MIND ManAgeMenT

MIND ManAgeMenT

D.V. Madhusudan RaoDept. MBA,

School of Graduate Studies,Jigjiga University, ETHIOPIA

NATURE OF THE HUMAN MIND• Every human mind being regardless of his or her origins of upbringing, has been

endowed with a marvelous and mysterious apparatus called the mind. It is working twenty-four hours a day, producing conditions, events, and experiences in each of our lives. These conditions are always taking shape in the mind. Your mind is always busy weaving your tomorrow, either a tomorrow of joy of sorrow depending upon the thoughts you entertain in your mind.

• Your thoughts are the tools with which you work, and the only tools you have to shape your destiny. Your experience in the outer worlds only reveals what is lurking in the secret chambers of your very own mind. Your experience is a mere reflection of your thoughts.

• Our circumstances are merely a “looking glass,” a mirror of reflection. But in our daily life, a without realizing what we very often try to break the mirror. F or example, if you are not very happy with your income, you start criticizing your employer, the job, your upbringing, and everybody else for your shortcomings. You criticize your boss who makes more money, you talk maliciously about the Chief Executive of a big corporation who makes a million dollars a year. They are not going to change your conditions, which are merely reflecting your thoughts. To change the conditions, you have to change the causes - your thoughts. Blaming your poor economic condition is like blaming the mirror for your uncharming face. Think about it.

CONSCIOUS MIND and SUBCONSCIOUS MIND• The great Hindu Seers who spent their lives in search of truth in uncovering the mysterious of

the mind, had used the analogy of an ocean to describe the human mind. An ocean is a massive body of water with a surface, and impenetrable depths beneath it. So is the human mind.

• The surface mind is also called the conscious mind, the objective mind, or the male aspect of the mind. The deeper mind is called the subconscious mind, the objective mind, or the female aspect of mind. Most of us use only the conscious mind in our day-to-day transactions with the outside world. We use the sense organs and the brain in gathering information and processing it. This is done by the conscious mind. The conscious mind is the choosing mind, the directing mind. The conscious mind is the choosing mind, the directing mind. It acts like a “watchman” at the gate. It is the rational mind. It argues. It uses logical reasoning. In other words, it works on the basis of inductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning is a process by which we compare facts to arrive at common elements binding them. In fact, comparison of facts is the basis of inductive reasoning.

• The conscious mind is the faculty that is endowed with the power of discrimination. The major difference between man and beast is that while Man is endowed with the power of discrimination (the faculty of the conscious mind), the beast is deprived of it.

• The conscious mind can also be called the Master Mind, the mind that directs and gives orders to the subconscious mind. One of the important objectives of Mental Science is to train students to use the conscious mind as a vigilante or a guardian angel at the gate of the mind. A perfect harmony between the conscious mind and the subconscious is necessary to lead a life of peace and tranquility.

THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND• The subconscious mind is the obeying mind. It is subject to the command of the conscious

mind. Therefore it is also called the subjective mind or the passive mind. It does not argue; it simply obeys the commands given to it. In other words, it works on the basis of deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning presumes that the factors presented are true and proceeds to arrive at a conclusion without verifying the truth or falsity of any statements. It will work out the results as though the assumption or suppositions are true.

• Since the subconscious mind does not argue, as it does not compare facts, it will believe anything that is impressed upon it. It is like a sponge. It will absorb anything, and proceeds to make it reality. Hence we have to be extremely careful as to what we feed our subconscious mind, and what thoughts we entertain in our conscious mind.

• The subconscious mind can be compared to a fertile soil. The soil simply receives whatever the farmer chooses to sow. It has only the power of acceptance and no power of rejection. Because it is an obeying mind, the slave and not the master, it is the passive mind. It is up to the farmer to choose whether he wants to sow barley or wheat seeds. Similarly, it is up to your choosing mind to select the thoughts (the seeds) to sow or drop in the subconscious mind (the fertile soil). The subconscious mind is always amenable to change by suggestion. Whatever the objective mind impresses upon it, with utmost perfection and fidelity the subconscious mind reproduces and works out its final consequences. This is the basis of hypnotism. Under a trained hypnotist, the subject changes his personality for the time being; he believes whatsoever the hypnotist impresses upon him. There are instances in which the hypnotic effect has played the part of a great leader, or an artist, or a poet, or a writer with inimitable accuracy during the hypnotic state. Hypnotism cannot work, except under the law of belief.

