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GRAPEFRUIT
BRAIN
In my work with people I often hear the cry,
"Oh it's so much work to be conscious!" and this is true.
The process of awakening into expanded awareness is an ongoing practice.
Imagine the brain as a grapefruit. The juicy insides
are akin to the most ancient part of the brain, the reptilian brain. This
is where our survival instincts lie.
The spongy white part surrounding the juicy insides
can be related to the mammalian brain, the emotional centers lie here.
And the thin rind that surrounds the fruit is like
our neocortex, the seat of consciousness for a human being, the part of
our brain that is the most recent to evolve.
Because there is a greater force/habit of millions
of years - I'm imagining you can see why it can be so easy for us to
respond from the survival part of our brain and to react from our animal
nature.
Responding from awareness takes PRACTICE. We need to
practice continuously accessing the rind, the neocortex, so that we can
respond, not react to the circumstances we find ourselves in.
It takes continual choosing, and choosing, and
choosing, and choosing, until we create brain pathways that will go to the
neocortex for information and direction rather than the more archaic
aspects of the brain.
Yes, this is work. This is a planet of work. No
matter what we do we are exerting effort and energy. The question isn't,
"Why do I have to work at this?" The question is "Where do
I want to be investing my time and energy?"
When we don't choose to cultivate conscious
awareness through practice, then our energy and effort are directed by
unconscious, archaic programming and we get to live with the result of our
unconsciousness.
Instead of complaining about the same 'ol same ol',
we can put our effort and intention into more conscious choice and create
more of what our human heart desires.
Many of us are reviewing the year that has passed
and focusing on the year that is coming, setting intentions and making
goals. It is important to stay conscious with what it is you are choosing
to grow into. If we don't maintain awareness of what we want, it is easy
for that juicy reptile to take over the show.
Create a multitude of ways to dance with what you
want. Mind map your ideal outcome. Make a collage holding images of what
you yearn for. Write out a living vision of the result you seek written in
the present tense, using powerful, positive imagery. Journal your vision
on a daily basis.
Do whatever you can think of to keep the image of
what you want in front of you so your neocortex can come up with creative
ways to manifest your intention.
And commit to action - baby steps - ideally daily if
not weekly - that will move you physically towards what you want.
Have a great year.
QUOTES
"We are responsible for our actions, so by
our choices, our life manifests."
~ John Morton ~
"It is not our ability that shows who we
truly are - it is our choices."
~ Professor Dumbledore ~
REQUEST
I am writing a book on forgiveness. If you' would
like to contribute you can do one or both of two things:
- ask me any questions you might have about
forgiveness, what is it, how to do it, why do it....
- send me any story you may have about how
forgiveness, forgiving yourself or another has changed your life, even
in small ways.
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING:
- Take time to focus on what you want and then
involve yourself in mapping out your outcome.
- Read my Living
by Design series of newsletters for more info about holding a
vision, taking action, and manifesting what you yearn for.
WONDER QUESTIONS:
- Are you willing to support your desires by taking
action and staying focused?
- How can you invest your energy and focus so that
you can be a co-creative force in manifestng what you yearn for?
QUICK LINKS:
COPYRIGHT/CONTACT INFO/REPRINT PERMISSION
Copyright 2005 by Leslie Karen Sann, Living by Design
Visit this link for contact information:
leslie@living-bydesign.com
Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full:
Copyright 2006 by Leslie Karen Sann,
Living by Design.All rights reserved.
Web site. http://www.living-bydesign.com
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