you are doing. Segment intending works even better with a buddy, who can help you stay on track and stay focused. Whether you segment intend by yourself or with a friend, you'll find your mind becoming much more responsive to your needs as a spirit. Enjoy!

About The Author

Stephanie Yeh, co-founder of the Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic (http://www.shamanschool.com), helps clients learn magical and shamanic techniques. Her current project, a free teleconference series on a variety of magickal and shamanic topics with guest speakers, is designed to share information and promote interaction between people of varying spiritual practices.

articles@shamanschool.com

---

Lazy? Or Right on Schedule

Q. I've been working on a big project for a... Read More

Procrastinator No More!

Procrastination is when ever we postpone a task or duty... Read More

How to Use the Power of Words to Your Benefit - Part II

A friend of mine read the article, How to Use... Read More

What If I Fall Flat On My Face?

I hope you do. Sounds awful, I know. But I... Read More

Gaining Wisdom

Wisdom eludes me. The more I learn, the less I... Read More

Making the Most of Now

"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every... Read More

Stop Squeaking! Align Yourself for Business Success!

Even for a remarkable business owner like you, from time... Read More

Ten Tips to Create More Life for Your Life

When people begin to investigate career change, often they don't... Read More

Stained Glass Windows

Elizabeth Kubler Ross once said, "People are like stained glass... Read More

The 31 Absolute Best Resources for Self Improvement

Every week, I hear from people with the same Self... Read More

Moving Past Your Comfort Zone

We all gravitate toward what we feel most comfortable doing.... Read More

Why Bother About Your Life?

Have you failed to create the life you want, because... Read More

A Reality Practice

Suggested practice to gain freedom from self-limitation.It is suggested that... Read More

Darkness of Winter Encourages Insights

The darkness of Winter has descended.For many the long stormy... Read More

Limitations Real Or Imagined, Stick Em In A Pigs Eye!

It's about time to take a real hard look at... Read More

7 Tips For Unstoppable Motivation And Enduring Success

Procrastination is of no use to you in your quest... Read More

Motivation: Tearing Down Your Own Limitations

Q.: I've always been sort of cynical about all this... Read More

We Are Trying To

How many times have you heard this in your life?... Read More

Going with the Flow

This whole idea of change is founded on a single... Read More

Dont Get Hysterical About The Historical

The tension was palpable in the room as I began... Read More

Happy New Year

H appiness depends upon your outlook on life.A ttitude is... Read More

Quick Tips On Getting Motivated When You Dont Feel Like It

The secret to getting started on something when you don't... Read More

How Much Fight Is In You?

"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my... Read More

What Does Your Future Hold? Do You Have A Plan? Or Are You Just Waiting To See What Happens?

We often find ourselves in a situation in which we... Read More

10 Ways to Kick the Procrastination Habit

I recently read about a survey (by the University of... Read More