ACTUAL EXPERIENCE AND SYNTHETIC EXPERIENCE• The subconscious does not know the difference between an actual

experience and a synthetic experience. For example, let us say that you were walking the streets of Calcutta during a recent visit to India. The time was dusk, and the street was only dimly lit. You had heard before you left for India that the streets of Calcutta are infested with snakes. While walking, suddenly you stepped on something and you felt it as a snake. You were shocked and you body reacted in fear as though you had stepped on one. You immediately regained your composure, removed your flashlight from the bag, and realized the “thing” that you had stepped on was in fact a piece of rope and not a snake. The fear and shock that enveloped your body suddenly vanished. But at that particular moment, the body reacted as though you stepped on a real snake. This is because the subconscious does not know the difference between the actual experience and a simulated or synthetic experience.

IMAGINATION• It is said that imagination is the “workshop” of the subconscious mind. What you imagine, dream,

or see before your mind’s eye is going to appear as your experience, events, and circumstances. IF YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU WILL BECOME SUCCESSFUL. On the contrary, you imagine yourself to be a failure, a good-for-nothing person, the subconscious will definitely work hard to make your dreams come true. It simply obeys.

• Therefore, Mental Science always warns against dwelling on things you do not want in life. Instead, it advocates always on dwelling on things you want in life. Always dwell on health, wealth, prosperity, and peace of mind, and you will definitely be healthy, wealthy, prosperous and at peace.

• All human beings have a tendency to dwell on the negative; it is a natural tendency one has to consciously fight.

• Think about it. Keep your mind focused on the things you want. Do not dwell on things you do not want in life. The subconscious mind is the builder of the body. It is a sleepless giant that controls the body twenty-four hours a day.

• Perfect health is only a normal thing to expect and not an exception. The rhythm of the heart, lungs, and the kidneys are actually thrown out of balance by our thoughts of fear, worry, and anxiety. So when you are upset about anything, we must consciously implant thoughts of health and harmony into the subconscious.

• Preservation of life is an eternal duty of the subconscious mind. The subconscious mind is pro-life, and its interference at any time is to save human beings from any impending dangers. The body has a built-in mechanism to remove any imbalance from its source. This task of keeping the body in harmony is the function of the subconscious mind.

• Trust your subconscious mind. Give it commands to restore you to perfect health; it will obey just like a faithful servant.

SUBCONSCIOUS AT ITS BEST

• The subconscious mind is at its best when the conscious mind is in a state of abeyance. It is bound to be so because the conscious mind is the arguing and rational mind, which questions every suggestion implanted in the mind. Therefore, it is suggested that the best results in impregnating the subconscious mind can be obtained in a sleepy or semi-walking state.

• Look at the time prescribed for prayer by all religions in the world whether Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam. Prayers are prescribed for dawn, midday, or dusk, which in fact are semi-walking hours when the conscious mind is in a state of abeyance.

MENTAL ATTITUDES - HOW TO SHAPE THEM

• The old saying that “your attitude decides your altitude in life” is absolutely correct and it really touches the very core of Mental Science. The fundamental purpose of Mental Science is not only to educate the student on the working of the human kind, but also to enable him or her to change mental attitudes to achieve whatever he or she desires in life. Scientifically speaking, it is the inner world of thoughts that get themselves translated into the outer world of events, conditions, and experience. The loftier the thoughts we entertain, the nobler will be our experiences in life.

HOW TO ELIMINATE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS• The first and foremost important thing to do in combating

negative thoughts is to watch every word we utter. Every negative word we say or negative speech we produce blocks the flow of positive thinking and positive words. Infinite wisdom can flow to your person only through positive thoughts. When you constantly watch your words - the outcome of thoughts - you are cultivating a positive consciousness or awareness which, in turn, will facilitate the flow of infinite power toward you. In other words, our thoughts become the vehicle for the infinite intelligence to flow without any resistance.

POSITIVE SELF-TALK- PRAYERA time-tested technique for the elimination of negative speech is positive self-talk.

PRAYER - A POSITIVE SELF-TALK• Every prayer is in fact a positive self-talk -- the lower self

talking to the higher self. All religions in the world promote prayer of one form or another. If you closely analyze prayer, no matter what religion it is from, it consists of positive attributes and praise of the almighty,. When you are praying, saturating the mind with positive attributes or qualities of the divine on a daily basis, there will be no room for mushroom growth of negative thoughts. Prayer is the oldest and most effective technique for the elimination of negative speech.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

P - Positive affirmationsR - ReceptionA - AttitudeY - YieldE - EmotionsR - Rebirth

PRAYER Contd..POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS: We start the prayer with positive affirmations like the thousand attributes or qualities of God such as mercy, compassion, love, and forgiveness. These positive affirmations from the basis of a thorough mental cleaning of the negative tendencies in thought, word, and deeds.• Repetition, it is said, is the mother of perfection. Even when we are learning a skill, we repeat

the techniques several times to acquire mastery over a skill. When you repeat positive affirmations, you are saturating the subconscious mind with positive tendencies, which in time to come will be translated into their material equivalent.

