Week 23 Think Deep. Think Depp!
Creative Consciousness
Haanel tells us in Chapter 23, paragraph 9, ‘The average person is entirely innocent of any deep thinking; he accepts the ideas of others, and repeats them, in very much the same way as a parrot; this is readily seen when we understand the method which is used to form public opinion, and this docile attitude on the part of a large majority who seem perfectly willing to let a few persons do all their thinking for them is what enables a few men in a great many countries to usurp all the avenues of power and hold millions in subjection. Creative thinking requires attention.’
Well ‘that doesn’t apply to me’!!!!…. You know your own mind …….. right??!! You don’t let anyone make decisions for you, right??!!!……Really??!!……Are you sure?….. How often have you been to the supermarket for a loaf of bread and come out with a basket full of stuff?…… Why?…. Because the sophisticated subliminal marketing used by supermarkets has bypassed your conscious mind and convinced you you really wanted or needed all the other things in your basket! 🙁
‘Creative thought requires attention, and the power of attention is, as we have found, the weapon of the Super-man. Attention develops concentration, and concentration develops Spiritual Power, and Spiritual Power is the mightiest force in existence.’ (Haanel 23:intro)
I did a bit of googling and discovered that in 2013 the average human attention span was 8 seconds!!! Apparently that’s 1 second less than a goldfish!!! Although quite shocking it was not unexpected. In our fast paced, instant everything, technological age we are constantly bombarded with information. If we focused on everything we’d never get anything done. So our conscious minds have learnt to filter, but it would seem we have taken things too far the other way and focus on very little. For young people who have never known life before TV, let alone iphones and the internet, what will their lives be like when they reach adulthood if they are unable to concentrate on anything?
‘Continuous concentration means an even, unbroken flow of thought and is the result of patient, persistent, persevering and well-regulated system.’ (Haanel 17:4)
Haanel’s ‘Masterkey’ and Hill’s ‘Think and Grow Rich’, plus many other hugely insightful books explain the importance of imagination, focus and concentration. We are ‘living magnets’ that attract to us what we think about. If we don’t have the ability to focus our thoughts, how are we going to create the life we desire? Do you remember falling in love? All we can think of is the person of our affections. So we can concentrate sometimes! 🙂 But our concentration is accompanied and helped by a strong feeling.
‘The power of attention is called concentration; this power is directed by the will; for this reason we must refuse to concentrate or think of anything except the things we desire. Many are constantly concentrating upon sorrow, loss and discord of every kind; as thought is creative it necessarily follows that this concentration inevitably leads to more loss, more sorrow and more discord. How could it be otherwise? On the other hand, when we meet with success, gain, or any other desirable condition, we naturally concentrate upon the effects of these things and thereby create more, and so it follows that much leads to more.’ (Haanel 23:10)
Haanel told us back in Chapter 17 that, ‘Concentration is much misunderstood; there seems to be an idea of effort or activity associated with it, when just the contrary is necessary. The greatness of an actor lies in the fact that he forgets himself in the portrayal of his character, becoming so identified with it, that the audience is swayed by the realism of the performance. This will give you a good idea of true concentration; you should be so interested in your thought, so engrossed in your subject, as to be conscious of nothing else. Such concentration leads to intuitive perception and immediate insight into the nature of the object concentrated upon.’ (Haanel 17:6)
I expect you’ve experienced occasions when time just seems to fly; we get so engrossed in something we are doing that we didn’t notice an hour or two had flown by. The occasions when this happens is usually when we are doing something we really love. For me playing music, doing creative art, reading and in the last couple of years, sitting in quiet meditation, allow me to lose myself in time. You’ll know when you discover your passion because you’ll feel it, it lights up your heart. Follow that feeling! It is the path to your bliss. It is so, so important that we keep our creative imagination alive and do things we love. Focused concentration really isn’t hard work. It is fun, calming and hugely beneficial in so many ways. What’s your passion?
If you are ready to change your life, join the ‘early bird’ list for the next MKMMA experience starting September 2015. Learn to think for yourself and not be duped by life any more.