Soul Sustenance

Changing Negative Thought Patterns (Part 1) 

Experiencing a life full of different types of events, which can be negative at times, can be demanding and also make life a difficult journey of ups and downs. There are some people who like life to be full of stability and even a little bit of instability can cause sorrow to them and also unsettle them. Once upon a time, there was a saint in a far off land who taught people the way of living life in a peaceful and positive manner. There were many people who respected him and looked upto him and approached him to get a glimpse of him and learn the way of right thinking and living from him. Once a follower approached him and asked him a simple question – Why is it that difficult situations in everyday life seem to disturb us a lot inspite of the fact that we make efforts to think positive and remain untouched by them? Tell us a way by which we can turn our mind to a positive direction in the middle of negativity and instability of life. The saint replied and gave him a very simple answer – You look for solutions to problems outside whereas the solutions lie in your thinking and the change you bring in them over a period time. It’s very easy to say to yourself – do not think negatively but it’s another thing to actually do that and not feel the pressure while you do that. The follower was confused and thought to himself that life without the pressure of negative situations is like a sea without water, next to impossible. 

And as we also realize that although we are able to withstand and tolerate situations and it’s not only a few people but all of us try to some extent or the other. Of course, there are some of us who fail completely also. Butmost of us are successful to different extents in feeling joyful and light when negative situations surround us while there are some who may not be joyful when they face a difficult situation but can nonetheless be serious and stable and also free of too many negative thoughts and thoughts of a weak nature. 

(To be continued tomorrow …)