• Repetition is double-edged sword, meaning it works on a positive as well as on a negative side. If you repeat thoughts of negative natural saturating the subconscious mind, they produce a negative experience bringing your command to its true conclusion.

ATTITUDE: A Prayerful attitude is always one of receipt. The devotee always prays for happiness and peace with a positive attitude and thereby facilitates the timely realization of the objects of prayer. The stronger the attitude of receipt, the more one will see crystal clear the objects of prayers before one’s mind’s eye as a present possibility. A positive attitude of receipt is a prerequisite for effective visualization.

YIELD: During the prayer time, the mind of the devotee or the participant yields to the higher power, the Supreme Self, of the Omnipotent. Such total surrender or yielding is not possible w until the person has recognized the presence of such a power in the universe. When any person recognizes such higher Self and yields to that higher Self, naturally he will transform himself, if not fully at least particularly, to that higher consciousness.

PRAYER Contd…EMOTION: Emotion is the fuel that drive people to a state of higher consciousness. The subconscious mind is the seat of emotions. As a matter of fact, any idea emotionally presented to the subconscious mind becomes easily absorbed by it and is sooner translated into its material equivalent. We see people weep and cry during prayer with tears profusely trickling down their cheeks. The power of the spoken word is derived from the emotion with which it is said. An emotionally charged word is sharper than sword, and it will come back with the result intended wither knowingly or unknowingly.• Any suggestion you want the subconscious to soon act upon should be made with an

emotional fervor. It is the eternal glue that sticks any suggestion to the subconscious mind.

REBIRTH: After a person has gone through the practice of prayer, the art of communicating to the subconscious mind, he or she becomes so relaxed and contended as if being reborn. The mental state has been transformed from tense to relaxed during prayer. The best way to forget one’s worries or anxieties is to participate in any kind of prayer. It will help to clam the mind, and that calmness by repetition becomes a habit which slowly by practice will be woven into one’s character.

Prayer, in short, is a thought management technique. It gives the individual who practices prayer a fresh mind. Such a mind is ready for creative thinking and constructive undertakings.

THOUGHT ManAgeMenT

D. V. Madhusudan RaoDept. MBA,


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Madhusudan Rao.D.V. 15

Thought Management - Introduction

Thought management is the greatest challenge that faces humanity today. It is a science as well as an art. Mental science offers a scientific basis for thought management. Yet, only by constant practice and application of various techniques one can become proficient in thought management. There has not been any comprehensive study on the subject of thought management. An attempt is made here to develop thought management as a valuable tool to guide our daily lives to improve the quality of our being.

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WATCH YOUR WORDS• The first step towards thought management is checking our

spoken words. Thoughts travel fast, and we may not be able to control them initially. But we all can control our words, and that which is negative should be uttered. We slowly get control over our thoughts once we start having control over the spoken word.

• The words we speak represent our innermost thoughts lurking in the secret chambers of our mysterious mind. Therefore it is imperative for us to check the words that come out of our lips. When you speak negatively you create a negative world, and when you speak positively you create a positive world. The choice of words we use in our everyday life determined the quality of our life. We must consciously watch the words we speak under all circumstances.

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TECHNIQUES OF THOUGHT MANAGEMENT

1. Anchor thought2. Tortoise technique3. Bead Technique4. Chanting5. Reading scriptures6. Thought observation technique

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1. Anchor thought• Anchor thought: The first and foremost technique of Thought Management is

“Anchor Thought Technique”. Under this technique, there is a predominant thought to anchor the mind at all times. Ancient Hindu Sages and their followers give to their disciples a ‘mantra’, or a holy word, to recite all the time when the mind is not preoccupied.

• The old saying that “An idle mind is a devil’s workshop” is a true statement. Whenever the mind is not occupied, it will entertain random undivine thoughts, which would lead the thinker to his or her peril. But if the mind is anchored on a mantra, it will not stray. The vibrations of the holy word will have a refreshing effect on the mind that it will remain calm and serene all the time.

