Could You Be a Slave to Your Lying Mind?

If you saw the film Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) a few years ago, you may recall that in the opening scene, Keaton’s character, Riggan Thomson, is sitting in a classic meditation pose, levitating in the middle of the room. We’re to wonder, Has this person actually trained his mind so well that he can float in midair?

We also experience his ego taking the form of a large talking Birdman character, one minute telling Riggan how he’s all washed up, then alternately that he is better than everyone else—a veritable superhero. The writers of this film obviously understand Bi-Polar disorder.

Soon we realize the truth, about Riggan. He sees imaginary beings, hears voices, even conjures telekinetic powers, apparently moving objects at will.

And of course, once this becomes apparent we also realize that, No, this person has certainly not learned to ascend into the middle of a room while sitting in a lotus position. These powers exist only as delusions in Riggan’s mind.

As Riggan continues to lose himself inside his thinking, his real-life spirals out of control. Incredibly he remains devoted to his own ego, placing It over those he’s supposed to love.

It’s quite tragic, really. But isn’t it also disturbingly classic—and typical of anyone who becomes lost inside their own heads? They become a slave to their lying mind.

The grand idea that man’s thoughts can willfully convert ideas of the imagination into reality, and affect outcomes through sheer willpower rather than creativity, is quite a spectacular concept. This is a Godlike power that a highly developed Ego-Self simply cannot refuse.

It is irresistible, filled with visions of glory and greatness, impossible for the dyed-in-the-wool egoist to defend against.

Why do you think so many copies of “Think and Grow Rich” and all the modern versions of the same philosophy are still sold today. Anxious, self-indulgent suckers are always searching for easy glory, and lower Self takes over to gain control of the mind.

It’s a con, where every unconscious human being gets trapped inside a self-induced dream state.

The only way back to soundness is a restoration of the original mindfulness with which he was born.

Intellectually reasoned thought is artificial, and a distraction masking what would otherwise be exposed by conscious awareness.

You won’t know it while it’s happening, but the hypnotic effect of affirmations and positive thinking are a narcotic to the brain, inducing limbic responses identical to those of any of the psychoactive drugs. It is a self-induced mind-altering chemistry, the same as the most potent antidepressant prescription.

Internal happy talk is the false-positive version of judgment. Instead of fretting and worrying about a dismal outcome you engage with the thought stream into a fantasy of positive outcomes. The problem is you are still in a fantasy. It’s a high.

Is it any wonder then that people become addicted to their own thoughts?