How many times have we tried to commit to doing something that will help us? How many New Year’s resolutions have gone out of the window within a couple of weeks? What is it that prevents us from accomplishing what we set out to do?
What holds us back is not our external circumstances, but our own minds. The mind is often restless, and we are not always aware of what it contains. If we do not understand it, how can we guide it? We experience the mind through our thoughts, yet many of those thoughts arise without intention. While driving, for example, you may think: Where did all these cars come from? Why is there always traffic? Why can’t people drive more efficiently? These thoughts are unproductive, and we did not consciously choose them. So where do they come from?
We want everything to align with our personal needs. This, of course, is not possible. The whole world exists outside of us, but we want it to be in a certain way. No matter what we think about the traffic, it will be as it is. Those random thoughts come from stored energy that we have created through unresolved emotional reactions. As a child, we might have been told that we would never be able to do math. So, every time we need to work on a checkbook or a budget, these impressions arise, and we throw up our hands and feel defeated. We have not resolved the issue. We know that the statement is not true, and we can absolutely do it. Since we did not resolve the feeling of inadequacy, we reinforce it every time we see numbers.
Similarly, when we make New Year’s resolutions, our conscious mind wants to act, but impressions in our minds talk back and steal our energy. The mind is programmed to think. It cannot be quiet. If we do not engage the mind with productive thoughts, it will automatically create a series of thoughts from stored impressions. Mataji, Ma Yoga Shakti, always stated: ”An idle mind is a devil’s workshop.” Yes, unresolved energy and impressions in our subconscious mind surface when the mind is idle.
Most problems can be resolved simply by not demanding that the world fulfill only our personal needs and by looking at the many options available. The mind wants to tackle problems or goals only in its own way. Once we understand that the mind always creates thoughts from unresolved past impressions, we need to take control. We don’t even have to be aware of the thoughts that prevent us from accomplishing what we set out to do. We need to “Just Do It.”
Our abilities are limitless. Once we start doing something we are not familiar with and concentrate on it, the flow of our energy summons the information we need. It is amazing! Just start the work wholeheartedly, and all of a sudden, one knows what is next or how to find the resources. We need to start the action sincerely, and it will be accomplished. Once the action is started, the mind is busy and will not have time for those previous impressions.
This is not easy, because the mind keeps putting roadblocks in the way. It is important not just to think about it but to engage the entire being. When a jogger starts to run, they might not be in the mood, but once they get going, they come into what they call a flow. The flow refers to the body automatically doing the action with little effort. Similarly, when we “Just Do It”, a flow begins, and obstacles are more readily overcome. The mind now refuses to listen to the subconscious because it is in a creative stage.
To accomplish anything, mentally or physically, we use our creative energy. This energy flows from our intuitive selves. It enables us to develop a new solution or approach. We start to view things from a new perspective. Once that energy flows, we will be inspired. Once inspired, we begin to access our inner gifts. Everyone came with wonderful gifts and a purpose. If we never access those gifts, our lives will be very mundane and worthless. We were meant to express our gifts, and we will not feel fulfilled until we do.
The initial difficulty in starting anything is the beginning hurdle and the mental resistance. Even before Nike started with this slogan, I kept telling students to “Just Do It” because once you start, everything begins to fall into place. The flow of energy gives us the ability and strength to make the effort needed to accomplish our goals.
A positive mind finds ways it can be done; a negative mind (unresolved impressions) cannot do it. Even the mistakes and defeats on our journey become stepping stones towards our goal and do not stop the effort. We begin by being persistent with small goals. The feeling of accomplishment will drive out the negative thoughts. The more we work and achieve these small goals, the stronger our minds become and the more power we gain to accomplish the previously impossible. Set a small goal and be persistent, no matter what, to start the flow.
Cherish your visions and goals. Our pure goals and our soul’s purpose can be and must be accomplished. It is only our unresolved past impressions that keep us from reaching it, and they can be overcome by simply starting the process and moving ahead.
Therefore: “Just Do It”
“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” — Marie Curie