• According to one’s mental make-up and religious beliefs, one can choose Anchor Thought. It could be the name of the Lord or a short hymn to Him, who pervades everything in the universe.

• In the beginning, this technique may seem peculiar, as you are not accustomed to anything like it. But after a couple of weeks, you will get used to it and the mind will enjoy it. It will keep the mind focused and refreshed.

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2. Tortoise technique• Tortoise technique: Just like a tortoise withdraws

all its limbs to its shell, a man of perfection withdraws all his senses and the mind to himself. Here, the mind represents thoughts and we can draw our thoughts to focus on the third eye or the center spot between the eyebrows. The thought energy is no longer dissipated as it is focused on a focal spot and it will refresh the mind to focus on the third eye to get maximum relaxation. When thus relaxed respiration slows down, enabling all the cells to attain maximum rest.

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3. Bead technique

• Bead technique: In many religions, spiritual aspirants count the beads in a rosary or “japamala”. Every time you utter a holy word or mantra one time, you count one bead. The bead technique is also a method of settling the mind. Monotony is a stage in which the human mind is at rest. In the beginning, it is tough task to concentrate and coordinate the recitation and counting of the beads. As time goes on, one will get used to it and bead counting will become easy.

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4. Chanting

• Chanting: Group chanting or individual chanting of the thousand names of the Lord, or Lord’s prayer, can help us manage our thoughts. The lead singer is followed by a number of people in the prayer group. The air in such circumstances is filled with a lot of emotion, and the singers all feel an uplifting spirit unleashed by the vibration. It is a good idea to participate in such chanting to manage one’s thoughts. Any person coming out of such a chanting prayer group has better control over his thoughts. The emotions coupled with the soothing music will lull the mind and, just like an infant after an active day sleeps to mom’s lullaby, our mind will enter a dormant state of inactivity conducive to creating a freshness of untold proportions.

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5. Reading scriptures

• Reading scriptures: Anyone who reads scriptures such as the Bible, Koran, Geetha or Ramayana will not only learn to manage thoughts, but will also be directing his thoughts toward his spiritual achievement. Everyone becomes the object of his or her thoughts. Reading scriptural truths will saturate the mind with divine feelings which bring a celestial harmony to the person doing it.

• Rather than starting the day with reading newspapers, which contain mostly disturbing news, always keep holy books with you and read them regularly in the morning. The semi-waking hours are particularly auspicious for reading because the passive mind during those hours tends to be in a state of peak reception. That is the best time to impress on it holy thoughts or positive loving thoughts.

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6. Thought observation technique

• Thought observation technique: Thought Observation is probably the best technique of thought management. The process involves simply observing one’s thoughts. We must let the mind wander wherever it wants to go but keep following it with keep observation. The mind is like a monkey. It jumps from one object to another with sporadic speed and this technique enables us to follow it in its tracks. The key is that you are aware of the thoughts and, by practice; this awareness becomes sharper and sharper. In thought observation, it is imperative that you don’t criticize thoughts. They may be noble thoughts or very crooked or lustful thoughts depending upon the character of the individual. You observe you own thoughts as a witness as though you are not involved in the whole process of thinking. Taming the mind becomes very easy then, as it sharpens the perceptive process resulting form concentration only on thoughts. However untruly the mind appears to be, as it runs restlessly after objects of thought, it becomes tamed with this technique of thought observation.

• With practice, there stressed mind becomes restful as it dwells on a few thoughts and finally rests on one favourite dominant thought. When the mind slows down, you can anchor it with the “mantra” or a holy word.

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MEDITATION

• MEDITATION: Thought Observations a prelude to meditation. When you observe your own thoughts, the mind is looking at itself, it is reflecting on itself, and hence the meditative process is also called a reflective process. Our minds are by nature restless until they are tamed to calm down, stilling all those disturbing thoughts. When emotions run high, and thoughts run amuck, even a calm person becomes a victim of anger or rage. But with constant and faithful practice of meditation, observing one’s own thoughts, the habit of calmness is cultivated and such persons become habitually in control of their emotions. The greatest human challenge is managing one’s emotions, which cannot be achieved without managing our thoughts.

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MASTER or SLAVE?• You can be either a master or a slave depending upon who controls your thoughts.

As a master, you have absolute control over your thoughts, and you need not worry about uncontrollable thoughts. As a slave, anybody can control your state of mind, as you are easily influenced. A person who acts upon his own volition is a master of his own destiny, and has the willpower developed enough to act even under trying circumstances. A slave is one who always reacts to the actions of others and thereby becomes a floor mat for anybody to step over all the time. When you learn to manage your very thoughts, you learn to manage your very emotions and retain control of your mind.

