Vernon Howard, in Esoteric Encyclopedia of Eternal Knowledge, talks about commanding your own mind.
SELF -VICTORY
It is possible for anyone to command his own mind. We do not permit strangers to enter our home and destroy valuable possessions, so why permit negative thoughts to roam destructively around our minds? You are no more required to submit to treacherous thoughts than you are required to submit to deceitful people – but you must learn to recognize treachery when it masquerades as sincerity. You can find all the weapons necessary for commanding your own mind, such as right intentions and a wish to end mental storms.
Conquer yourself, for then all haunting questions regarding the conquest of life will be answered. Then, never again will you need to anxiously pursue anything at all. Self-victory is total victory.
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Again, so consistent with Mr Howard’s teaching: it is the observation and admission of ‘my’ acceptance of darkness and negativity which underlies all the problems I have ever experienced. Isn’t it incredibly beautiful that every human being has the choice. A taste of hell, a taste of heaven… what do you choose?
As I was eating dinner with my family tonight I noticed some familiar and very gloomy thoughts about finances. All I had to do was see them and that was it. I was free from them. I know that this would never have happened without my intention of wanting to see what is really going on and a wish to not suffer mentally. I would have just suffered from the gloomy thoughts for who knows how long.
Say No to negativity and your reward will be the death of Drama. When our inner selves are developed through self-work, then all of our outer life situations are met rightly. That’s when we understand for ourselves that the Higher Life is the only Life that really exists.
Concerning the exercise: If you want to understand anything, then you must examine it, study it, court it and then you will learn all about it. Running away from it today ensures having to meet it again tomorrow. VH was right, you must go through to reach the other side.