Why is being negative so bad? Now, think about this for a moment…
Why is being positive so good? Also, take a moment and think about it…
Why is it easier to be negative and more challenging to be positive?
Now, please understand the answer is not simplistic, but if I have to venture a guess, I would say… Ignorance and negative cultural conditioning.
Why is it that most humans, despite the fact that they are educated to some degree, are filled with fear, unbelief, playing it safe, afraid to fail, to succeed, to change?
So we end up living either in a negative or positive reality… The fact is, we choose our reality daily.
Keep in mind we are creatures of habit… Once we tap into some knowledge, even if it’s not true or outdated, we cannot imagine life being any different from what we know. So even when we are informed with the truth… We resist change and hold on to our old, outdated, untrue knowledge.
Let me ask you if the habit based on outdated info takes you down the poverty and failure road, is it worthwhile to develop habits that are based on what is true?
So what is the key to changing from negative to positive?
It is your amazing brain. Have you heard of RAS?
What is RAS? (Reticular Activating System) It is a netlike group of cells with a specific function. Reticular comes from the description of netlike cells and is situated in the brain. It is the screening or filtering device of the mind.
How does RAS work? It determines what you will notice and what you will pay attention to. We are bombarded by countless stimuli, but your brain deletes most of it and focuses on what you believe is important. RAS is directly responsible for how much of reality you consciously experience. RAS locks out all information that is of no personal value to you right now. The moment you have decided what you want, RAS will lock out everything that is not relevant; it will heighten your senses and subconscious to everything that is relevant to your specific wants.
Examples of RAS in action:
- A mother nursing her baby: You see, the mother will sleep even if it’s noisy, either through loud music or disturbances of any kind. But the moment her baby cries, even a faint cry, she will be wide awake, taking care of her baby… What happened? Simply, she programmed her RAS. Her RAS ignored the irrelevant noises but heightened the mother’s senses towards the baby.
- A man trying to find parking: This is a typical story of a person looking for parking. They have either programmed their RAS… “I never find parking.” OR “I always find parking.” So the first program dulls the person’s senses, so he doesn’t hear a car starting up or the reverse lights going on or the door banging. But his senses are heightened to NOT find parking; therefore, he always finds a car just pulling into an empty parking space, etc. The second person’s senses are heightened to always find parking… So he will hear an engine start, he will notice a reverse light that is on, he will hear a door banging, etc.
How can we program our RAS?
- Ensure you have specific, clear life goals.
- Visualization and affirmation (see what you want and declare it regularly).
- Surround yourself with positive people.
- Read great, inspiring, and positive books.
- Listen to and view positive audios and DVDs.
- Learn to pray (connect deeply and intimately with God).
- Find mentors and learn to be accountable to someone.
- Remember, even if it is dark in your world and you choose to be the light… everything else will light up… Just keep on burning and share your light with others… Before long, your dark world will be bright and light… Keep on burning.
My challenge to you: Develop BEING positive, starting today… Consider applying the list above.
I hope this article inspires you to take positive action and maximize your life.