It’s not that hard to change, it just takes diligence and a strong commitment to self. There are no gurus out there that will be able to heal you, only you can do that. There are no saviors out there, only you can save yourself. With your heart set on change and a new and healthy lifestyle, take another step toward achieving your goals today. Restate your commitment and make a plan for how you will change today. What will you choose to do that will take you another step in the direction of your goal?
At the level of the physical body, karma is simple cause and effect. For instance, if, during dental work, a nerve is touched, pain is the default effect. I discovered, however, that pain is only one interpretation of energy, and so, during dental work, unaided by anesthesia, my mind interprets pain as a sensation that signals me to go deeper into calm. The typical karma of pain associated with dental work has transformed the once dreaded treatment chair into a place of deeply calming meditation.
The ability of breath guru, Wim Hof, to sit in an ice bath for nearly two hours is a very similar phenomenon. Wim visualizes an inner fire, which he then directs to different parts of his body to arrive at warmth rather than frozenness. The default karma of freezing, in response to lying in a tub of ice, is transformed into warmth and comfort by a strong mental impression delivered to, and manifested by, the subconscious mind.
These experiences validate that the threads of karma, which we have generated through beliefs and actions, can be fully transmogrified into positive outcomes. Typically, we manage the discomfort of karma through suppression or repression, which results in the physical body storing a charged experience by restricting the muscles or the breath. Many physical conditions we suffer with are karmic conditions, held in the body, restricting the free flow of our vital energy.
We can unravel these energetic knots through the conscious mind’s imagining, feeling and believing that its intent to heal is possible, as it delivers it to the subconscious mind, for manifestation. Of course, one’s suggestion must be directed toward the purest and highest good for self and other to truly balance out a karmic thread. Suggestions that merely silence a symptom, but don’t address it, actually continue to store it in the physical body with its original karma perhaps more remote, but remaining charged and intact.
Many spiritual practitioners, such as Buddhists, focus most of their days repeating positive suggestions such as loving kindness and compassion to constantly generate positive karma and release negative karma. Such a practice enables instinctive reactions, such as anger at a transgression by another, to be quickly transmuted at a higher energetic chakra, such as the heart center, into genuine compassion for a fellow flawed human being.
The instinct of the heart is to tell the absolute truth. The ultimate truth is that we all share in the oneness of everything. Such a genuine compassionate feeling unburdens one from mentally and physically carrying a charged karma of hatred. One’s vital energies flow freely and radiate a loving energy, to the benefit of self and the greater world.
Of course, if we are fearful of feeling and expressing our instinctual reactions, we must thoughtfully and creatively allow these primal karmic reactions, imprisoned by the body armor, to be safely expressed. Primal screams in the ocean or forest might serve such a need. However, as the energy lodged in these lower chakras is released, our vital kundalini energy moves up the spine to higher energetic chakras for spiritual processing. Our soul is released from the karma of negative emotions by the dissolving power of love and acceptance of All That Is at these higher subtle energy centers.
Though the conscious mind has the power to suggest, it has no power to direct the healing strategy that the subconscious mind will choose to employ. The expression, “let go and let God” is particularly relevant in this context. The conscious mind must have no attachment to the outcome; it must completely surrender control to the wisdom and way of the subconscious mind.
To transmute karma beyond the default effects of karma, the subconscious mind may take us through an energetic journey of squaring with memories we have avoided, or old habits we still cling to. The way of the subconscious mind may take much longer than we desire. We are challenged to remain positive, truly having faith in the power of the subconscious mind to manifest the intent we suggest.
As we master the challenges presented to us at various chakra centers, our energetic viewpoint is broadened widely as we approach the greater truth of our interconnected oneness with all things. From this position we are likely to accumulate mostly positive karma. Negative karma usually stems from stuckness in the polarity of the lower chakras that leaves us feeling offended, victimized and entitled.
Ultimately, we arrive at the awareness that there is nothing to forgive. We take full responsibility for all we have experienced in this life and appreciate fully all those who have accompanied us on our journey, with equanimity. The karma of such a perspective is total freedom, particularly from old default karmic reactions.
Keep focused on shifting away from old habits. Each day progress is made in some way. Whether you notice it or not, just your intention to change what is most rampant in your mind to something less so will bring moments of change. By the end of the day, you may notice a change in your energy. Perhaps you are calmer, more centered and less interested in the craziness of the world outside of you. Perhaps you are finding that the inner work you are doing on yourself is much more interesting and much more rewarding than any dip into the world’s affairs ever was. Keep shifting. Keep focusing on change within. Keep your attention on your own affairs, with the intention to keep growing and healing. You can’t go wrong.
Let not the troubles of the world add to your own troubles any more than they have to. Take control of your subconscious mind, of what you allow it to say to you, of what you allow to come into it, and of what you allow it to present to you as truth. Be aware of how the subconscious mind is like a sponge. It will soak up what is presented to it, endlessly. The trick is to stay on top of it, on top of what is presented to it and on top of using your autonomy to conclude something other than the norm. Look forward to freeing your mind of its habitual patterns, of its old beliefs and of its automatic decisions. With an open mind and an open heart turn away from the old and ask to be shown new ways of interpreting life, new visions to supplant old ones, and new ideas to take the place of the old. You do have the capacity to do this type of replacement work within your own mind. Take a moment today to think in a different manner about one important thing that controls your life now. See what you come up with that will help you to shift into a new, more positive mode of mind.
Empty your mind of motives of power and let go of your attachments to the sadnesses of your life thus far lived. Open instead to the idea that you have not really lived at all yet. Turn your mind and your eyes in a new direction now. Take on a different kind of power, the power that embodies responsibility, honesty, truth and humbleness. This kind of power does not show on the outside in material ways but appears as an inner glow. This is the internal experience of your true self. With kindness to yourself, and with a heart-centered desire to finally make the change that is so necessary now, embark on that new journey you have so wished for. If you proceed with an open and eager heart you will be offered all the assistance you need. If you stay stuck in victimhood, in blame and self-pity, you will have to work a little bit harder, until you are ready. But know that new life awaits! When you are ready, take your first real and honest step. You will feel very vulnerable at first, but, as you learn to trust that you are being helped along the way, your confidence will increase and pretty soon you will be flying along. Keep your finger on the gratitude button as you go. That helps immensely!