• Take the approach that “nobody can insult me without my permission”. For example, if somebody addresses you as idiot or a fool, say “thank you very much”. The person who insulted you expected you to react but instead you acted. You did not fall for his comment. You know who you are, and you have learned to control your emotions and are therefore ready to act without becoming a victim of somebody else’s comments. When you train your thoughts, you also learn to act rather than react. You and you alone must have full dominion over the state of your mind. Thus intruding thoughts, or works or deeds of others, will have absolutely no influence on you.

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© ® ™ SM

Knowledge is POWER

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ANGER ManAgeMenT



Madhusudan Rao D.V. 28

Introduction• Anger is actually a manifestation of a selfish, unfulfilled

desire. Almost all the time, its presence is felt only by the havoc it causes, like a hurricane that becomes visible to the naked eye only when it destroys everything in its path. Anger is a violent outburst of emotion stemming from the frustration of the individual.

• Anger is rooted in fear - a state of helplessness, real or imaginated. Before we can control anger, and thereby reap its benefits, we should understand the origin of anger. Since it is a manifestation of unappeased passion, or a strong desire non-gratified, we must go back to the very beginning of the formation of a desire.

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Contd..• A study of the anatomy of a thought is required if we are to

understand the logical evolution of anger. Deep and intense desire is the very beginning of any activity. When a person constantly dwells on a thought, without his or her knowledge an attachment is developed. Attachment always causes a person to possess and enjoy the object of attachment. When that desire cannot be fulfilled there arises anger - a state of mind in which the person loses complete control of his mental faculty to discriminate. An angry person loses his memory in which is stored all the past experiences and knowledge necessary for logical thinking and proper human behavior. Thus, when the power of discrimination (which is the ability to differentiate right from wrong) is lost, that individuals who are consumed buy extreme anger behaving in an illogical way, and when resorting to violence in their interaction with others.

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30

Contd…• We are all the victims of anger at one time or the other.

Indeed, management of anger will ensure peace of mind and harmony not only for the angry person, but for others around him. Anger gives rise to some evil vices. They are:1. Injustice

2. Persecution

3. Jealousy

4. Murder

5. Cruelty

6. Physical abuse

7. Verbal abuse

8. Rash behavior.Madhusudan Rao D.V.5/21/2013


HOW TO MANAGE YOUR ANGER

• Logically it follows that if you control your passion, you can get a handle on your anger. Anger starts with a minor irritation and it can grow into an obsession that disease the mind.

• Anger can be corrected with behavioral modification.

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STAGES OF ANGER

There are three stages in the development of Anger in a person:

1. Thought stage

2. Speech stage

3. Action stage

A man of perfection is one who will nip the anger in its bud itself; he will not even entertain angry thoughts. He will neutralize them by various thought-management techniques. After constant practice, there may not be even traces of anger left in such a human being.

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1. THOUGHT STAGE

• This is the best stage for any anger to be controlled. It is like the beginning of the formation of hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. If certain atmospheric conditions are present the hurricane could turn out to be a devastating one capable of inflicting untold damage on its victims. Similarly, if we do not check the progressive formation of anger at the thought stage, it could develop into anger in its final stage of wrath.

• Anger at the thought stage is like a thief. If you give it a stern look, it will flee from the backyard of your mind. You can employ any of the thought-management techniques described earlier to remove the traces of anger from the realm of thought. More important, be aware of when you are getting angry, and this awareness alone can remove traces of anger.

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2. SPEECH STAGE• If you are unable to control anger at the thought stage, you should do so

before it enters the speech stage. You know that thoughts have already been formed and you can not undo them. Anger then threatens to enter the speech stage. Probably one of the worst pollutants in the world today is our speech, whereby our mental atmosphere is polluted with the venom of verbal abuse. A conscious effort to clean up one’s vocabulary is more important than cleaning up the ocean after an oil spill.

• Silence is the best remedy to control anger before it reaches the speech stage. Do not utter a word if thoughts of anger dominate your mind. A word uttered cannot be taken back; it will ring in someone’s ears for a lifetime.

• We must be constantly watching the conditions of our mind like a meteorologist watching the atmosphere for early detection of dangerous formations in the air. Once you are in control of your mental atmosphere, you will be keenly aware of every change taking place in the realm of the mind. When thoughts of anger arise in you, you are there to flush them out before they can develop into threatening emotions. In the beginning, until you become familiar with anger management, you must have a ready plan to tackle anger.

