{"id":917,"date":"2014-10-15T03:00:10","date_gmt":"2014-10-15T09:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/theprinciplesofspiritualliving\/?p=917"},"modified":"2014-10-13T07:11:05","modified_gmt":"2014-10-13T13:11:05","slug":"where-is-your-focus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/theprinciplesofspiritualliving\/2014\/10\/where-is-your-focus\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Is Your Focus?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Have you ever noticed just how quickly our moods can change? For example, what happens to your outlook when you think of a tragic event in your life or in the life of someone else? Immediately our minds focus on the details, perhaps imagining the experience worse than it was.<\/p>\n

I had a lucid dream at some point last night. If you\u2019re not familiar with the term \u201clucid dream\u201d it means that you realize in your dream that you are dreaming. Dream Views<\/a> describes it as a person realizing they are in a dream after experiencing something and then stopping to question their reality.<\/p>\n

In my dream I experienced something unpleasant having to do with an organization in which I have had conflict in the past. I knew very well it was a dream, but the experience was such that it perfectly scripted a hidden fear about confrontation in general. All-in-all it was most unpleasant.<\/p>\n

I awoke completely focused on the dream that had gotten me so upset. I \u201cforgot\u201d to do my morning stretches before getting up and also neglected my meditation work that follows. I put too much milk in my coffee and found myself totally annoyed about it. Fortunately my higher self slapped me back into reality. I often hear the \u201cstill small voice\u201d of intuition, but additionally I seem to have a \u201cslap-Terry-up-side-the-head\u201d spiritual connection that lets me know when I\u2019m out of sync! It\u2019s annoying, but helpful.<\/p>\n

There was a time in my life that I would have allowed that dream to ruin my whole day, have been a complete grouch, and probably gotten into an argument with a lover, co-worker or unsuspecting clerk at a store. I give thanks for my teachers and daily spiritual practice that allows me to focus on what I want, instead of what I don\u2019t want, which results in a happier life. But, it was a stark reminder for me that my thoughts definitely control my life and my attitude. As Mike Dooley says, \u201cThoughts become things \u2013 Choose the good ones!\u201d<\/p>\n

What are you focusing on right now? Is it what you want to happen? If not, why give it any more of your time? Unhealthy, unproductive thoughts that live rent-free in our mind don\u2019t do us or anyone else any good. This probably isn\u2019t news to you, but if you\u2019re like me it\u2019s a good idea to remind yourself. Commit right now to focus on what you want. \u00a0Let go of the fear and uncertainty of worrying about your future or fretting about the past. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow will be the experience you create today!<\/p>\n

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,<\/p>\n

Terry<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever noticed just how quickly our moods can change? For example, what happens to your outlook when you think of a tragic event in your life or in the life of someone else? Immediately our minds focus on the details, perhaps imagining the experience worse than it was. I had a lucid dream […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1674,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[265,313,197,359,358,356,357,267,203],"class_list":["post-917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-anger","tag-depression","tag-happiness","tag-lucid-dream","tag-mike-dooley","tag-moods","tag-moody","tag-release","tag-terry-drew-karanen"],"yoast_head":"\nWhere Is Your Focus?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Have you ever noticed just how quickly our moods can change? 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