Junk Mail

“A man’s foes are they of his own household,” and he who would be useful, strong, and happy, must cease to be a passive receptacle for the negative, beggardly, and impure streams of thought; and as a wise householder commands his servants and invites his guests, so must he learn to command his desires, and to say, with authority, what thoughts he shall admit into the mansion of his soul.

— James Allen, From Poverty to Power.

We all get junk mail weekly if not every day.

According to Wikipedia, junk mail includes.

“Advertising circulars, plastic mailers, coupons envelopes (Money Mailer Valpak),

catalogs, CDs, ‘pre-approved’ credit card applications,

and other commercial merchandising materials delivered to homes and businesses.”

Most times when I get these unwelcome items, I deposit them right in the outside garbage bin.

But sometimes I take them into my home, open them and read them to see just what they are offering.

Hmmm…. mortgage refinance? Sounds interesting.

Pre-approved credit card application? Pre-approved?

Whatever.

And that is just physical mail. There is junk email also. The Horror!!!! Just got one as I am writing this.

“NorthernTool.com- Shop Milwaukee deals | Save up to 40% — Don’t miss these deals!”

Deals look good. But nope…don’t need anything right now.

DELETE.

I love that key. There is so much power there. Almost as powerful as the backspace key.

I am sure they will hit me back up in a couple of days with a last chance email. That won’t work either.

Yet the emails keep coming. Even when you put it in spam, they still find a way back don’t they?

And even when you place the junk mail from the mailbox in the garbage bin outside there will be another one in your mailbox later like the bottom of your garbage bin has a portal to your mailbox.

I used to watch the show “Hoarders” because I saw how attachment can lead to chaos.

It all started with one item…just one. And years later they are buried alive.

I used to be that person that tossed nothing away. Not quite to the level of a hoarder but it was excessive to me, and I took control eventually.

There seems to be no way to stop the onslaught of this unwanted mail or email. I mean, they are our property, right?

Since they are on our premises and in our emails, they become our possessions…right?

I say no…they are not. We did not ask for them and even if we did ask for them via survey of some sort or just by being a part of the community, we don’t have to accept them as ours.

We can choose to entertain these or not.

Unwanted thoughts or feelings

So why do we choose to entertain every thought (and feeling) that comes into our minds?

Just because the thought is there in our head does that mean we have to make it the truth?

When a thought that we know will lead us into trouble enters our mind, why do we act on it?

Why can’t we just look at the thought, understand it and let it go?

Why can’t there be a delete or a backspace key for unwanted thoughts? Or is there one?

Perhaps reprogramming the ego is in a way a delete key.

Some thoughts are important though. That goes without saying.

There is valuable information that can be used and extracted from a thought if we are aware enough to not identify with it.

WHERE DO THOUGHTS COME FROM?

That is a deep question.

Some thoughts can come from the deep seeded programming we all have received since birth and how we were raised. This in turn becomes our ego.

With hoarders all the items they possess have become a part of their ego and to lose one item is like losing a part of themselves.

There is a thought, a memory or connection to every item. And we all do this more or less.

We all have that favorite mug. That favorite shirt. That favorite pair of jeans, etc.

And there is nothing really wrong with that. The problems start when we cannot detach and let them go.

Some thoughts are like junk mail that should have been not allowed to take root a while ago.

Instead, they are allowed to take root and create other thoughts of its kind and vibration.

The point is reached when defending that thought is natural because of the belief it is a part of the persona.

This is how a hoarder thinks and feels.

Thoughts, feelings, memories and relative truths become the persona or ego and now trying to dismantle the ego is incredibly difficult cause what is it without programming?

Through using simple awareness, a person can receive guidance from their spirit or intuition on how to deal with the thoughts and feelings from the egos (past conditionings and programming).

It is important to remember that most thoughts are reactionary in nature.

Take the time to look at a thought and see where it originated from.

Hundreds of thoughts pass through the mind daily and it is impossible to remember them all.

Go ahead.

Try and recall all the thoughts of even 24 hours ago.

Most are feelings without words.

It is impossible to stop them all. And we are not supposed to.

So what can be done about them then?

HOW TO DEAL WITH THOUGHTS PROPERLY

Simply noticing them without attachment is all that is needed. First realize that all thoughts are neither good nor bad.

They are relative truths that come from the ego.

They are just guideposts.

With awareness we can take a look at them and see if we want to allow them to take root or not.

A gatekeeper is needed. My gatekeeper is called “Y” (WHY?).

I simply ask myself why I am feeling this way?

Where did that thought come from?

Why am I angry?

And I answer until I get as close to the source as possible.

And I look at it. I study it.

I see the cause and effect there.

I see the happiness and the pain that programmed that particular thought and I see how all the thoughts are kind of from one source.

They have one thing in common and that is survival of the ego.

Even thoughts that are labeled as good can be harmful.

Thoughts of extreme happiness and joy can lead to uncontrolled actions just like hate and anger can if awareness and control are not there.

Feel the feeling but don’t act on it without balanced thinking. Only when the mind is clear, calm, passive and in stillness can the proper action be taken.

SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US

There is the choice of placing mail in the garbage or pressing the delete key to delete an unwanted email,

however,

we really don’t have the choice to not think certain thoughts.

As long as there is ego, thoughts are going to just come.

But remember that thoughts are just guideposts and you do not have to go where they are directing.

If time is taken to simply look at the thought without judgement or emotion and calmly think about where it could end.

Then the decision to take action or not to take action becomes obvious.

In time effortless decision making takes place leading to a balanced, uncluttered mind.

Deleting a thought may be impossible, backspacing and replacing the thought is achievable with awareness and practice.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my thoughts.