Watering your Seeds

There is a dharma talk that revolves around the idea that we all have all kinds of seeds in our minds. Positive ones, negative ones, etc. It's all about choosing to water the seeds you want to grow. So that whatever we do on a daily basis, those are the seeds we are choosing to water. If we are positive, lighthearted, and going with the flow, then we tend to maintain these positive ways. If we are negative, angry, and constantly ruminating on past hurts, then we tend to become more angry and negative.

I just had a great moment of insight catching myself watering my negative seeds and felt the cloud lift as I consciously decided to think more positively and focus on things more productive. It's hard to imagine that it can really be as simple as making the effort to change where in your mind you spend your time. I could focus on my fear and past hurts or I can focus on potential, opportunity and ways I can help myself out.

I think these habits are in large part adopted from your parents and how you were raised. I read a book about habits recently that talks about the way people express themselves and how that is a learned characteristic. Some people are gregarious and open with their emotions while others are reserved and have greater difficulty expressing emotion. This is tied to how one's parents act.

But like all learned behavior, it can be modified and/or unlearned if we put in the time and effort. I can choose to be a more optimistic person by choosing to think more positive thoughts. I can loose my negative tendencies by dropping the negative worries and letting those habits fade.

It all starts with awareness of where you currently are and what your mind is doing. If you don't see the habits, you have no chance of breaking them. Giving my mind some much needed compassion for it's tendency toward negativity. Giving it the space and freedom to find a more positive way.