The movie genre I especially enjoy is the psychological
thriller where a serial killer is profiled in order to predict his next move. I
guess this is as close to being inside someone’s head space as we are going to
get. I still dabble with the thought of actually being in that psychopath’s
mind and seeing things as he does. Please don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t mean I want to be that person, I just
find it fascinating how there is an apparent complete disconnect with logic and
a lack of empathy for their victims. Being a radically logical person, this lack intrigues me. On a similar plane
but perhaps a few degrees lower, imagine experiencing the thoughts of our
country’s politicians… It would be incredible to actually ‘see’ the thought
process behind certain decisions and public statements that are made.
On a note closer to home, imagine being
able to see through your spouse or partner’s eyes. You could understand
intimately how they feel, what makes them happy, what makes them sad and more
importantly, what they need from you at that particular moment.
What about
being inside someone’s mind who is struggling emotionally. Perhaps ‘seeing’
their thoughts would give you the insight into exactly how deep their hurt is
and how hard it is for them to function normally. Perhaps this would enable a
greater degree of patience to be exercised when dealing with their healing
process.
What about children who are battling to
socialise? Getting inside their heads may expose the anxiety they are feeling
and help you coach them through those situations.
How about people you have just met? You
would instantly get a snapshot of their true selves and gauge whether you
wanted to continue a relationship with them. You would also know their impressions
and thoughts of you! That may be awkward!
What about someone else being in your
head? What would they see? It’s not a case of ‘if’, but a case of ‘how many’
thoughts would you like to be able to lock away in a vault so they couldn’t see
them. I imagine, we should continuously, take stock of what is going on in our
minds and purge anything that we would want to keep in that vault. Why would
you want to dwell on such things anyway? Of course there are things that are personal
and private, I’m not referring to those. I am referring to negative thoughts
towards others, bad attitudes, lustful thoughts, envy and even hate. If we are
honest, we all have these thoughts to a lesser or greater degree, depending on
our experiences and frame of mind. It is key to keep these thoughts in check,
as every action started out as a simple thought. Very little of what we actually
do is based on instinctive behaviour. It is predominantly thoughts that have
been processed into actions. Allowing a negative thought to remain in your mind
gives it grounds to root itself and as you meditate on it, you provide it with
the nourishment it needs to grow. The longer you wait to expel it, the deeper
its roots would have taken hold and the broader its limbs would have grown,
overshadowing any other positive thought growth. Do your weeding frequently and
thoroughly. Don’t let even the smallest weed take root.
Perhaps the idea of mind access is a little
‘science-fictiony’ but the idea of walking in someone else’s shoes does warrant
credit. We are far too quick to judge and criticise those around us without
first considering the other person’s circumstances. Exercise a little patience
and try and see the situation through their eyes first and then make a decision
on how to act. Changing your approach from antagonising to mentoring or compassion
will not only help that person but will also provide you with much greater
satisfaction. Imagine that was the approach others had towards you…
No comments:
Post a Comment