Get the Most from Yourself – Chapter 8

In previous issues of Computer Times, we printed a 26-month series from the book titled Get The MOST from Yourself, by Dr. Terry Kibiloski.  This is the ninth article of that series.

Image of Dr. Terry Kibiloski's smiling face

Connecting the Body, Mind, and Spirit

The human system is similar to the personal computer system, with three major parts – the body (hardware), the mind (software), and the spirit, or soul, (user).

We are spirits having a human experience!

To maintain the human system it’s important to understand:

  • Body specialists (doctors) help maintain our human body.
  • Mind specialists (psychologists) help maintain our human mind.
  • Spirit, or soul, specialists (priests, ministers, rabbis, etc.) teach us how to effectively use our body and mind. The ideal teacher is the Creator of our body and mind.

If you can understand the similarity between the computer system and the human system, you are on your way to getting the MOST from yourself. Let’s now look at some important principles.

  • As the computer operator uses the hardware and software to have a computing experience, our spirit uses the body and mind to have a human experience
  • Our overall health depends upon a harmonious relationship between our body, mind and spirit
  • Our human system seeks harmony and ease, not dis-ease

In the past three months, we looked at the principles involved in having a healthy body, mind and spirit. This month we summarize the past several months.

At this point, you should have a good understanding of our main principle –

  • We are spirits having a human experience.

You should also understand that our spirit controls our mind and, in turn, our mind controls our body; and how this interaction requires a healthy body, mind and spirit for us to get the MOST from ourselves.

We’ve shown you how our body is a walking miracle with its complex design and its natural healing ability. We pointed out that our body must be in good shape for its natural healing ability to work properly, and looked at the five essential elements our body needs for good health – fresh air, good water, nourishing food, adequate exercise, and proper rest.

We looked at how thought triggers biological responses in our body; and how negative thoughts can cause an ulcer, weaken our system and make us more susceptible to diseases like cancer and heart disease. We also looked at how positive thoughts strengthen our system and protect us from many diseases, placing our body in a state of ease, not dis-ease. Then, we discussed how recent studies suggest our thoughts (motives) can dramatically affect those around us, and how no words need to be spoken for the feeling to permeate the situation.

After showing you how to achieve a healthy body and mind, we introduced you to the “real” you, your spirit, the center of your thoughts. We reemphasized how all actions begin with a thought, how positive thoughts can generate happiness and health, and how negative thoughts can bring stress and disease. Norman Vincent Peale told us to change our thoughts to change our world, and the Bible tells us the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6 NIV). We pointed out that you cannot simply think to make it so, you must also “become” what you think about. Webster defines “become” as to undergo change or development.

This is powerful stuff! While it may sound simplistic, it is truly at the core of happiness and success. Our thoughts control our bodies (whether we want them to or not), and they directly influence the outcome of every situation we encounter. What made you swim one day, when the day before you couldn’t swim? It was your thinking. You didn’t suddenly sprout fins, or grow webbed feet, you simply believed you could swim, and you did. Your thinking made it so. What clinched your last sale, or business deal? It was your thinking. It wasn’t the cologne you were wearing, or your power tie, you simply believed you could do it, and you made it happen.

The fact is, there are no “10 steps to success” or “10 steps to happiness.” The way to be successful and happy is to think successful and happy. The basic difference between a successful, happy person and an unsuccessful, unhappy person is the way they think.

In Wayne Dyer’s book Gifts From Eykis, Eykis echoes the profound statement “There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.” The scriptures of every major faith also tell us that the kingdom of heaven, or true happiness, is within, not found in some “10 step” program.

So many people search for happiness outside themselves, in material possessions, alcohol, drugs, sex, and in other people. Yet, the real magic comes from within, much like it did to Scrooge in the classic Christmas Carol.

It is important that you understand the world, and the people in it, do not have to change for you to be happy and fulfilled. When a blind person is suddenly able to see, has the world changed? Of course not. The person changed. In the same way, when you are able to see that success and happiness come from within, the world will not have to change for you to realize a whole new dimension in your life. A wonderful adventure awaits you!

Before we show you how to apply the key principles we’ve discussed so far, it may be helpful for you to review those principles listed below.

As you review them, write down your thoughts about each one. You may want to put them in your own words, or write down examples from your own life experience that relate to each of the principles. You may also want to highlight those that are still a bit confusing. Make any notes that may be helpful to you as you progress on your journey to getting the MOST from yourself. There are no correct answers, or a “right” way to make notes about these principles. Whatever works for you is the “right” way for you. Label these thoughts ‘My Thoughts On Key Principles.”

  • Our universe, our business, our family, our human self are all systems, existing through the cooperation of many smaller supporting systems.
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “We become what we think about all day long.”
  • Norman Vincent Peale taught us to “Change your thoughts and you change your world.”
  • The Bible teaches us “The mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace (Rom. 8:6 NIV).”
  • We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
  • As the computer operator uses the hardware and software to have a computing experience, our spirit uses the body and mind to have a human experience.
  • The greatness, the ultimate success, of our human system depends on our spirit, the creator of our thoughts.
  • The biggest influence on our life is our thoughts, the way we think.
  • There is a direct relationship between sowing positive thoughts and reaping positive rewards.
  • You may not do everything you love, but you can still love everything you do.
  • Positive thoughts can be applied to all situations and processed into positive feelings, attitudes, and actions.
  • YOU control your thoughts.
  • You become what you think about all day long.
  • You are the sum total of all the choices YOU have made.
  • The choices you make are directly linked to the image, the thoughts, you have of yourself.
  • First, develop an image of a happy and successful YOU, and then fill your mind with positive, supporting thoughts.
  • Happiness and success come from inside, not from outside of you. You are in total control.
  • Success is something internal, an attitude, a positive image.
  • The primary difference between a highly successful, happy person and someone who has little success and happiness is the way they think.
  • Success is not something you get from a job. Success is something you bring to the job.
  • “Arriving” people are successful every day of their lives. Success is something they bring to everything they do.
  • Success is “arriving” in the present, not “striving” for the future.
  • “Striving” involves a lot of effort and energy and leaves you in a state of struggling – a never ending journey, characterized by the disease called “MORE.” “Striving” people always want MORE.
  • “Striving” people spend a lot of time chasing external things for their happiness, and blaming external things for their lack of happiness.
  • “Arriving” people realize happiness and success are internal, spiritual in nature.
  • Inner peace must be found within our own spirit.
  • In the best-seller book of the 1970s, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Jonathan told Fletch “Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding (your spirit), find out what you already know, and you’ll see the way to fly.”
  • Are you finding a common thread flowing through these key principles? One thing you should realize at this time – you already have everything you need to be happy and successful in this human experience.

Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND.

Much more next month . . . Get the Most from Yourself – Chapter 9

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This file is protected by copyright laws. It may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the expressed permission from the author, Dr. Terry Kibiloski. Readers who purchase a copy of this file from Computer Times, may make a printed copy for their personal use only.