4-19 《If you want to change a root thought, you have to act before you think》
4-19 《If you want to change a root thought, you have to act before you think》
--------------------
> It’s a vicious circle when the thought is a negative
one. You’ve got to find a way to break out of the circle. So much of your present
experience is based on your previous thought. Thought leads to experience, which
leads to thought, which leads to experience. This can produce constant joy when the
Sponsoring Thought is joyous. It can, and does, produce continual hell when the
Sponsoring Thought is hellatious.
>
> The trick is to change Sponsoring Thought. I was about to illustrate how to do that.
>
> The first thing to do is reverse the thought-word-deed paradigm. Do you remember
the old adage, “Think before you act”?
>
> Well, forget it. If you want to change a root thought, you have to act before you think.
>
> (CWG 1:114)
--------------------
In Section 4-10, we discussed how deeply ingrained beliefs—the root thoughts that shape our lives—can be transformed by reversing the usual process of **thought → word → action**. Rather than waiting for our thoughts to change first, we express through our actions and words the person we wish to become.
In *Conversations with God*, this principle is illustrated through the example of an elderly beggar woman.
> You’re walking down the street and come across an old lady begging for
quarters. You realize she’s a bag lady and is living day-to-day. You instantly know
that as little money as you have, you surely have enough to share with her. Your first
impulse is to give her some change. There’s even a part of you that’s ready to reach
in your pocket for a little folding money —a one, or even a five. What the heck,
make it a grand moment for her. Light her up.
>
> Then, thought comes in. What, are you crazy? We’ve only got seven dollars to get
us through the day! You want to give her a five? So you start fumbling around for
that one.
>
> Thought again: Hey, hey, c’mon. You don’t have that many of these that you can
just give them away! Give her some coins, for heaven’s sake, and let’s get out of
here.
>
> Quickly you reach into the other pocket to try to come up with some quarters. Your
fingers feel only nickels and dimes. You’re embarrassed. Here you are, fully clothed,
fully fed, and you’re going to nickel-and-dime this poor woman who has nothing.
>
> You try in vain to find a quarter or two. Oh, there’s one, deep in the fold of your
pocket. But by now you’ve walked past her, smiling wanly, and it’s too late to go
back. She gets nothing. You get nothing, either. Instead of the joy of knowing your
abundance and sharing, you now feel as poor as the woman.
>
> Why didn’t you just give her the paper money! It was your first impute, but your
thought got in the way.
>
> Next time, decide to act before you think. Give the money. Go ahead!
>
> (CWG 1:114)
According to *Conversations with God*, if we wish to change the root beliefs hidden deep within us, we must sometimes act before our habitual thinking takes over.
The impulse to give is described as the voice of the soul—our intuitive and compassionate nature. The thought, “Do I really have enough to give?” is the voice of the mind, governed by reason, fear, and long-established beliefs.
In everyday life, we are often told, “Think before you act.” In many situations, this is wise advice. Yet *Conversations with God* offers a different perspective when it comes to transforming deeply rooted patterns of thought.
If we pause too long to analyze, our old beliefs may prevent us from embracing a new experience that the soul desires. In the example above, that new experience is abundance expressed through sharing.
When fear-based thinking repeatedly overrides the soul's impulse, the old belief becomes even more deeply entrenched. The cycle reinforces itself again and again.
To break that cycle, we sometimes need the courage to trust our highest impulse and take action before our familiar patterns of thought have a chance to talk us out of it.
In this way, a new experience is created, and through that experience a new belief gradually takes root.
---
--------------------
A request from the author: It would be great if you could introduce this page to someone who is interested in God and life. → URL: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8290ea/
--------------------
