Mind from the Inside

[Arkilogue]

So I'm back to my original request: is there anyone there who has a sincere interest in studying what it's like to be themselves, and how different thoughts and processes affect them?  Is there anyone who has picked up neat little tricks they can do with their minds?

All right you want a trick? Just breathe out "thank you" with your eyes closed. Not addressed in any direction to anyone for anything at all. Just the pure expression of gratitude.

What it does for me: Brings the mind out of any spiral of self pity or circular complaint, and fills my heart with positive emotion. I've also gotten to the point where it can drop me right out of monkey mind monologuing and into the pure experience of the moment coupled with a small joyous sound in my soul. Gratitude can go a very very long way.

What a wonder when it's no longer just a reaction external stimulus and becomes a self generated quality.

The idea is not to get crazy manic happy, the goal is to smooth out the ruffles and irritations that lodge in our minds from both within us and the external world. The goal is peaceful equanimity with all things. Not up, not down, through.