Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Don’t Feed the Animal!!

As I stood in the shower, an enlightening and profound thought popped into my head. The concept was not new, but the statement caught me in its simplicity and profundity.

DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

If I don’t want the stray kitten to hang around, grow, become attached and impossible to excommunicate – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!! So simple, yet so true.

“Why,” you might be saying, “Is this so profound to you, Herb?”

Because I look around in my own life and others and realize the reason we struggle is because we are FEEDING THE ANIMAL!! And in the shower it occurred to me that we are being dense.

If I don’t want to have thoughts and behavior hang around, grow, become part of my life and impossible to excommunicate – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL that is my thought life!!

If I don’t want hurt and anger to consume me – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

If I don’t want to struggle so hard with temptations of any kind – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

If I don’t want to be negative – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

And then, on the flip side, DO FEED THE ANIMAL you want to hang around, grow, become part of you want to be part of your life and impossible to excommunicate…

… right thoughts and behavior
… the opposites of the temptations that threaten
… forgiveness, love, patience
… positive thoughts

So simple, yet so profound and CHALLENGING to actually do.

Which animal will you feed today?

Boldly, Herb

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