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STEPS IN ANGER MANAGEMENT - SPEECH STAGE

1. Observe complete silence.2. Drink a glass of cold water to induce calmness.3. Repeat the following affirmations: a. I am calm and cannot be provoked. b. I forgive you (to whom ever is causing anger in you directly of indirectly). c. Anger is a stage of helplessness. I am not helpless as God helps me always. d. Sit down, close your eyes, and take five deep breaths (belly breathing).

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3. ACTION STAGE

• When your anger has crossed the speech stage, it is in a dangerous zone. It is probably going to take violent proportions unless checked.

• It is a good idea even in modern times to have a designated room to enter when anger has crossed over to the speech stage. The following rooms could be used for that purpose:

1. Bed room - Enter the room and lie down even if you cannot sleep. No violence will erupt from you if you are lying down.

2. Prayer room - Wash your face with cold water and enter the prayer room. Close your eyes and try to enter into a meditative stage. Even if you cannot meditate, the vibrations in the prayer room will help you get out of the energy mood.

3. Take a walk - You can even leave your house (do not drive, of course) and breathe some fresh air. It can change your mental state and help you out of your rage.

4. Take a shower - Another effective method is to take a shower in cold or semi-cold water.

5. Change of scenery - Under any circumstances, you must get away from the person who caused the anger in the first place. This will avoid any untoward or violent actions toward that person.5/21/2013


DON’TS FOR AN ANGRY PERSONAn angry person must prepare himself beforehand to avoid the following actions:1. Never enter into a shouting match with the person who caused your anger.2. Stay at least five feet away from that person.3. Never keep anything in your hands that could harm that person.4. Always have a designated person (your spouse, son, daughter, friend, or co-

worker) to watch you over and drive you home if necessary.5. Never drive when you are angry. Wait at least a couple of hours before

driving. Within this time the emotions that ran high will start to recede.6. Do not do anything that will enhance your anger, such as watching violent

movies or T. V. shows.7. Advise your family members beforehand if they truly love you to keep quiet

when you are angry.8. Do not dwell on your past angers and their consequences, no matter what

they were.

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References

• American Psychological Association: Psychology Topics www.apa.org/topics/controlanger.html

• Dr. Weisinger’s Anger Workout Book: Step-by-Step Methods for Greater Productivity, Better Relationships, and Healthier Life

• Lifewatch Employee Assistance Program www.lifewatch-eap.com

• The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook -By Edmund J. Bourne, PhD

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http://www.apa.org/topics/controlanger.html

http://www.lifewatch-eap.com/

FEAR ManAgeMenT



Poverty, Old Age, Criticism , Rejection

and Death


Introduction

FEAR - MANAGEMENTThere is no feeling like fear that robs a man of his peace of mind and tranquility. Millions and millions of hours are wasted by mankind when afflicted by fear. As Winston Churchill said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”. The envy thought of it saps the vital energy needed to function as a normal human being.5/21/2014


WHAT IS FEAR?

Fear is a feeling of alarm. It is an emotion caused by the expectation of danger, pain, or disaster. Therefore, it is clear that the expectation or awaiting the arrival of the disaster or pain itself is the culprit. If we can replace the expectation of danger with any other harmonious all kinds of havoc.5/21/2014


HOW DO WE SPELL FEAR?• F -- Factious (Imaginary)• E -- Experience (Mental Drama)• A— Acting (Perceiving {run and return})• R— Real (Very vivid {by brooding over several times}) The more we dwell on fears the more substance and form we give to those fears, making them real experiences in life. The basic remedy for fear involves two things:1. Be watchful of thoughts of fear when they arise.2. Do not dwell on them - cast them out right away.

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TECHNIQUES OF FEAR MANAGEMENT

1. Develop faith2. Cultivate fearlessness: Act fearless and you become fearless3. Daily affirmations

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1. Develop Faith

• Perhaps the most effective technique of managing one’s fears is through FAITH. Regardless of your race, color, or religion, if you develop faith in God it will help you combat fears more effectively. Faith helps to develop certain disciplines in everyday life, such as prayer, attending church, or going to a mosque on a regular basis which in turn converts them into mentally strong people.

• A category of people happens to stumble upon the principles of faith due to tragic personal experiences, which opened their inner eyes to look at life from a totally different perspective. They, too, become successful in managing their fears on a day-to day basis.

