From time to time some information comes along that seems to challenge our dearly held beliefs. Throughout human history there have been many examples. At one time it was believed that the Earth was flat. It must have been beyond comprehension that one could go to the limit of the horizon and not fall off the edge. It soon became common knowledge that in fact the Earth was round and a whole new world opened up.
It was once believed that the Earth was the centre of the universe. We now know that the Earth orbits the sun rather than as previously believed. And it was once believed that only birds could fly. We now cross continents in a matter of hours in relative comfort and safety.
All of these paradigm shifts required a great change in perspective, a giant 180 degree turn in our thinking. As we look back on all of this progress in our understanding we can’t imagine being lulled into such naïveté and limited vision.
We’re now faced with a monumental shift in our understanding of how we function psychologically and spiritually. The power of thought has been known by some for millennia and was referred to by Epictitus as far back as 140 BC and in the Scriptures in AD 500. It was not, however, until the latter part of the 20th century that the epiphany experienced by Sydney Banks brought us the simple principles behind our experience of life.
This new awareness that life is not, as previously believed, an “outside-in” experience but rather is instead an “inside-out” creation can be seen as a paradigm shift as great as many in our history. We now know through research and individual experience that we’re the creators of our personal reality. This understanding gives the power to the “thinker” rather than to the “event.” We have choice as to how we respond to each moment and we’re no longer at the whim of random happenings. Another’s mood, a difficult relationship, a disappointing outcome; whatever’s occurring in our lives we have within each of us a capacity to choose wisdom, common sense and a calm perspective.
Does that sound like a very far-fetched idea? Does it seem feasible with some of the “minor” things like misplaced glasses, but impossible with “major” events such as a car accident? The truth is that what’s considered major or minor may vary from one person to another. It may even vary to us individually depending on our mood.
Once we’ve had the experience of letting go of a thought that doesn’t serve us we can begin to see our role as the creator of our moment to moment experience. We can see that we have choice and can change our perspective. Why not give it a shot?