How To Uplift Your Thoughts

How to Uplift Your Thoughts: Mantra, Pranayama and Meditation

One of my favorite sayings, loosely quoted from the Buddha, is:

Thought becomes word.

Word becomes deed.

Deed becomes habit,

and habit hardens into character.

So watch the thought and its ways with care,

And let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.

We are what we think and what we do. How often do we find ourselves angrily gesturing or muttering things at other drivers on the road for one reason or another? We believe that where they are going is less important than where we are going, and perhaps forget times we've done less-than-polite things while driving. The more we give in to the urge to say and do things out of annoyance and anger, the more likely we are to habitually, mindlessly react in ways that we might not be proud of in calmer times.

How many people have negative self-image, constantly insulting themselves over and over in their own minds? They have internalized the belief that they are not good enough, attractive enough, worthy enough to treat kindly, and to deserve all of the good things the world has to offer. This can lead people to make bad choices regarding friends, food, and other aspects of their lives.

Most people would probably say that they want to be positive people, with healthy self-esteem and love and patience for others. Fortunately, yoga and meditation are excellent tools for retraining our minds. Vipassana style meditation teaches us to observe our mental experience in a neutral way, rather than getting caught up in our thoughts and emotions. Hatha yoga practices show us all that our bodies are capable of, and prepare our minds and bodies for deeper changes. Kundalini yoga has countless mantras, pranayamas, and meditations which can be used to clear our minds and draw good things into our lives. Adding these tools to our routines will help us to clear out negativity, and to keep a watchful eye on the things our minds tell us.

One of my tools for shifting my thoughts from negative to positive is mantra. Particularly if I am upset or annoyed with another person, whether it's a relative or a stranger on the road, is to chant or pray for their happiness. Nothing softens the heart like mantra! I love the mantra “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu” and Wah! has an amazing version on her album Lokha-Gayatri.

Pranayama is another way to shift our energy and calm our minds. Much has been written about the link between breath and emotion, so let me simply say that with your breath you have an incredibly powerful tool at your disposal. You could a simple practice like Alternate Nostril Breathing, or something more complex like Burning Inner Anger. Praana Praanee Praanayam is an amazing resource for numerous breathing practices and kriyas which harness the breath to change our lives.

Meditation comes in many styles and forms. Whatever style you choose, the end goal is the same. Peace of mind, heart, and spirit. Yogi Bhajan shared wisdom on using meditation to achieve inner peace in the lecture Inner Peace Through Meditation.