Paul's Corner

Do I have to think about that? :-)

Contemplate life, esp. mine, what I want to do, what I want to change, what is good and less good ... and then it eventually appears on the conscious level of my thinking and often surprises me what is going on in my mind.

I guess then it's about the secret phantasies I have ... very amusing sometimes.

How I really want to sleep more instead of being woken up at ungodly and uncharacteristically early hours because of all the things that go on in my mind.

What about yours, Paul?

Paul I love to not think, I think it's a luxury. I can't get to a point in my life though to not think often. I'm always thinking. But when my imagination takes over and I'm not thinking I'm usually pretty happy. :)

I'm glad you asked him Evelyn. I'm curious too.

Fair is fair, right Tea?
Ps. Sleep deprivation makes me bolder ... (at times)

I think too much!! Consciously that is! I am interested in my other forms of thinking the ones I dont know much about but get glimpses of from dreams and the quick wierd thoughts that pass through my consciousness from time to time.

I think about the mundane: what will my next job be. I think about delights - what would be the perfect match for my amber ale? I think about sex - not going to tell you about those thoughts though!

I have always held to the notion that thoughts are the building blocks to and of our lives. We can seperate the thoughts that we wish to happen from the thoughts that are purely fantasy - lets face it I have fantasy thoughts that are purely for my own personal enjoyment and relaxation and not for reality. I have other thoughts that some may say are fantasy ie having my own Beer Cafe Brewery but they are the bricks that will build the dream from thought to fact.

It is the thinking that I do that I know goes on behind my back internally that I am curious about. For they are my thoughts and they too are the building blocks to who I am and to where I am going and I would dearly love to know what they are. Do they hinder my conscious dreams or help? Are those deeper thoughts the ones that inform and create me or do I inform them.

I guess I may never know but I will continue to think on it.

I know what you mean. We are at the mercy of our thougths especially the ones that work behind the scenes. I think that if you can master something like get a handle on the quiet workings of your mind, there is nothing in the world that can possibly ever defeat you. It would be like a super power you know. I have posted before that I could never or would never want to be in the public eye such as you are because I get socially scared around a lot of people. I mean 10 years ago sitting in a conference room having a meeting with my coworkers and managers would make me so nervous I felt like I could go into a panic (I'm not like that anymore although I do get uncomfortable still in those situations). If I could find those thoughts that cause such a fear/phobia I could squash them out or better yet make them tell me successful things that would make me have such grace and poise in those areas that I would be well respected and acknowledge. Right now, I hardly talk to anyone and I am not interest in getting to know anyone in real life. That sounds a bit crazy maybe but it's just the way I like it. I'm happier that way.

Now about these fantasies ;)

Love,
Tea
xxoxo

I agree with you, Paul, that the thoughts on the sub- and unconscious levels are building blocks in my life too. In my experience, some of these thoughts surface when I'm ready for them, need to be aware of them and for the most part, I work out a lot of things in these sub-/unconscious thoughts. Just recently, during one of the interviews I had, one of the interviewers threw a challenge at me and on the conscious level I remeber thinking to myself "Crap, how am I going to respond to that?!?" and while I was still thinking this I was already responding and the answer came from a much deeper place inside me where I had obviously contemplated that. It was rather interesting listening to my own answer and gaining insights into me and things I wasn't aware of why I was doing them and why I want and need to change them. That was one of the clarifying moments recently ...

