I watched a negative movie last night. In the past few years, I have been careful about watching pessimistic, dark movies, for they creep into my daily consciousness. I realize that what we think about, we create, and I have learned to be selective about what occupies my thoughts. What we think about grows bigger. I do know that. I have watched my consumption of ideas and thoughts, just as you would manage your sugar intake. I know that we receive what we believe. And yet, I let myself watch this film.
But it was a new Netflix movie produced by Julia Roberts called "Leave the World Behind." It details the experience of several East Coast families during an attack on the United States. It was haunting, and I couldn't turn it off. I went to bed and, of course, had nightmares about the end of the world. When I awoke from a fitful sleep, I realized my mistake.
My morning spiritual practice is reading from an inspiring book while drinking coffee. I practice aligning my consciousness each morning. I made my coffee, grabbed my copy of "Living the Science of Mind, and randomly opened it. It fell open to a chapter on "What is your dream?" In this chapter, Ernest Holmes talks about our dreams. He explains that according to psychosomatic medicine, we create situations that look like our dreams. Our thoughts create our reality. I still marvel at the fantastic synchronicity that drew me to this chapter!
Creative Intelligence is always attracting precisely what we need when we need it. I decided to recommit to my selective intake of negative media firmly. Let me be clear about this. It doesn't mean I'm putting my head in the sand and ignoring the facts of life. There is a difference between being aware of global unrest and entertaining dreams of the end of the world. The writer of this movie has a dark view of life, and everything is presented in that shadow.
But I realize that there is a more profound message. A dear friend shared a practice when she finds herself criticizing a person or situation. She asks herself, "When am I like this person?" For example, if she's driving down the street and someone is blocking traffic by going incredibly slow, she asks herself, "When am I like this person?" I drive like this when I'm lost. She immediately has compassion for the other. It's a good practice.
I asked myself, "How else am I dreaming the wrong dream?" With the holidays approaching, I realized I was dreading an upcoming family outing. I was dreading the approach of this holiday trip. "I'll be miserable with my family. They always offend me. I can't be myself when I'm with them."
I was allowing these thoughts to run through my mind and pre-paving a bad experience days before it occurred! While it's necessary to guard the gates of your thoughts, practicing positive thinking is also essential. When I entertain ideas that I will have a bad experience before an event, I ensure I will have a bad experience. Creative Intelligence and the Law of Attraction draw forth what we declare.
I decided to rethink my upcoming family experience. I will see the good in them. I will enjoy my time with them. I know that every moment is special, unique and should be celebrated. I will be love, and it will be a good family outing.
And you know what? There is one thing that I am certain of. It will be love. Is there an upcoming event in your life where you are "dreaming a bad dream?" Have you already decided on a negative outcome long before the event itself? Where can you apply right thinking?