Boice Counseling
  • Home
  • Retreats and Books
    • Books and Audio
    • Helpful Resources
    • Insurance/Costs
  • Services
  • News/Blog
  • Contact Us

Good Food For the Mind

4/3/2014

0 Comments

 
Good Food For the Mind

What is the equivalent of “junk food” when it comes to thoughts? What thoughts add no value, yet take up my time, energy and resources? Hint, they are likely the ones when you overthink something, you obsess or ruminate. You cannot get the thought out of your head before bedtime.

There is a practice that suggests you fill your mind with positive thoughts instead, thus crowding out the unproductive and unhelpful ones.

Here are some of the lojong slogans. I have tried to keep the meaning of these as I changed the wording a tiny bit to make them easier to understand. I ask you to forgive me any mistakes in that process:

  • All teachings are about lessening the ego, lessening one's self-absorption, selfishness.

  • As long as you are too focused on self-importance and too caught up in thinking about how you are good or bad, you will experience suffering.

  • The ego puts your needs first, cherishes your needs and tells you that the needs of others are not important.

  • Everything that you do, whether virtuous or not, has a result.

  • Obsessing about getting what you want and avoiding what you don't want does not result in happiness.

  • Don't talk about your pain, your complaints and don't take pleasure pointing out, contemplating, maligning or judging the defects, pain, obstacles or weaknesses of others.

  • Pay attention to your role in feeling provoked by resentment. Remind yourself that you have a choice, you do not have to be influenced by outside events or situations.

  • Criticize others only if they ask for your input and do not humiliate them.

  • If working with these slogans makes you feel superior to others, pay attention to that and remind yourself that all comparisons are false and that no one is better or worse than you.

  • Focus on your own faults so that you may improve.

  • Work with your greatest obstacles first. Take responsibility for yourself. Pay attention to your conduct and improve it before looking at others.

  • Train wholeheartedly.

  • Liberate yourself by examining and analyzing: Know your own mind with honesty and fearlessness.

  • Don't compete or compare yourself with others, wallowing in self pity, jealousy, wanting applause or being petty.

  • Blaming others does not help you. Look for where you are responsible in every situation.

  • Be grateful to everyone and every situation has the opportunity to teach you something worth knowing.

     

  • Do good deeds without concern about benefiting yourself. All activities should be done with one intention- to help others.

     

  • Life is precious.

  • Everything changes and we all will die.

     

  • Experiences may seem solid, they are passing memories.

  • Examine the nature of your mind and awareness.

     

  • Rest in the nature of the present moment.

  • If you remain in the present moment, you will not be as predictable.

  • When you are surprised by something, sit with it and learn from it.

  • You know yourself better than anyone else knows you.

     

  • If you can practice even when distracted, you are well trained.

  • Develop patience and discipline- practice these slogans every day.

     

  • Always maintain only a joyful mind. Guard your thoughts.

 

  • Finally: Observe these even at the risk of your life.

 

 


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Don Boice
    Don Boice, LCSW-R, specializes in gender communication with couples in conflict.  

    _

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    Building Relationships Improving Communication
    Communication
    Counseling
    Counselor
    Couples
    Couples Counseling
    Dating
    Emotional Intelligence
    Gender
    Gender Communication
    Goleman
    Jealousy
    Love
    Marital Counseling
    Relationships
    Resolutions
    Romance
    Soft Skills
    Time Magazine
    Training
    Valentine's Day

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.