Journey into Thought: Awakening to Spirit

Copyright © 2012 Sidney Andrews

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ISBN: 978-1-4759-2461-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-2463-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-2462-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012907998

iUniverse rev. date: 7/5/2012

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to:

My partner Kate, whose presence in my life inspires me beyond measure;

Ginger Howe, for her reliably cheerful help, advice and support;

Janet Baker, whose prayers have been endless, as I endeavored to complete this work.

Contents

Introduction

The Truth Forgotten

You are not a Victim

Coming to Clarity

The Power of Thoughts

Be Present and Accounted For

Claiming Your Territorial Rights

What’s Holding You Back

Claim Your Uniqueness and Individuality

Problems Create Possibilities.

Becoming Spiritually Minded

Cleaning Closets is not for Sissies

Blame is a Lame Excuse for Failure

Change is an Inside Job

The Untapped Oil Well

Are You Guided or Controlled

The Gift Wrap or the Gift

Change Your Focus

What are You Waiting For?

Trust is Key

There are Two Sides to Every Thought

Fear is the absence of Faith

The Courage to Change

What If

Save Yourself

Guts and Gratefulness

Should or Shouldn’t I

Don’t settle for less

Not by Force

After Word

In Closing

About Sidney

Your best life begins when

you live from the world

behind your eyes

Introduction

Journey into Thought is a provocative and exciting odyssey into the inner world of thoughts and spirit, where you can discover what it means to live an authentic life. It’s a journey of self-discovery and ultimate self- actualization; you are about to embark on one of the most exciting journeys you’ll ever take.

Webster’s dictionary defines the word odyssey as a long wandering, or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune, an intellectual wandering or quest. If you were not ready for such a journey, you wouldn’t be reading this book. Walk awhile with me on this path of discovering, or re-discovering the essence of who you are. Spend time here with me while we uncover the power and the mystery of thought and spirit.

This journey you are about to embark on will result in profound changes in your life and the way you look at the world. Once exposed to the truth and reality of what contributes to who you are and will become, your inner awareness of life’s motivators or life’s agitators will be evident.

You are more than just a physical body. You have within you an indomitable spirit, a powerhouse of energy, whose sole purpose is to guide and help you attain and maintain your highest good. You can live your best life and realize the love, peace and joy that result from living authentically.

If you’re less than satisfied with your life, Journey into Thought will be a refreshing and eye opening experience. It will help you uncover the origin of those negative and habitual thought patterns, that have distracted you from discovering the ever present and amazing you.

I will explain and give examples of how to rid yourself of the old, outdated and self-destructive thoughts that only serve to keep you from fulfilling your dreams and longings; thoughts that have prevented you from living your authentic truth.

I’m excited about this book because its thrust is in showing that you are not helpless or at the mercy of any situation, problem or adversity that may step up to greet you; on the contrary, you are a power-house of thought energy and spirit; as you change your thoughts, you’ll begin to focus your energy on what works for you, no longer wasting your time on what doesn’t; your greatest ally will be the indomitable spirit within.

Journey into Thought will answer questions such as; whose thoughts, ideas, perceptions and dreams have you been entertaining all your life, how do thoughts affect your ability to live your own best life, how do you delete or rid yourself of the outdated, stale and destructive thoughts that no longer serve you, how do you recognize the interplay of your thoughts as they relate to your holistic state of health and well being, how do you re-claim and re-frame your whole thought process so that it serves you in every area of your life be it mentally, spiritually, physically or emotionally.

These are but a few of the questions this book will touch on. It is my hope Journey into Thought will bring insight and renewal as you travel your own path to self-discovery, where you’ll see problems as opportunities, obstacles as stepping stones and life as a wonderful challenge, rather than a sentence. It’s time to live and enjoy life in its fullness, rather than merely exist or survive through time.

Perhaps fear has motivated this inner search for authentic truth, love and the meaning of it all, and if that’s the case I say hurrah for you! There’s no finer place to begin this search for inner meaning than at the point of fear. It’s at this very place, when you make the decision to pursue truth, that you’re able to transcend the fear, thereby overcoming its limitations. This is often the first step on the path to self-awareness and understanding of how your thoughts can work for or against you.

