Creating a Better Reality
While 2021 started out as more of a rollercoaster than we may have expected, something that’s been prominent in my mind lately has been the power of our thoughts to shape our experience.
One of my favorite stats is the human brain is hit with 11 million bits of information per second. However, in that same second, the conscious mind can only process about 40 bits of information! This means we pick up about .0000036 percent of the reality around us.
Creating your Reality
When you consider how much information makes up our reality, and how little we can take in, it's probably a gift that our minds can’t process it all. Experiencing more would likely be completely overwhelming. Yet, what's fascinating to consider is which sliver of reality you’re subscribed to. As Deepak Chopra and many other leaders have said, the reality you perceive is actually based on your belief systems. This means that you can start to change your reality by changing your thoughts and subconscious beliefs.
If deep down, even on a subconscious level, you feel unworthy of a good life, it’s likely that your perception is more attuned to people and situations that make you feel bad about yourself. Or if you have an underlying belief about your inability to trust yourself, you may frequently find yourself in situations where it feels like others doubt you. It’s incredible when we realize that the circumstances that find us are truly a mirror of our beliefs.
Changing Unproductive Beliefs
So what do we do if we discover we have unproductive beliefs? First, the most transformative method I’ve found for changing my belief systems (and reality) is through a consistent Yoga Nidra meditation practice. It’s best to work with a specific San Kalpa, or intention, that directly counters your most limiting belief. In the example of feeling unworthy, perhaps your San Kalpa could be “I am worthy” or “I am good enough.” If you struggle with self-doubt, it could be “I believe in myself” or “I trust myself.” The Yoga Nidra practices on the Humaya app help you walk through this process.
Second, pay attention to your thoughts! When you catch yourself feeling badly, worrying, or thinking something negative about yourself, don’t get upset with yourself. Instead, try practicing wholehearted surrender. Ask yourself, “What would it feel like to truly surrender in this moment?” Maybe it’s letting yourself cry, or softening physical tension in your body, or really allowing in a feeling of trust in something greater than yourself. The act of surrender in those tough moments can start to bring in the tiniest bit of relief.
From that space of full surrender, I often ask myself, “What is the next best-feeling thought I can think right now?” This is a powerful method from spiritual teacher Abraham Hicks. What is the next best-feeling thought you could conjure that might lift you, even slightly, into a more positive state? It could be thinking about your pet, or someone you love, or simply being grateful for your breath. When you start to switch your momentum in this way, it becomes easier to get to the next good-feeling thought and the next good-feeling thought until you are genuinely feeling good again. Our thoughts are truly like magnets, pulling more “like” thoughts, feelings, and life events toward us. It’s all a practice.
If paying attention to your thoughts is hard for you, it helps to ask yourself often, “How do I want to feel?” How do you want to feel right now? Letting go of all your current circumstances, beliefs, and stories — do you want to feel easeful? Happy? Relaxed? Abundant?
Now what’s the best-feeling thought you can think of to start practicing feeling that way? This is a powerful way to get in alignment with a positive reality. As your mind and body get acclimated to more positive emotions, you will start to see the changes reflected in your life. This is what a lot of spiritual teachers call “raising your vibration.” If you’re feeling like that sounds a bit “woo-woo,” I hear you — but these are actually tangible ways to start allowing more good feelings into your life. It all adds up to create a happier you, which creates a happier reality for us all.
by Marina Harmon