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2. Cultivate fearlessnessCultivate fearlessness: Fearlessness is the opposite of fear. Fear and fearlessness cannot coexist. When you exert yourself to cultivate fearlessness, slowly the fears that haunt you begin to go away. Fear will not become chronic and habitual, to be transformed into a malady.• Act fearless and you become fearless: Always

remember, you are what you think. If you think of your fears and dwell on them day and night they assume form and become real. The subconscious mind is an obedient servant and it will work out the master’s desire to its precision. The master says, “I am fearful of this task, let me make sure that this task is impossible for him”.

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3. Daily affirmations• Daily affirmations: A dose of daily affirmations is like

a dose of vitamin pills. It will keep you mentally healthy and invulnerable to the mental ailment called fear. A healthy and harmonious mind will not entertain any fears. It is the weak and unbalanced mind that is exposed to threats of fear. So you must practice positive affirmations, on a daily basis to keep the mind clean and disinfected, so that even in a weak moment fears cannot enter your mind.

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OUR COMMON FEARSThere are certain basic fears we all entertain from time to time, depending upon our circumstances and our particular situation in life. Half the battle with fears will be won if only we can be prepared to tackle them no matter when they arise. Awareness is the key to managing our fears, as it will build readiness to deal with them, no matter what forms those fears assume. A brief description to these fears and their common remedies will help us to manage them on a daily basis. Some of our common fears are:

• Fear of Poverty • Fear of Old age• Fear of Criticism• Fear of Rejection and • Fear of Death

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1. Fear of Poverty

Fear of poverty arises when thoughts of the lack of money supply haunt someone day and night, causing him see mental pictures of extreme humiliation from his family and society as a whole. He sees extreme poverty around him, reads about it, and imagines that he will be confronted with this deadly disease. Many people in our society steal and become corrupt because of their fear of poverty. People even develop greed as a reaction to the fear of poverty. Poverty is mental disease, and it would become fatal and deadly unless checked before it assumes its full strength.

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HOW TO OVERCOME THE FEAR OF POVERTY• Step #1. Substitute your thoughts of lack of wealth with thoughts of plenty.

Remind yourself that God is the only source of supply.• Step #2. Count your blessings:• Recite the following frequently day and night (at least seven times a day):

“I had the blues because I had no shoes until, upon the street, I saw a man who had no feet.”

• Step #3. Oh, Lord! I thank Thee for these wonderful blessings you have showered upon me. (Recite this at least seven times a day. Recite it loudly before going to sleep.)

NOTE: A heart filled with gratitude is the only heart ready to receive more blessings.• Step #4. Never criticize wealth, or people with wealth, saying that they

have amassed it in the wrong way. Always rejoice in the success and wealth of other people.

• Step #5. Recite the following affirmation: Day by day, in every phase of my life, I am getting richer and richer. Thank you, Lord!

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2. Fear of Old Age• Fear of old age is another common fear we all harbor in our daily lives.

We secretly visit those fearful thoughts very often, especially after one has crossed middle age, the midpoint in one’s life. The mental drama we stage on the screen of our mind, life any other fear, makes it vivid and crystal clear, resulting in the early onset of old age. Rather than looking at the negative aspect of old age, we must accent the positive aspect of it. But it becomes an extremely difficult task in a society possessed by the myth of youth. But any student of Mental Science can overcome this fear by constantly working at it diligently and with utmost faith.

• Always remember that the secret of youth is the power of thought. As long as one can entertain youthful thoughts, one will remain youthful at heart (and Mind), and the messengers of atrophy will not attack.

• A body is nothing but an extension of the mind itself. In fact, our bodies exist only in our minds. Therefore, a young mind (filled with youthful thoughts encased in imagination and excitement of life) is a prerequisite for a young body, which can put a lid on the aging process or at least, depending upon one’s degree of belief, prevent premature aging.

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How to overcome fear of Old Age

• Step #1. Fill your days with activity. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Write down short-term and long-term goals.

• Step #2. Plan your retirement ahead. Do not consider it as the end of activity, but a change of vocation. Great accomplishments came from individuals after retirement.

Study Biographies of:1. Henry Ford 2. Thomas Edison 3. Michelangelo4. John Milton5. Winston Churchill 6. Mahatma Gandhi7. Lee Iacocca

• Step #3. Pursue a childhood ambition-like becoming an author, speaker, teacher, priest, or the life. Go to school if it is required to pursue new interest.

• Step #4. Be with young people. “Why look for the livings among the dead?” If you want to feel young, spend time with young people.

