I Brainwashed Myself Into Being Confident: A Journey of Conscious Conditioning

I want to share something powerful with you today – something that goes beyond the usual meditation guides or quick hacks. This isn't about adding more stuff to your life, but about understanding fundamental concepts that can reshape your entire worldview.

You might call it:

"The art of living"

"The key to happiness"

"The path to a good life"

These titles all touch upon what I'm about to share.

Alan Watts, a wise philosopher, once said, "A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts." Let that sink in. We've become lost in a world of perpetual mental chatter, illusions that obscure reality. It's time to break free.

I’m not saying thinking is bad. Like everything else, it’s useful in moderation. A good servant, but a bad master – and all so-called civilized peoples have increasingly become crazy and self-destructive. Through excessive thinking, they have lost touch with reality.

Most of us would have rather money than tangible wealth… and a great occasion is somehow spoiled for us unless photographed… and to read about it the next day in the newspaper is oddly more fun for us than the original event. This is a disaster.

To get in touch with reality - there is an art of meditation. It is the art of temporarily silencing the mind… of stopping the “chatter in the skull”. Of course, you can’t force your mind to be silent. That would be like trying to smooth ripples in water with a flat iron. Water becomes cool and clear only when left alone.

You’ve Been Conditioned Into Mediocrity: Unraveling the Concept of Conditioning What exactly is conditioning? Picture the gym. Conditioning involves repetitively engaging in a specific exercise. This repetition leads to the development of muscle strength or enhanced cardiovascular fitness. However, in the absence of gym visits, you inadvertently engage in repetitive actions that yield the opposite effect. There exists no neutral zone; you are in a constant state of evolution or decline. The cycle of slight muscle gains, minor fat increases, slight muscle loss, and minor fat reduction may unfold, often escaping our notice.

The Culprit of Excessive Mental Noise: Cultural Conditioning Cultural conditioning of the mind emerges as the adversary in this scenario. It stands as the driving force behind the surplus "chatter in the skull" that perpetuates your discontent. This encompasses thoughts, beliefs, biases, reactions, ideologies, political stances, and a plethora of other elements that obscure your clarity. These external influences have been firmly etched into your consciousness through relentless repetition.

Your perception — for the sake of this letter— is your worldview. How you interpret things.

Your Distorted Lens of Perception: Cultural Conditioning Over time, your lens of perception has become clouded by cultural conditioning. As a child, you existed in a pristine, unconditioned state – playful, loving, and endlessly curious. As you matured, these innate qualities were stifled, obscured by the weight of conditioning. This societal influence hinders your ability to perceive reality as it truly is.

Perception Versus Reality: A Dichotomy Within your perception lies the lens of the character you embody – shaped by your personality, beliefs, and biases. Contrasted against this, there exists reality – an essence rooted in your true self. Truth, God, Consciousness, the Universe – regardless of the label, it reflects an ultimate reality. Diverse belief systems may assign varying names, but they all serve as lenses through which some strive to live closer to this profound Truth.

Distinguishing Between Being and Becoming: Your perception of who you are isn't a true reflection of your essence. Your true identity lies in your actions, not your past achievements. Your being is defined by the journey you embark upon in life. As you stroll down the path, you encounter unchanging structures, trees, streets – a stark contrast to fleeting emotions and beliefs. Unlike these temporal aspects, these elements endure, unfazed by time. In two years, the building remains steadfast, just as you persist. Your transient thoughts, emotions, and feelings are left behind. In reality, negativity holds no ground.

The Persona You Assume: The identity you perceive is akin to a role you enact, a character in your life's play. It's a portrayal of who you're evolving into, a mask adopted to conform. It's an imaginative creation, shaped by unbridled or deliberate thought processes. Thoughts come alive when nurtured by your focus, often spiraling into negative emotions due to perception. External triggers prompt automatic, subconscious reactions. Your suffering in life hinges on the precision of your focus.

A Universal Yearning: Within each of us resides an innate longing to transcend our individual selves – to wholeheartedly serve the greater whole, encompassing the Universe, the Divine, or whatever term resonates. Yet, before embarking on this transcendental journey, we must first achieve self-actualization. This principle may evoke familiarity as it aligns with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

The Essence of Maslow's Hierarchy: Before we reach the pinnacle of self-transcendence, we must climb the ladder of self-actualization. This entails hitting the gym of personal growth, initiating entrepreneurial ventures, attaining independence, and nourishing our intellect. To self-actualize is to engage fully in the game of life. But to play this game, we must sculpt our character with consciousness, not bound by cultural conditioning, but by deliberate Conscious Conditioning.

