Use Imagery to Protect Yourself From Your Negative Thoughts

By: Maria Moratto
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:41:50
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Have you seen the film "Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban?" In the film, directed by the great Alfonso Cuarón, Harry learns how to conjure up the Patronus, a shield made out of pure light that will protect him against the evil forces of the dementors.

Based on the story, a dementor is a force that feeds on your most horrifying moments, making you relive them in a most dramatic and fearful way. A dementor takes away your happiness and, if you succumb to it, you will die in terror. A dementor has the ability to give you the kiss of death by removing your soul from your body with excruciating pain.

The Patronus shields the dementors away. To be able to call on it and therefore counterattack the power of the unhappy memories bestowed upon you by the dementors, Harry must be able to remember the happiest moments of his life. Only then, he can conjure the shield that will protect him from death.

Now, Patronus is a Latin word that has several similar meanings. According to the Etymology Dictionary, patron/patronus originated around 1300 and comes from the word pater (father), and means lord, master, protector, benefactor, advocate, defender, patron saint.

Harry's story is a lot of fun and very powerful. And it teaches us great things. It teaches, for instance, that the ability to conjure up the Patronus should not be relegated to a work of fiction, a creation, a fantasy as it is in Harry Potter.

It teaches us that we too, can conjure our own Patronus not only once but all the time. Our reality is such that dementors and the like are always lurking around to take away our happiness.

Now, who are our dementors? Right off the bat, I can think of a very powerful one: Our thoughts. Think about it.

How many times during the day does your mind tell you something that is absolutely not the Truth but that, nevertheless, has the power to remove your happiness for a certain period of time?

How many times during the day do you remember those who have aggravated you, or have tried to destroy you, or have maliciously implicated you in some ugly business, or have rejected you, or have left you, or have wounded you?

How many times during the day do you think about a situation that was unfair and that has made you sad, dejected, or unhappy?

How many times during the day do you think that you owe money, that you are broke, that you wish you could afford such and such, that you will never be able to get our of the hole?

How many times during the day do you think about this lousy job you are in, your detestable boss, your good for nothing co-workers, the reasons on why you put up with so much for so long?

How many times during the day you think about your children not doing their homework, your spouse not supporting you, you total inability to maintain peace in your household, or your lack of love and your loneliness?

The list goes on and on. You now realize that you have more dementors that you care to admit. They are most of all, those negative thoughts that attract more of the same, instead of changing your life for the better.

So, what do you when your dementors fill your mind? Catch them in the act. And, like Harry, point your wand towards them, think about the happiest moments of your life, and yell (aloud or not) with all your might: Expecto Patronus!

And see the ultra bright light that comes out to surround you and your mind and those thoughts who fill it. Be glad to notice your dementors losing their power and dissolving away. You are now protected.

Article source: Expert Articles