How to; Overcome negative thoughts.

Thoughts are very powerful. The energy of a positive thought will eventually influence and mold the soul itself, a person's surroundings and even other people. The same is true for negative thoughts.

How does a person take control of his thoughts? Since we are constantly thinking, what is a person to do when a bad thought enters his mind? How can a person be expected to serve G-d in joy all the time when other not such good thoughts, are pushing their way in?

Thoughts are not the soul; they are an external garment to the soul, which the soul uses to express itself. The only way to alter a thought is to ignore what you don’t want to be thinking of, and, to think something different.

There are two energies inside a person. A good and positive one, and a bad and animalistic one. These two forces are eternally in battle to take control of the person’s life. One of the maneuvers these forces use to take control, is through thoughts. Since thought is external to the soul, it is easiest for these forces to manipulate and begin their infiltration to the soul through this exterior garment, thoughts. Through thoughts, the good or evil force is able to and eventually will influence and impact the actual soul.

This gives reason why our thoughts are not always entirely our fault. These forces don’t consult with us. They operate by their own nature and supply us with the thoughts they generate by their own characteristics.

This is why a person should never blame himself or feel guilty for the thoughts that enter his mind. They are being spewed out by something that G-d has placed within us. The Talmud tells us, “There are three things one cannot escape every day, and one is, thoughts of sin.”

However, this is only as far as the first moment of thinking is concerned. Once the thought squeezes in, its’ first foot in the door of our brain, and a person is aware of his thinking, the choice is squarely placed on the person whether to relish and enjoy the “guest” who made his way in, or to chase him out, by quickly inserting a positive thought in that space.

When a person at that moment, deliberately and decidedly chooses to think positive worthwhile and upbeat thoughts, that is how he chases out the current thought he does not want to think of.

When a person has an undesirable thought and he wallows away in guilt for having it, he is still thinking about the negative thought.

If a person is stuck in mud and keeps fighting it, he is still attached to mud. If a person is stuck in high waves and he fights them he is still connected with the waves. It is only when he stretches his arms out to someone else, or towards a saving ring outside the mud or the water, it is only when he sets his eyes and focus away from where he is, that he is able to get himself free of his current jam.

The same is also with thoughts. The way to save oneself and escape from bad, negative and destructive thoughts is not by fighting them, but by diverting his mind away from the negative thinking and by holding on to a more positive thought.

To be continued...