Bridging the Chasm: Our aim is to recognize and mend the division that exists – the gap between actuality and abstract notions. The rift between the essence of God and the mere term "God." The gulf spanning nature and artifice, the immaterial and the material, light and darkness, love and hatred, truth and falsehood. It involves shedding perceptions that hinder, enabling our actions to stem intrinsically (nearer to Truth) rather than being externally imposed (obstructing Truth).

Remove the obstruction from your mind and you have wisdom. Remove the obstruction from your heart and you have love.

Unveiling Your Character's Purpose: It's crucial to recognize that your evolving character is designed to serve your journey. Your beliefs are not fixed; they are adaptable. Even your negative thoughts can be reframed into positive ones – inching you closer to the Truth, no matter when this transformation occurs. Crafting your character requires a steady repetition of constructive thoughts, beliefs, and actions, propelling you toward positive life outcomes.

By embracing this process, you unlock the ability to attract and construct elements that contribute to wealth, purpose, health, and other aspects that may have been obscured by flawed perceptions. Eventually, this will enable you to transcend and pass on your wisdom – the distilled essence of life's purpose, as conveyed by both ancient and contemporary guides.

The Path of Conscious Conditioning: Embracing conscious conditioning empowers you to forge your unique "lens" through which you perceive the world. This lens grants you enhanced accuracy, elevates your mental programming, and imparts a profound upgrade to your cognitive framework. You stand at a crossroads – either cultural conditioning can steer you toward mediocrity and failure, or you can proactively condition your character for favorable outcomes. It's a choice between programming your own path or being dictated by external influences. The decision lies in your hands.

The Reign of Structure: While structure reigns supreme, distractions are an inevitable part of our journey. They're woven into the fabric of life, impossible to evade entirely. However, this very process equips you to skillfully navigate these distractions, transforming their negative energy into positive momentum.

Through this practice, you'll channel your focus toward positivity, embedding this process as a habit within your being. Remember, your current thought patterns took years to crystallize, and just as the journey of conditioning is lifelong, so too is the path of continuous practice. In this lifelong odyssey, you carve the path toward a more enriched existence.

Delve Deeper: Unveiling the Key to Modern Navigation

So, what lies at the heart of this essential concept for thriving in the contemporary world? It's none other than the art of conscious conditioning – an impactful transformation in how you view and engage with the world. This shift, while gradual, yields remarkable rewards. Much like the cultural conditioning that may have led you into an unhappy state, you possess the power to recalibrate your mind for happiness and triumph. This endeavor demands time, yet its significance is immeasurable. As you embark on this journey, you'll uncover the potential to reshape your life's trajectory, steering it towards a realm of contentment and achievement.

Let's delve deeper into this process.

Step 1: Pause and Anchor

When a thought emerges, pause before it spirals into emotion or belief. This takes practice, but it's worth the effort. Anchor yourself in the present moment – your breath, music, nature, physical activity – these can all help neutralize negativity and redirect your focus.

Step 2: Question and Understand

Question your thoughts. Why are you thinking this? Is it rational? Uncover the root of these thoughts through conscious conditioning journaling. Writing them down and questioning them can bring powerful self-awareness, shining a light on the issues holding you back.

Step 3: Objectify

Realize that these negative thoughts are not you. They're separate entities, given life only through your focus. Treat them as tools that can either destroy or create your character.

Step 4: Reframe and Redirect

Turn negativity into positivity. Reframe guilt into gratitude, failure into a stepping stone for success, and fear into curiosity. Your conscious focus can reshape your mindset and propel you towards your goals.

Step 5: Characterize and Align

Translate these reframed thoughts into action. Emulate positive role models, think about what they would do in your situation. Align your actions with your vision, goals, and priorities.

Step 6: Embrace Time

Remember, this process takes time. Just as you've spent years developing your current thought patterns, it will take time to reshape them. But with consistent effort, you can unravel the negativity and uncover a more authentic, positive version of yourself.

As you embark on this journey of conscious conditioning, consider studying philosophy and spirituality. Engage in "big picture thinking" to free yourself from the technical minutiae of life. This shift in perspective can bring clarity and a sense of flow to your days.

And here's the beautiful part: the more you embrace the "not making sense," the more you align with truth. By surrendering the need for everything to fit neatly into logical boxes, you tap into a deeper, more harmonious reality.

Remember, this process is a lifelong journey, a continuous practice that leads to a more fulfilled, purpose-driven life. The world is filled with external projections that have shaped your perception. It's time to take back control, recondition your mind, and create a reality that aligns with your true potential.

Stay curious, stay committed, and let this conscious conditioning guide you toward a life that's authentic, joyful, and deeply meaningful.

With purpose and positivity,

Don Bird