This Mind Matters News brings you a great metaphor for the importance of “letting go” along with some personal gain for “Observing Your Inner Speech” and some brain research which has proved that brains are more adaptable (than we originally thought) and that researchers have proven that “Memories Can Be Re-written”. Exciting!

 Letting Go

In my book Switch On To Your Inner Strength there is a chapter on the importance of “Letting Go”. In this Mind Matters News I have described to you a couple of stories about Monkeys losing their life because they didn’t let go the peanut and Monkeys giving away their precious water resources to Kalahari Tribesmen because they didn’t contain their own curiosity.

The stories of the monkey leads us to question how many old habits we have that we need to let go. Most of these old habits were probably very useful to us at some time in the past. But the time when they were of most use has gone. The moral of the story about the monkey is not that monkeys shouldn't eat peanuts, or play with crystals, or be curious. It's that there are circumstances where monkeys must let go. So too with many of our old habits, our old ways of doing things, our old opinions, our old attitudes. All of these things may have served us very well in their time. But there comes a time to let go.

Here is a great metaphor (that came to me) for Letting Go

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." 

She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

Remember to put the glass down.

Easy to say – this is how to actually do it. 

Personal Gains for “Observing Your Inner Speech”

You may already know the work of Professor Roger Sperry who proved that Negative Thoughts attract Negative Thoughts (the corollary for Positive Thoughts is true too). Now everyone knows that we talk to ourselves in excess of 50,000 time a day. If it is negative it effects us negatively and if it’s positive it effects us positively.

Scientists/psychologists/psychiatrists have proven this. I am sure you will be interested in the results of Googling  "Turning Negative Thoughts into positive self talk in sport."

When I was surfing the net I found Sara White – a Professor at the University of California. She has been quoted in a book by Andrew Newburg MD and Mark Robert Waldman recommending 6 steps to turn negative inner speech into positive self-talk to enhance performance, satisfaction and professional success - you'll see them at the link.

It is interesting that so much research is going on with facts that have been proven by Sperry, who, incidentally, won a Nobel Prize in 1981. I have actually been teaching and talking about this since 1989.

Recent Brain Research

For more than 30 years I have been using methods to personally handle weight release, negative habits, pain and trauma. All of this includes methods to deliberately use the subconscious mind by rewriting memories thus creating change. Now scientists are proving that the brain can do it! Below are two reports by ABC Radio which you can listen to or read. Both reports have references which you can pursue.

US researchers claim memories can be 'rewritten'  

Listen to MP3 of this story (3 minutes)

And

New study suggests brain more adaptable than previously thought 

Listen to MP3 of this story (3 minutes)

So, if you want to learn “how to do it” peruse www.calm.com.au and particularly the product at www.calm.com.au/shop. There is an additional way! I have had 3 people in 3 days saying they are interested in doing the CHI seminar so I took that as an omen to take the plunge and booked the venue from 29 April 2015 to 3 May 2015. Hope to see you there.  

All the best, 

Sandy

"Your gift from God is your potential – Your gift to God is to use it."

Yes I am planning another CHI! 

The Next Creating Happiness Intentionally Seminar - 

The CHI Seminar which is all about determining and moving towards your Life Purpose 29 April - 3 May 2015
Read about the seminar - details are here.
For more or to hold a spot call 1 300 731 900

Tour To Vietnam - It's on 11 - 19 May 2015 

Have a look at the Archives of the previous tour by clicking the dates within the link

Organised by Military History Tours.
Hosted by Vietnam Tunnel Rat Sandy MacGregor and if available Author Jimmy Thomson
Call Sandy 1 300 731 900

Success Stories

A couple of months ago I received a copy of your Healing Meditation as an urgent priority as I was heading to England to visit a young relation who was immobilised in hospital with a broken neck and no clear path for the future.  I am not someone who readily pushes my inner beliefs on others and I did not know this girl's parents very well, however during my first visit to her I managed to get time alone with her Mum and gave her the copy of the Healing Meditation and told her how it had helped me.  I also spoke briefly to the young girl about it as she lay there totally immobilised with her "halo" holding her broken neck still.  At that stage she had feeling in her feet and could move one toe and could move her left hand a little.
I then headed off to do my tourist thing and returned just under a week later.  She had been meditating regularly after trying it the first time.  That very first occasion she had concentrated on her right, totally immobile, hand and her Mum was stunned that the hand became very hot to the touch.  I think this physical indication that something was happening gave them the encouragement to go on with the meditation. After a week she was able to do most things with her left hand and her right hand and arm were moving.
I talked to her about events in life happening if not for a reason, then certainly they are able to be turned to advantage in some way.  She is a bright, bubbly girl in her late 20s who after finishing a degree in History has wandered the world looking for "something", who knows what?  It appears she has now found it, as she is now walking unaided, has taught herself to write and paint with her left hand while her right one continues to slowly improve and has decided to go back to uni and become an Occupational Therapist working with the physically disabled. She will be great at it as, even when she was totally immobilised it was her keeping everyone else's spirits high rather than the reverse.
Thank you for your prompt response to my request for the meditation and know that your work continues right across the world. KG WA

A Few Nice Words From An Army Colleague:
"Shortly after that horrific evening and morning, unaware that it was Sandy's children who had been murdered, I was walking with him after ANZAC Day and spoke of how I keenly felt for the parents. His calm and kindly response, helping me deal with the embarrassment that was the case, has forever struck me as a testament to his strength of spirit and ability to help others. Apart from all that, he was an adornment to the Australian Army. We were lucky to have had him, whether in Vietnam or back at home in the years since." 

Here is a quick story about a lady who had either negative or no relationship with her mother for more 50 years and a bad one with a sister. She has written to me “I am thinking about what you said about us all being linked".  I began to forgive my mother and family somewhat during the course – I have continued this.  When I arrived home my mother had sent me a birthday card - first one ever that I can remember and my sister had phoned on the day. Of course I was still in Sydney but I wonder did they sense a shift in my consciousness.  A few days ago I wrote a chatty letter to my mother and was surprised that I actually felt 'unresentful' and quite warm. I went to visit my mother two weeks ago and when I was leaving she gave me such a heartfelt, strong hug. First one for almost as long as I can remember.  H.J  SA.