The Freedom to Think for Yourself
Today's affirmation is:I empower myself to think for myself.
When I hear the positive thinking gurus – many of whom I hold in high esteem - speak on their topic, they often ignore a fundamental component of positive, empowered thinking. That component is freedom. Sometimes, in the rush to tie positive thinking to tangible benefits, they can sound like the NASA administrator trying convince Congress of the economic impacts of the space program rather than just selling the space program on its own merits. These gurus promise health, wealth, and happiness in return for your efforts.The result of positive, empowered thinking might, indeed, be that you are healthier, happier, or wealthier, but the real benefit is that you are a free, empowered person.Has it ever occurred to you that positive thinking is a freedom issue? What could be more inhibiting or more freeing than the ability to command your own thought processes and use them to build the life you want? The power to think for oneself has been among the fundamental battles of humankind from the beginning. Since time immemorial rulers, religious bodies, or “the group” have sought to limit the power of the individual to think his or her own thoughts.Even in a nation that supposedly values freedom, we demonstrate a profound unwillingness to allow others to think freely. The pressure is to conform; to join the herd even as it runs off the cliff. We saw the ugly side of that a few years ago when the war was new. Reporters, professors, celebrities, and ordinary citizens were ostracized for not thinking like the herd. Children too young to know what they were doing stood in the street stomping and burning Dixie Chicks CDs at the behest of their freedom-loving parents. An ugly spectacle to be sure, but the result of disempowered thinking masquerading as something noble - patriotism. Patriotism is a love of country not a hatred of freedom to think and to speak.The herd was uneasy and frightened. Free expression was unacceptable. We needed to unify and think alike. The herd did not take kindly to its leader being criticized by mere citizens. Even though mere citizens, thinking and living freely, is the foundation of this country.The empowered, positive-thinker overrides the herd's external chatter. He or she focuses on creating the thoughts, words, and actions that best suits his or her needs. In short, these people have the power to create life rather than react to it.Positive thinking is not only free thinking, but also clear-headed thinking. Positive thinkers are better able to look at situations objectively and see various sides. They are able to use their full capacity to reason, to feel, to draw on experience and make better judgments.Negative thinking, which is really synonymous with not having command of your own thoughts, is extremely disempowering – even debilitating. Why? Think about when a negative thought comes to mind. The emotions and feelings associated with the thought start to rise. Who is in control at that moment; you or the negative thought? Raw emotions rule and reason and experience are dismissed as impractical.The fact is that people who think for themselves (i.e. positive, empowered people) are independent, capable individuals who can achieve just about anything. People who allow societal norms or other people to do their thinking for them (i.e. negative thinkers) quickly become dependent and unable to move forward in their lives; and, sometimes, unable to resist book burning.The principle of positive, empowered thinking can be applied to any area of your life. If you want to be a better football player, is thinking positively or negatively about your skills more likely to get you there? How about being a better spouse or a better sales person or a more committed activist, or a more compassionate person?Clearly, the ability to develop, manage, and maintain your own thinking tends towards greater personal freedom. That freedom is the basis on which all achievement is possible.One of your greatest challenges in life is to break free from the herd. Most people never do it. Successful people always have. Yet, now more than ever, we need a population tired of the world as it is and pushed forward by visions of the world as it can be. The future of our freedoms relies on our ability to become aware, empowered, and free thinking people. Some closing quotes to start you thinking...
"Too often we...enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."~ John F. Kennedy
"A sect or a party is an eleggant incognito to save a man from the vexation of thinking."~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Belief is when someone else does the thinking"~ Buckminster FullerBe peaceful Be prosperousRayRay Davis is the author of Anunnaki Awakening: Revelation - order your signed copy today at AATrilogy.com - founder of The Affirmation Spot and an advocate for the potential of the human race. He's life-long history buff and holds a B.S. in History Education. He's always been fascinated by alternative views of history.
Anunnaki Awakening: Revelation is turning heads and opening minds. Humanity's past is checkered, secret, and dangerous.White House Correspondent Maria Love is on to the story of her life and with the help of an Anunnaki leaders seeks to unravel and reveal history's biggest conspiracy. The Awakening has begun!