“The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.
This quote by Emerson is not unfamiliar to those of us in the metaphysical world. I believe other great thinkers such as Einstein and Oliver Wendall Holmes have their own version of this idea. The question I have for all of us today is: Is it true? Have you felt your mind expand or stretch, only to go back to your old way of thinking?
What I know is that it takes daily stretching to keep my mind expanded. I’ve had my share of new ideas introduced to me. I’ve spent time focused on truths taught by the masters, my mind has been expanded and stretched. However, if I do not use the information, if I do not bring it into my life in some way, I will go back to my original size.
However, what make the quote true is that although I might go back to my original size in action, I can never forget the feeling of being expanded. It will always haunt me. I will always say, I once thought that way or that once happened to me when I changed the way I thought about my life.
I am thinking about this recently because I feel I almost allowed myself to un-stretch my mind. Hpwever, there was a part of me that remembered. I could have ignored this gentle whisper. I could have said no to it and continued down my old ways, but because the memory was still there, I followed the new neuro-pathway and made it strong again.
So, when people say you can rid yourself of old beliefs, remember this is true in a sense, but I think it is more about building new neuro pathways. “Neurons that fire together wire together. (Hebb’s Rule) Read more about this HERE.
In other words, you have to keep firing and wiring the new idea. Just because you’ve stretched doesn’t mean you are set for life. The spiritual journey is a daily practice. It is thinking above and beyond our present conditions. It is making sure we are not living in the consciousness of lack or disease that might be surrounding us.
The mind once stretched by a new idea can never go back to its original dimensions, but only if you keep stretching. What is your new idea today? Is it stretching your mind or shrinking it? We have plenty of ideas every day, plenty of thoughts. If they are stretching us to think in new and loving ways, they are worth stretching. If not, do not resist them, just don’t give them so much attention.
I use Spiritual Mind Treatment to reinforce the ideas I want to keep. This practice helps me to daily keep my mind going in the direction I desire. It puts me in the position of being a conscious thinker. To read more about Spiritual Mind Treatment, click HERE.
Love and Aloha,
Rev. Rita Andriello-Feren, Co-Spiritual Director, Spiritual Coach and Author
My new book “What Do I Need to KNOW? 101 Thoughts That Changed My Life” is available on AMAZON.
Love Changes everything 
I notice when the stretch of mind happens I have a euphoric feeling , an excitement that I really appreciate. Then the challenge emerges of what actions am I to take to bring something new into form. Over many years I now understand that I’m not alone in this work. I have so many helpers and guides in the next dimension! My work is to hold the new insights and ALLOW the entire team to participate. Whatever it is begins to simply unfold magically. I just work the pieces into place like a puzzle. It’s been a stretch to recognize it’s all about US and not me.
Thanks for your thoughts Rita! They inspire mine!!
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Thanks Glenn. Yes, the team does appear when we are clear. I appreciated your stretched mind.
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Sometimes I get really down when I realize that my mind has reverted to previous programming… as though I didn’t just do all that work to get to a new and better place! I use different phrases as mantras to represent things I’ve learned and to help guide myself back to the better place.
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