yeah, I need those fantasies and dreams too, for they bring the hopeful and fun elements into life and yes, mine will have to remain private !!! This weekend, while I was working on my research talk for the interview, I stumbled upon a rather sexually voyeristic scene in a medieval text (and they are kind of rare!), didn't help that I was exhausted at that point, run away train of thougths right there. Boy, this will be tough to keep a straight face during this part of the presentation, not to crack up laughing in the middle of it or not to blush--darn it why do I blush so easily??? :-)))

i always think to much or to little!when i start on one thought, that leads to more and more, and when dont think, i start on a day dream that could go on for hours if i let it!
**louise**

my kids have started back at school after a great summer holiday. The problem is that as with all holidays we got into a routine of sleeping late and staying up late. Now back on school timing it is very early morning wake ups. Of course everyone is tired but going to bed early is dificult because of the holiday body clock. Even tired going to bed early doesnt necessarily mean going to sleep easily. My middle daughter gets all upset and when she cant sleep and often says she is trying to go to sleep but cant stop thinkihng and that is keeping her awake. I just say to her as I stroke her head and whisper gently that the harder she tries to stop thinking the harder it will be to go sleep. Just think gentle thoughts as much as you want and the next thing you know you will be waking up in the morning.

I dont think we ever really stop thinking.

Hi PJM,

Actually, when I thinking of nothing I'm thinking of everything.

Janice
USA

I'm with your daughter Paul! I wish I had someoene to keep me on track like you are doing with your daughter. My problem is that my conscious thoughts are so interrupted by my unconscious thoughts, or vise versa...I'm so mixed up...lol

My mind never stops going in circles. I try to "consciously" stop the activity, which only adds to it. It's a vicious circle. I even have to leave my t.v. on at night to block out my thoughts with white noise..which probably "tricks" my body into thinking it's awake 24/7 and adds to my exhaustion and confusion sometimes.

I swear, this is a very timely post by you, as usual! How do you do it?

Sometimes, I think I'd have to be UNconscious to stop the noise in my head.

This is one of the major goals in my life that I have to work on.

Thanks for reminding me Paul.

p.s. I'm not really a basket case...really...

Paul you are such a sweet father. Your daughters are so lucky and blessed to have *you* :) xxoo Tea

Hey! Do you think I could train my two cats to gently stroke my head and whisper in my ear at night? Sort of like a stupid pet trick?

I agree with Tea. Paul you are a very kind, gentle and sweet father/man. Your family is lucky and blessed.

:)

Why, **I'm** the perfect match to your amber ale, of course! ;-)

I have to take my 8-yr old son on "Mind Walks" when his brain will not quit thinking at bedtime. Sex works nicely for adults, though. ;-)ZZZzzzzzz...

Love,
Dhiana of the Base Existence

Dhiana,
Nice of you to materialise, albiet so very briefly. You're such a tease!
And you just HAD to mention the S word, din't you?

Paul,
I've become increasingly aware of the role that our subconcious mind plays in what we think and do.
There was one notable occassion a couple of years ago, where I had been receiving some life coaching of sorts. The practitioners were attempting to tell me that I should try to take more time out for my own wellbeing, but on each of the six occasions that they repeated this particular mantra, I heard absolutely nothing.
My short term memory had been blanked completely.
It was really weird, I tell you.
My subconcious mind had refused to allow me to hear it, because apparently, for reasons of it's own, it thought the advice was not in my best interests at the time.
Eventually it became clearly evident what was happening there, and we all fell around laughing, more at the irony than anything else, I guess.
By the way, it took me almost three weeks of reading those few simple words before my concious mind could remember them.

So, I guess it just goes to show how much our subconcious mind affects what we conciously think, whether we are aware of it or not.
I suppose what I'm saying is that we may always be thinking of something, but ma not be aware of it.

Best regards to Mary and Michelle, wherever you may be. May the radio Gods smile up at you.

Peter

Dhiana, It's really wonderful to hear your voice. Thanks for making me laugh, as always!

Peter, it's quite scary to think the power to block like that is at work within us, without our conscious 'consent'. I suppose the trick is to get it to work for us in a positive way.

I'm wondering did your subconscious mind hold on to those new thoughts. Did it accept what your conscious mind was asking it to incorporate into your mindset? Just wondering.

Thank you for your kind wishes. The smiles of the radio Gods are always welcome! Love to you down there. And to you Michelle, across the way.

Sally, I read what you wrote about having the chance to come across the water. I'm so happy for you! I know this has been a dream for you for a long time. What part of Engand will you be travelling to?

