By restructuring our old inappropriate beliefs with these positive new beliefs, it is virtually impossible to entertain a negative thought. And if a negative thought does appear on our inner movie screen, we can easily learn to recognize it and slide it off.
Without a negative thought we cannot experience a negative feeling. And without a negative feeling we cannot become depressed, fearful, unhappy, angry, anxious, resentful, guilty or frustrated nor can we experience any kind of downer or negative attitude or mood.
"Change your thoughts and change your life," is the slogan of the Science of Mind movement. As long as we are calm and relaxed we can change our thoughts in a second. But once a negative emotion is triggered, it can take hours or even days before we can calm down and become rational once more.
The emotional component in every case of cold or flu is now clear. Invariably, it consists of the same chain of events. By perceiving the world through negative beliefs, a negative thought arises which sets off a negative feeling which triggers the fight or flight response. Stress mechanisms are then put into effect that suppress the immune system and cause us to feel lonely, depressed, helpless, tense, uncomfortable and upset.
Yet each of us has the personal power to block this health-destroying chain reaction by refusing to think a negative thought. By doing so, we may not only prevent or lessen the symptoms of a viral infection. We may also prevent cancer, an ulcer, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis or any one of a long, melancholy catalog of stress-related diseases and dysfunctions.
Undoubtedly you will hear such excuses as "I need to get angry so I can appreciate the calm periods" or "We can't feel happy unless we have blue periods to contrast them with." In reality, the only time we need to experience a fear-based emotion is when we are actually threatened by physical danger. Other reasons are mere excuses by people who prefer the stimulation of strong emotions to the seemingly unexciting alternative of inner peace.
If and when you do experience a negative emotion, let go of it as soon as you can. Never repress a negative feeling. The best way to calm down is to take a brisk walk or run or to do push-ups or sit-ups or any other type of vigorous exercise. Immediately you calm down, forgive the person about whom you upset yourself. Then forgive yourself for becoming upset. Take responsibility for what has happened and realize that no other person has the power to go into your mind and upset you. We upset ourselves by reacting when another person pushes our buttons. We can change our buttons by changing our beliefs.
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