Genius Stone Blog

We live in a world that is beautiful beyond description, yet most of us only glimpse this beauty occasionally. Why? What if the puzzle of life was that we are surrounded by, and a living part of, what the Taoist called “The Flow of Heaven,” yet we are not conscious of it because we became fascinated with the ability to conceive and create. What if the gift of thought was a blessing and a curse? I believe it is.

A Mixed Blessing

I am using thought right now to communicate with you. The Egyptians tamed the Nile and created great temples and cities that exist today. The beauty we have created from our imaginations and thought is marvelous. Yet a schizophrenic cannot tell the difference between reality and their thoughts. While this is an extreme example, many of us cannot always tell the difference between thoughts and reality. Wars have been fought over thoughts and ideologies.

In fact, any thought, or system of thought is at best an approximation of the reality it is trying to describe. Thoughts about things can never match the complex and beautiful reality of the world all around us, and taking our thoughts too seriously can drive us crazy. So you might ask, what does this have to do with happiness?

We Can Lose Touch With Life

If the world we live in is beautiful beyond description, but our consciousness is only focused on thoughts that describe reality, or worse, is focused on our thoughts about thoughts. Each level of thought takes us level after level away from the living reality of life. As we lose touch with the living reality of life that is all around us, we begin to feel bad. Overtime our mood plummets into depression, anger or other low moods. By our focus on these thoughts, we lessen our connection to life.

Ground Breaking Study

In a ground breaking book, Sanity, Insanity, and Common Sense, a team of psychologists discovered that low moods, or “states of mind,” are conditioned states caused by thoughts that repeat themselves in our minds, and that higher states such as love, gratitude, focus, contentment, and happiness in general, are natural unconditioned states of mind. What they are saying is, all we have to do is let go of repetitive thoughts that form patterns in our mind and we will feel happy naturally.

Happiness Is A Natural State if Mind

This is why babies tend to be naturally happy and curious. They are not worrying about what might happen tomorrow. We worry about tomorrow for them, and take action to keep them safe. The challenge is, how to plan for tomorrow without getting totally captured by our thoughts. This is the key to happiness.

But how? Understanding the use of and dangers of thought, is the key. If you believe that thoughts are real, instead of approximations, then it will be hard to let go of your thoughts. If you understand that thought is used to create, and realize it’s dangers, you will be able to let go of thoughts that are not working for you.

Our moods, both low and high. are feedback from our psyche’s. If we put our hand in a flame, we feel the pain and pull back. This is the bodies feedback system. Likewise a low mood is feedback that our thoughts are repeating themselves in our minds, and drawing us away from “The Life Force” or the “Flow of Heaven,” causing all forms of unhappiness.

Try This

For a week, observe the thoughts that repeat themselves in your mind, and write them down. Also notice your low feelings and see what thoughts might be associated with them. Overtime you will notice patterns that create your low moods. As you do, it will be easier to let go of these thoughts, realizing they are not real and are lowering your state of mind. As you start letting go of these thoughts, notice how you feel. See if you start feeling better.

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CNN Heroes: Find Your Soul’s Purpose

Today we watched CNN’s tribute to heroes who found their soul’s purpose in helping relieve the suffering of humanity, each in their own way. Building bridges over dangerous rivers for African tribes people, bringing solar lights to children who want to learn in remote corners of our world, and one who saves young women from sex slavery and gives them a new life. Yet most of us sit here only watching. Our hearts soften and our eyes tear, but what should we do.

What Should We Do?
Imagine a world where our wealthiest countries turn their power away from war and consumption to lift people out of suffering. We could build one or two less grand buildings and help millions of people live a better life. On a local level, a few acts of random kindness, like a smile to a stranger, and forgiveness of others and ourselves are important. I encourage my readers to reach out in this New Year to help make our world a better place, and to remember the Golden Rule, “Love thy neighbor as thy self.”

First Love Yourself
To quote a song, “Learning to love ourselves in the greatest love of all.” If we cannot love ourselves, it is hard to love our neighbors both near and far. If we distrust ourselves, we will distrust others. If we hate ourselves, we will hate others. Before we feel guilty for not being heroes ourselves, remember that the first step to loving others is to forgive our own sins. Clearing our hearts of self-judgment helps us see the light in everyone’s eyes. Be compassionate with yourself as you approach the New Year. Free your heart of the burdens your mind has created. As the heartache clears, see what mission calls out to you from your soul.

Touched By Moments of Grace
I have been fortunate to remember many times when I was touched by moments of grace. My purpose is being a reminder to all I touch that there is a natural genius and loving spirit within every being. In plain and simple words, I will always remind people of the times when they were touched by moments of grace and experienced “The Flow of Heaven.”

Find Your Soul’s Purpose
Sit in a quiet place and write down all the times you have been touched by grace all the way back you your childhood. Find moments when beauty filled you and you felt connected to the world around you. Find moments like this that you may have discounted, and write them down in a journal, then share them with people you trust. Build a catalogue of your peak experiences. In doing this try feeling your soul’s message to you this year, and look for the light in peoples eyes even when it is covered with their masks of sorrow, fear and hate.

See The Light In Others
Psychologists say we only share one in twelve appreciative thoughts that we have about people, describe the beauty you see in people more often. Get up to three thoughts out of twelve shared this year, and you will see the light in yourself brighten. As we love others, we learn to love ourselves. It is the circle of life that all great teachers have talked about for thousands of years. But most important, learn to love the spirit of the divine that comes into you through your heart and soul, and find your soul’s purpose in this world.

Special Thanks
I send out a special thanks to all the famous and wealthy people in our world who use their fame and wealth to help others. Hearing about your works on CNN and other programs truly touches my heart, and inspires me to help in my own small way. I cannot name them all, but you know who you are. God bless each and every one of you. Wishing you all a Happy New Year.