Many of us think that calling ourselves punishing or bad names is a quaint way to motivate ourselves to do the things we dread. Not so. It's not quaint and it's not motivating. It's a trick of the mind to paralyze us into inaction. We move into a prison cell of our own creation when we dance with self-punishment. It's a very effective way NOT to get anything in our lives done. There is a peaceful & easy way out. Read on...
We have been sold a bill of goods by the mind. The mind tells us we'll improve or get better by negatively motivating ourselves in this way. It's a lie. Always.
Here's a simple way to know that's true: Picture someone you know in your life who you see as an authority figure. Imagine in EVERY interaction you've EVER had with that person that they called you a name for every thing you ever did. Every thing--the good, the bad and the neutral things. Here's the question to ask yourself...do you want to spend more time with that person, or less?
The mind has us wrapped and warped around itself. It would have us believe we'll flourish by constant battery. That cannot ever be true. We cannot heal from the wounds of battery by being constantly hit. Another way to say the same thing is that we can't have Peace in us where there is only War.
We know, if we stop to think about it long enough, that only Peace can bring Peace. We already know that only War comes from War. So...self-punishment can ONLY EVER produce more of the same. Only its opposite (self-love/self-appreciation) can produce what we REALLY want.
The mind is a liar. Your mind is a liar. My mind is a liar.
Don't take it personally--it's not personal at all. It's just the mind at work doing what it is meant to do. While it's doing that, if you like, you can spend more time in self-love and self-appreciation and blossom forth real Peace in your life. If it really is Peace or War in our lives (and it is!), it's time to pick a side. You can end the War inside yourself.
Much love & appreciation,
Rudy Hunter