I got interested in mental psychology because I was shy. I didn’t want to be visible or in the center of a group of people. When I was 6 years old, the Finnish TV wanted to film when I run over finish line again. When I replied that I didn’t want, my big brother called me an idiot. Likewise, I was shy with the girls, so I was quiet, and I had no humor. When I was a little over 20 years old, I thought why I couldn’t be like the others. I would be with good self-esteem and telling jokes to girls and they were laughing to my jokes. Everybody would be interested in me.
In fact, I had nothing to say, I was afraid they didn’t like what I said. Really, I have no topic to talk about. Nothing came to my mind; the head was just empty and therefore there was nothing to say. I noticed that in my thoughts I could imagine me being able to have fun with others and all the time I was speaking. I’m still not a magnet drawing people to me. Of course, I speak to over 100 people without of being afraid. I’m not as good a speaker as my wife. And I don’t have to be. That I am reserved is not a problem for me. My shyness doesn’t affect me when I want to ask for something in the store. It’s no longer a problem. Smalltalk does not come as naturally to me as to any other in our family (wife and 2 boys and 1 girl plus 2 dogs). Still, it does not matter, because I’m like that and I love myself just like this.
When you think about the thought and what comes to mind when you think about H2O (water) or the word “water”. Someone thinks of the sea, the beach, the lake, the swimming pool, the shower, rain, the river, etc. So, the word water takes our thoughts go to something that is part of our world. The lemon may be making the eyes scattered by the bitter taste. Easily, a word brings us a certain thought, and after that you will choose a feeling and from the feeling there will arise a reaction. So, in other words the thought is a powerful tool.
Helen Keller, who was deafblind, realized that there was a connection between water and her teacher’s hands making signs. When she got the insight, the world opened to her. She understood that there is a connection between the signs and the things in the world. She understood that every sign had it’s meaning. You are totally a prisoner in you own body. You have no real contact with your surroundings. And suddenly you are connected. You understand that every word has a meaning – every sign tells you something. When you learn it, your life will change. Are you ready to get your insight that will change your life – your world?
Something happens – your thought – your feeling – your reaction. To catch up with the reaction, you must be aware of your thoughts and even before that. You need to understand why you think in a certain way so that you can change that thought. One way is to understand that the other one is not thinking as you are or that the person has not as much knowledge as you have. Therefore, they do not understand that they should be doing thing in other way or say things in another way – or you are thinking in a wrong way. You must understand that all of us is not thinking in the same way because we have different backgrounds. More of that in next chapter. So, everyone is not thinking as you, and therefore don’t assume them to act in the same way. No matter who is acting wrongly, we shouldn’t assume others to act as you. When you can get rid of this presuming of correct acting, you can choose what you are thinking. Because you know there is no right way of doing things, just different ways of doing things.
Your thought will affect what you are feeling. By changing your thoughts, you will change your feelings. You can choose what you feel and therefore also your actions.
Choose your thoughts wisely.