• Step #5. Make your life exciting. Have something to look forward to, and live for. You might even plan a second honeymoon. Excitement is the fuel that runs the engine of life.

• Step #6. Keep a “thought recorder”. Review it periodically and include thoughts in your memories. It’s your gift to future generations.

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3. Fear of Criticism

• Many people do not try to do anything new because of fear of criticism. Inactivity and lethargy that we see prevalent in the modern world is direct testimony to the fear of criticism. Most of the time you’ll be criticized for doing something out of the ordinary.

• The power of the fear of criticism is so influential that most people abstain from it. It eats them from the inside out as they watch the mental dramas of such fear taking a heavy toll on their lives. It could be fear of criticism from the immediate family friends, business associates, or society. Unless and until corrective measures are taken to prevent this fear from taking firm root in the soil of your mind, it could destroy the harmony that otherwise reign in your mental sphere.

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HOW TO OVERCOME THE FEAR OF CRITICISM

• Step #1. Make a list of all possible criticisms you might hear. Prioritize them on a scale of one to ten.

• Step #2. Write down a reply to each of these criticisms in clear language. By the time you finish writing the replies, you might muster strength to face those criticisms.

• Step #3. Most of the time, you’ll have doubts in your own mind about the worth of the cause. Review your own convictions about the causes for which you are fighting.

• Step #4. Once you are convinced that you really stand for the cause, the shadows of fear will slowly begin to disappear.

• Step #5. Pray for guidance.

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4. Fear of Rejection• Fear of rejection is one of the very common

fears that affect people of all walks of life. We all need a certain amount of acceptance from loved ones and society as a whole to perform our best. When such acceptance becomes rare and not forthcoming life becomes miserable and, depending on the degree of rejection, people even try to end lives. A clear understanding of this type of fear, and various remedies available to combat them, will help everyone to straighten out his or her personal life.

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HOW TO OVERCOME FEAR OF REJECTION• Step #1. Understand rejection. Ninety-nine percent of the rejection

that we feel is figment of our imagination. It is the result of self-doubt.

• Step #2. Persistence is the only known remedy to overcome fear of rejection. Keep on persisting until success comes at last.

• Step #3. A daily dose of positive affirmations is a good preventive measure for rejection.

• Step #4. Visualize acceptance. See yourself mentally before the person having a harmonious conversation. Keep on seeing the mental drama until it is a reality.

• Step #5. Bless the person “Rejecting you”. Release your unconditional love toward that person.

Every time you experience rejection, practice the above five steps and fear of rejection should trouble you no more.

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5. Fear of DeathAll other fears we discussed above are tributaries of the fear of death. As a matter of fact, mortal fear is the mother of all fears that a human being consciously or unconsciously harbors of life in this world, in this form and body, not much has been taught about death.• The only way to overcome the fear of death is to understand this phenomenon in

every detail, and be ready to face it finally when it approaches. He who entertains the fear of death is consumed by it, making life impossible as a pleasant and harmonious experience. To put it simply, fear of death is worse than death itself.

• Nobody can understand the phenomenon and the mystery of death without understanding life itself, as death is part and parcel of life. Anybody who is born in this world has to die one day, and as such dying is an integral part of life. The only uncertainty about death is when, where, and how it will happen. Since the scientific community has shown an increased interest in thanatology (the study of death) during the last couple of decades, we all can hope that there will be adequate research and dissemination of knowledge in this darkest continent of enlightenment.

• Fear of death is not different from any other fears as it emanates from ignorance or unfamiliarity. So the first and foremost important task in our effort to contain this mortal fear is to be thoroughly familiarized with the process of dying as an integral part of life itself. Nobody can understand death without understanding life, as the former is an extension of the latter.

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HOW TO OVERCOME FEAR OF DEATH

• Step #1. Understand life; death will become familiar. Ask the question “Who dies?”

• Step #2. Study the phenomenon of death in all its details. Read any and all the books you can find on the subject. Knowledge is power.

• Step #3. Death is inevitable. So why fear? Embrace it as “Maha nidra” or long sleep.

• The most difficult task for any individual to undertake is task of change; Most of us turn our backs to change because of the uncertainties attached to it. Everybody welcomes change, if he or she knows what to expect. This is the moment of truth when falsities must drop, and you sincerely want to change for the better. Remove your mask of pretensions, as you do not have to convince anybody but yourself that you can change.

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MIND ManAgeMenT

Education

Transcript of MIND ManAgeMenT