The powers of the mind in the subconscious areas are considerable and can make a significant difference to how you interpret and respond to what happens to you, to the things that you attract, and to your overall quality of life experience.

But, and this is a very big "but", these subconscious powers do NOT create everything that happens to you.

In the bigger picture scheme of things these powers of the mind are actually very limited.

The self-help gurus who tell you that you can have or be anything you want are propagating a "misdirection" (to put it politely) in their overstatement of a partial truth.

The reason for this "misdirection" and overstatement of the partial truth is quite simply because they tell you what you want to hear, it panders to what you want to believe, it appeals to your ego. It puts "me" in control of "my life". (Or so we would like to believe.)

However, life is infinitely more complex than we can comprehend, and it also inter-connected and inter-dependent in ways that we do not conventionally fully appreciate.

The real powers of the mind lie elsewhere...

What we are talking about here is a process that involves an experience of profound inner transformation when what you previously thought of as your self with its very limited powers of the mind is transcended by an inner awareness or consciousness of an infinitely larger Self with infinitely greater powers.

This process of transformation may happen quickly or more often over a period of time.

As this transcendent awareness emerges or arises you experience a form of "rebirth" or deep awakening. (This is why this is referred to as being "born again" in certain Christian circles.)

Having awoken or been "reborn" you can't "unexperience" it and it leads to a complete paradigm shift where your deepest focus is on this infinitely larger Self rather than that which you previously thought of as "me".

This does not mean that you completely lose all sense of "me", you don't, a healthy functioning ego is essential to operate in this world. The difference is that your "little self" now knows where it fits into the overall scheme of things and specifically in relation to your transcendent or higher self. Or to put it another way, you realise your true nature and who you really are.

This "crossing of the threshold" and entering into awakening or rebirth does not lead to an instantaneous transformation of your whole existence - this is an ongoing process that takes a lifetime.

Contrary to what many teachers in the major religions will tell you, the words, concepts and context of how you experience this, how you frame it and articulate it doesn't really matter - this only leads to argument and division. This is not so much faith-based as experience-based.

The greatest contribution in the Buddhist expression of this experience is the emphasis on non-duality and a unitive consciousness. The greatest contribution in the Christian expression is the relational aspect of your limited self/ego to your highest Self - aka God! (Yes I know, another paradox!) Both are important and we will explore this in more depth and detail.

You will experience many inner conflicts as the ego (your previously thought of idea of "me") resists this new awakening and you will face many trials, tests and tribulations in your spiritual journey.

If it's that much hassle, why would you want to persist? Simply because there is no other way, you can't "unlearn" what you know. Think of Neo in "The Matrix", once you have taken the red pill everything changes and you enter a new dimension.

The difference between the pre and post awakening state is massive. Your whole reason for being, your purpose in life and your mode of operation and our overall experience of life is very different. You experience a profound sense of peace and of having "come home".

This is where you encounter the greatest powers of the mind as you align yourself and your whole life with an infinitely greater plan and purpose....