Emotional baggage, ” which is carried over from the past, colors our perceptions. Likewise, past conclusions and beliefs, based on reasoning that may or may not have been accurate, also tint our perception of reality. Retaining our capacity for reason is common sense, but definite conclusions and beliefs keep us from seeing life as it really is at any given moment. Emotional reactions can be unreasonable, and reason can be flawed. It’s difficult to have deep confidence in either one, especially when they’re often at war with each other. But the universal mind exists in the instant, in a moment beyond time, and it sees the universe as it literally is. It’s the universe perceiving itself. It is, moreover, something we can have absolute confidence in, and with that confidence, we can maintain a genuinely positive attitude. H.E. Davey
About This Quote

When we hear this quote from Nelson Mandela, we often think about how much love and humanity he was carrying. The quote is not about emotions, but more about the power of perception. When we perceive something, our mind takes in the information and carries it over to the next time we see or experience that thing. If we think of something negatively, it will affect our attitude towards that thing. If we think of something positively, it will affect our attitude towards that thing.

Source: Japanese Yoga: The Way Of Dynamic Meditation

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