The Power of Intent - Thought Manifests as Word

The realization that the power of my thoughts lead to the words I use to communicate to other and subseqently affects the behaviors I display was a relatively new concept to me back in 2004. I trusted that all that I observed without question - believing that what I interpreted to be going on was only as I saw it. It later became clear to me that my perceptions - either accurate or delusional - DID affect every single relationship in my life.

"Self-centeredness - that is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invaiably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a postion to be hurt."

It was never more evident than with the interactions with my family and friends. Time and time again, being judgemental concerning the situations happening in my and others lives, I would conclude that things were right or wrong based on my perceptions. My life was a journey to avoid the "wrongs" and accepts and approve the "rights" in any given situation of myself and others. Never did it cross my mind that knowing right from wrong was beyond my own personal slanted perceptions. Today, right from wrong does not have the impact as it did in the past. Practicing being non-judgemental - as described by Don Migual Ruiz in the "Four Agreements" has allowed me to realize that I can relate to all the experiences that my friends and family go through and how I've gone throught them in a similiar fashion in my life also.

The power of the words that I use today - owning them with honesty - have had an immense impact on how I feel about myself and how I see and relate to other. Channeling my thoughts through prayer and meditation has helped guide my thoughts from disease negative thinking to positive inspiring action. Those couple of seconds before responding to a question or statement, has provided me the awareness to understand that the words I am about to choose should be choosen carefully and expressed with love not hate. Whatever I say, it must be accurate and honest - takes on a new meaning today. I must own my words and take responsibility for them. I do not have the right to say whatever I may want to say without realizing that the gift of speech is not one to be taken lightly. I must be held to what I say.

This undertanding is most obvious to me in the insight provided by Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) - the political and spiritual leader of India.

Keep your THOUGHTS POSITIVE because
your thoughts BECOME YOUR WORDS.

Keep your WORDS POSITIVE because your
words BECOME YOUR BEHAVIORS.

Keep your BEHAVIORS POSITIVE because
your behaviors BECOME YOUR HABITS.

Keep your HABITS POSITIVE because
Your habits BECOME YOUR VALUES.

Keep your VALUES POSITIVE because
your values BECOME YOUR DESTINY.

Practicing this enlightenment creates consistency in how I now relate to everyone in my life - friends, family and strangers. There is a sense of deeper connection in my interactions - a caring to respect others while respecting myself for who I am. The gift of loving another starts with loving myself. Only when I respect what I say of myself, will I be able to do the same to others. The power of words is meant as an expression of my heart and should not originate in my ego or mind. Happy go I as I speak the truth from my soul...