What is the secret of successful people’s enthusiasm?
In us there is a ‘lower-self’ called Jeevatma and a ‘higher-self’ called Paramatma. One can either operate from the ‘lower self’ or from the ‘higher self.’ When one operates from the ‘lower self,’ one finds his life is not powerful whereas operating from the ‘higher self’ results in the opposite. This is the choice before us.
If one operates from the ‘lower self,’ life opens up as a threat. While operating from the ‘higher self,’ the life opens up as opportunity. Operating from the ‘higher self’ consistently generates enthusiasm.
Why does such a thought emerge wherein I look at the external situation as a threat?
Any situation viewed as threat is an example of one involving the ‘lower self.’ The ‘lower self’ operates as an interfering thought or an obstructing thought. The ‘higher self’ operates as a supporting thought, not as an obstruction. In any situation in life, if seen as opportunity, it is supportive. If seen as an obstruction, it is like a danger or a threat…. it is a function of the ‘lower self.’
Our bodies have an immune system; if it is weak, the body is prone to disease. So too, we have a psychological immune system. If our psychological immune system is weak … we are upset, hurt, frustrated. Like genes in our bodies, our minds are also products of evolution of many years. When our psychological immune system is weak, we are prone to perceive external situations as dangerous or as obstruction. It only calls for strengthening the psychological immune system so as to be powerful individuals.
How do you make it powerful? Like how we make the physical body powerful by right exercising and dieting, so too, the psychological immune system can be made powerful by not allowing the ‘lower self’ in us to operate... instead we should encourage the higher centre to operate in our daily lives.
Swami Sukhabodhananda is the founder and chairman of Prasanna Trust. He is a respected spiritual leader who is often referred to as the ‘Corporate Guru.’