Whatever the reason for your pursuit or inclination to pick up this particular book, this expedition will prove to be a journey unlike any other you could ever have imagined and more rewarding, than you could ever have dreamed possible.

Because Journey into Thought is about self-discovery and self- mastery, it is a solitary journey; no one can take it with you or for you. Other’s may share, suggest, advise, encourage and help direct you in your search; still it is you that must make the decision, brave the terrain and finally commit to undertaking this life transforming journey.

You are equipped to live your

authentic truth and best life

The Truth Forgotten

The journey into ones own world of thought can be an unsettling venture at best, yet only through taking this journey can you discover the truth and intrinsic power that rests within the deep recesses of your mind, just waiting to be uncovered and re-awakened.

Think not that you and I have come ill equipped for our journey here on earth, on the contrary; we, at the moment of birth, arrived on the scene with one directive and that is to live from the indomitable spirit within. You and I came prepared with the tools necessary for maneuvering our way through life. This means we were not only provided with the impulse to live from spirit; moreover, the inner awareness, knowledge and the ability to create and live our best life by expressing our authentic selves.

What of the mountain climber who sets out on his or her journey to climb Mt Everest? Is he or she ill equipped for the climb, when it’s a known fact the greatest challenge to the climber will be the elements, whether cold, snow, ice, or jagged rock, that will test his or her stamina and fortitude? It will take all the ability, knowledge, strength and endurance this climber possesses, to master the environment in a way that will allow him to arrive safely at his destination, but also to return home victorious!

Like the climber, each of us is fully equipped from the start to meet the challenges the world will present to us. The difference between the climber and you and I, is we’ve misplaced our tools and live in fear that we don’t really have the ability, knowledge and power to overcome the elements. We’ve lost sight of the truth that we’re magnificently made human beings capable of mastering life’s myriad challenges that are presented to each of us on our journey to self-discovery. The truth is what you see is but a fraction of who and what you are.

This journey into thought I speak of, is a journey like none other. It’s the path on which you meet your authentic self, face to face and ultimately find what has, for too long been the lost treasure, which is none other then yourself, the real authentic you; the you that can only be found in the world behind your eyes.

It’s time to claim what I refer to as your territorial rights. This means you have the right of passage into your mind and heart, along with the ability to transform the thoughts and feelings that reside therein. The truth long forgotten is you can change and control your thoughts, words and actions and in all actuality, your destiny.

As an adult you have the tools of reason, decision making, thinking for yourself and the power to change your thoughts; it’s just that unknowingly, long ago, you relinquished this power to the well-intentioned family members, friends, co-workers, teachers, organized religions and others. In the process, as you grew, you lost yourself and your way to living authentically; therefore, instead of becoming what you think, dream, desire and envision for your life, you ultimately woke up one morning and discovered you are merely an imitation or by-product of what others have thought, dreamt, desired and envisioned for you.

Am I suggesting parents, teachers, family, friends and others have intentionally manipulated situations, circumstances or events out of a sadistic need to see you suffer or fail at living a fulfilled and rewarding life? Absolutely not! Quite the opposite! The well-intentioned people in your life want the best for you. It just so happens that what others desire for you, may not necessarily have been in your best interest, unless it was your desire as well.

Once upon a time thoughts rode on the wind infiltrating every corner of your young mind. You were told the ways of living in the world and as you were taught, so you adapted. You were taught that happiness and security are found in the right relationship, job, having a family, new house, car, furniture, winning the lottery, having the perfect waist size and more. For all the hype, as you came into your own, you found yourself lacking; the best kept secret being happiness is an inside job for which you’re responsible.

Your thoughts are the makers,

breakers, shakers and moving

force behind living your best life

You are not a Victim

Many of us are on automatic pilot. We find our body’s going through the motions of day to day life without finding the genuine and lasting love, joy, peace of mind, self-assurance and fulfillment, we crave. Each of us, in our own way, has played the game, obeyed the rules passed down to us and even conformed to