Who Is In Control?

If you ask, most people will tell you that they are in control. When a person says: "I am in control," it makes me wonder just what the "I" represent and what is "it" that they are controlling? Most people separate the self and the mind, thinking of them as two unique parts of their being. This being the case, I believe when a person states that he/she is in control, they are saying that they (the self) is in control of the mind.

All decisions and consequent actions begin as a mental process. It is my belief that it takes a strong will to control the mind. I further believe that most people do not have a strong will. The pleasure/pain principal states that we tend to always pursue the path of pleasure. Developing the will requires work and effort, consequently avoided by most people.

Let's try a little experiment. Sit still for five or ten minutes. Do nothing but observe your thoughts. Although most of us claim a strong will, most likely when you sit still you will notice that your mind is incessantly active - going from one thought to another. Even if you focus and concentrate your attention, your restless mind will not slow down. Your will simply is not strong enough to stop the movement.

Getting control of the mind begins with an understanding of the three divisions of the mind:

1. The Conscious Mind: The direct contact with the brian. Serves as the directing intelligence for the brain. 2. The Subconscious Mind: Often considered the seat of the soul. Contins understood experiences. 3. The Superconscious Mind: The connecting link to all of creation.

Gaining control of the mind is necessary for self discovery. You can start by getting a good understanding of how we reason, which consist of imagination, attention and memory. Imagination stimulates us to move forward and to grow. Attention allows us to focus and insure that what we experience will be retained. Memory allows us to use the knowledge that we have previously gained.

"Thought controlled by intelligence is the most powerful thing in the universe"

Herman Wheeler www.spiritualwheel.com

About the Author

Life long student of psychology and spirituality. Although I have done extensive research into world religions and spirituality, I am not a guru. I am simply a seeker. Through my writing and website: www.spiritualwheel.com I try to share the little understanding I gain along the way.