This Halloween see your own ghost

Here’s how:

Identify your conscious ‘thinking’ mind: try simultaneously solving 2 simple math problems – or simultaneously counting and reciting the alphabet. Right – your conscious mind (the part you hear and use all day long to make decisions and solve problems) can only do one thing at a time. It functions like your heart and lungs: single, constant, consecutive beats, breaths and thoughts.

Identify your subconscious ‘doing’ mind: count backwards from 100 and pat the top of your head. Knowing that your conscious mind can’t do two things at once, you’re experiencing your subconscious mind in action (it’s moving your hand). Keep counting backwards and patting the top of your head – and get up and walk. Right. Your subconscious mind, the usually quiet part responsible for bodily functioning, multitasks beautifully.

Distinguishing between these two invisible parts of your mind has huge practical benefits. Since your conscious mind can only focus on one thing at a time, the next time you’re feeling anxious or stressed, recite the alphabet (or count) backwards. As long as this part of your mind is preoccupied, your anxiety and stress will dissipate. (Like your mother used to say, it helps to “Count to 10!”)

Identify your consciousness: your awareness is also invisible. The awareness OF what you’re thinking and doing is distinct from – and much subtler than – your thoughts and actions. While your thoughts change constantly, your awareness OF them never does. Your consciousness or awareness hasn’t changed since you were born!

Distinguishing between the immutable awareness OF your temporary thoughts and actions, and your body and mind can be life altering. Realizing that there’s a LOT more to yourself than you hear in your head and see in the mirror will open your heart to faith in the existence of the source of your own awareness.

Faith in the existence of a higher invisible, eternal power provides serenity, courage and wisdom as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death. This All-Hallows evening, and always, find succor in realizing the greater context of the fleeting, miraculous nature of your earthly experience!

Count to 10, and ‘see’ the difference between the counting and the awareness that you are counting. At first glimpse, you’ll think you’ve seen a ghost!!

Blessings, Allan Dowds 🙏❤️🕉