Hello to Paul, Millie, Evelyn, Inn, Tim, Diane, Julie and to all my friends here.

Love & good wishes to you all,
Mary

Mary,

A nice surprise!

To answer your question: Yes, I was able to hold that thought, well,.... eventually.
In fact, I already was consciously aware that this was something that I needed to do for my own good. This is the strange part.
Oddly enough, when it was delivered to me from an external source, my mind initially rejected it by refusing to register any memory of the instructions.

I suspect that my (total) mind was able to control my own conscious thoughts, but saw external commands as some sort of threat.

Anyway, it's all sorted now, but this phenomenon is something which I have remained constantly aware of and try to recognise it should it play out again in any form.
Perhaps this helps to explain how and why we make certain decisions?

I'll dedicate a radio song for you today.
How about "Broken Wings"?

Peter

Hi Peter!

It's interesting that you saw the instructions as external, even though you say you had already internalised them. Does this mean that you had consciously thought of them, but had also relegated them to something you would not realistically put into practice?

I can see why it would be good for you to be aware of this phenomenon possibly playing out again. That's wise.

RE: making decisions - if the driving force behind our significant decisions is coming from our deepest subconscious, would that mean that a lot of the decision-making process is irrelevant?

You've got me thinking, as always!

Thanks for the song, Peter. Broken Wings is just about as perfect a song, as any I can think of.

How about Linger for you?

Mary

Mary,
I believe that our minds make decisions based on its own wants and needs, driven by our conscious will, with our subconscious monitoring as we go and making adjustments. I also believe that on some occasions the mind will block what it recognises as a threat, sometimes rationally, sometimes emotionally.

I don't believe that conscious decision making is ever irrelevant. I think it's at the heart of who we are.
It's just that sometimes our subconscious will influence how we feel and what we think. That's all. But then, what the hell would I know?
I only know what I think, wherever it originates.

A Cranberries song woul be fantastic!
How about "Dreams"

"Talk to me amazing mind
So understanding and so kind
You're everything to me"

I suppose this has some relevence too!

Peter

"...impossible to ignore"

VERY relevant Peter, my sweet! As per usual, your grasp on the human existence transcends time and "reality". And I, for one, am appreciative.

And sorry about the *S* word. It won't happen again. (today). ;-)

To answer Paul's question: I think I feel solely, when the conscious mind takes a breather. Or I'm concentrating on feeling. The eyes haze so I'm seeing with my mind's eye (poor creature) and some of it is scary! It's random weirdness at it's utmost and when I come out of it I realize I've been staring at a textured wallpaper pattern and twirling my hair "subconsciously". Freud would have a ball with that one, I'm sure.It's like someone pushed the "Fuzz" button on my brain and changed it to pure Feel. Sounds racier than it actually is, I'm sorry to say.

Kisskiss,
Dhi

Peter and Mary, interesting exchange! My subconscious mind has sent me intersting thoughts lately, and I hope it is right. It often is (perhaps always???)

I've been thinking way too much on all levels and I wish I could calm down my mind and give those wheels spinning in my mind a break. Overheating threat! ;-) Well, right now, I'm thinking positive thoughts about my potential future employer and colleagues, I'm thinking of whatever I can think of to calm my mind and bring it into focus for the task at hand (Interview from Th afternoon - Saturday afternoon--actually I'm going to call it an on-campus vist, sounds more fun and less stressful!, see what I'm doing in my mind? :-)) and I'm thinking about everything I can to boost my confidence level and not feel as vulnerable and stressed as I have for the last 5 1/2 months.

I have to pack the last few things and then I'm on my way to the airport and my on campus visit. I'm excited about it though, but will be glad when it is all over with, although then it's back again to waiting to hear who gets the final job offer. Please powers that be ..... :-))))

Dhi, good to hear from you, and re. the S-word, I'm chukling (how the heck do you spell that???)

Love to all,
Evelyn