Today’s message starts in a completely different place than any of the previous ones… Minecraft!
If you’ve raised young kids during the last decade or so you’ll know all about it, but here’s a rundown if you’re unfamiliar –
Think of Minecraft as a digital Lego set on steroids. But instead of building houses and castles with bricks, your child is building them with blocks. And instead of having a Lego manual, they have a world of infinite possibilities.
It’s like giving your child a blank canvas and saying, “Go crazy, kid!” They can build anything from a humble farm to a towering skyscraper, or even an entire underground city filled with secret passages and hidden treasure.
Here’s why I mention Minecraft though, there are two modes in which this game can be played. You can play this game in creative mode where there is no pressure, just taking your time to give full expression to your creative genius, or you can play this game in survival mode, and did I mention the monsters? Yeah, there are these not so friendly creatures called mobs that like to pop up out of nowhere. So, the player has to build not only their dream home, but do it while battling a never ending onslaught of enemies that sometimes destroy what has been built.
For now, I’ll put Minecraft aside and call in Wayne Dyer but don’t worry, we’ll get back to Minecraft soon.
“Research has shown that a simple act of kindness directed toward another, improves the functioning of the immune system, and stimulates the production of serotonin in both the recipient of the kindness and the person extending the kindness. Kindness extended, received or even observed, beneficially impacts the physical health and feelings of everyone involved.” – Wayne Dyer
Our brains and bodies are really quite magical, and forming a basic understanding of the neuro-biological and chemical processes that our bodies go through, make it clear just how much influence we can have over the experience that every cell in our body is having.
The emotional environment within our bodies is all-pervasive. Our emotional state is a felt experience inside of every single cell, which tilts the scales of our bodies’ operating systems towards either survival mode or creative mode.
However, our survival nervous system is not a ‘bad’ thing at all, it’s actually an important part of being a healthy human being. But staying in fight-or-flight permanently is detrimental to our health, and severely restricts our options in the world we are trying to build.
So let’s get back to the Minecraft analogy. In “Survival Mode” we are playing in a state of fear, trying to create our world while at the same time fighting off skeletons and creepers who threaten to destroy what we have built so far. This greatly influences what we allow ourselves to try and build when the biggest consideration is trying not to die when the sun goes down.
But when you step out of survival mode – when you step into “Creative Mode” and you have no monsters to fight – then your intention has a paradigm shift and your creativity expands! Instead of building the smallest earthen structure with wooden tools just to try and survive nightfall, you take the time to create stone or even iron tools and plan an intricate mansion! When you’re not fighting for your life, so many more options become available to you.
How do we make the shift from operating in survival mode to playing in creative mode? Our thoughts are what determines the state that our body lives in.
“You create your thoughts, your thoughts create your intentions, and your intentions create your reality.” – Wayne Dyer
“There is no stress in the world, only people thinking stressful thoughts.” – Wayne Dyer
Today’s meditation journey is like an owner’s manual for your body. Come along for the ride and upgrade your understanding of how to be a good operator of this vehicle. Learn how to pull the levers of your nervous system and set yourself up with more time in creative mode.
So, how can we cultivate a more creative mindset?
- Practice mindfulness: Meditation and mindfulness exercises can help us become more aware of our thoughts and feelings, allowing us to choose more constructive ways of thinking.
- Cultivate gratitude: Focusing on the positive aspects of our lives can shift our perspective and reduce stress.
- Engage in creative activities: Pursuing hobbies and interests can help us tap into our creativity and find joy.
- Prioritize self-care: Taking care of our physical and mental health is essential for overall well-being.
By understanding the science behind our emotional states and making conscious choices about our thoughts and behaviors, we can break free from the cycle of survival mode and unlock our full potential.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: The science of meditation.