How to quiet down the mind
The life we perceive is directly based on our internal thoughts.
Every thought raises from our own past experience.
If I see war, I start thinking injustice, horror, insecurity.
When I see someone doing something I dislike, my thoughts are going toward judgement, anger, hatred, impatience.
When we think these thoughts, we create negative emotions. When these emotions are repeated over and over, it becomes feelings. These feelings create belief systems which shapes our personality.
What are belief systems exactly?
Definition may differ from different school of thoughts, but here is a great definition below:
A belief system is a collection of thoughts and convictions that an individual or group holds about how the world works, encompassing everything from spirituality to ethics, and these thoughts dictate actions and decisions.
Every each and one of us have a specific and unique way of seeing and interpreting the world. It is a perspective, which we believe to be true.
This is when problems arise. When we start believing something as truth, when actually it is just the result of our understanding, from our point of view.
I give you this image to illustrate it:
Imagine you go on top of the Eiffel Tower. Depending on where you are placed, you will see some part of the city (one point of view). If you move 180 degrees, you will see another part of the city (another point of view).
Which one is right? Which one is the truth? All and none. Our perspective is only part of the whole picture.
What do my thoughts have to do with my life?
Where we focus our attention, we create it in our reality.
When we start to believe that the world is dangerous, that our life is miserable, we focus our attention on the problems. All our energy is monopolized by the same thoughts of powerlessness, misery and pain. Because our body is an extension of our mind (with the Central nervous system), what we think has a direct impact on our body (pain body, heart rate changes, panic attacks, digestive problems...).
The question we should ask ourselves is who is thinking these problems?
The answer is within us. Every single thought which has created a belief system is keeping us onto the same loop. All the constructs of the mind we have built over the years are reinforcing our own misery. We are creating our own jail, and the walls are made of beliefs of fear, anger, judgement and so on.
I often hear around me people telling me about the condition of the world (me included), or how life is difficult.
Who is thinking that? our Mind! Based on what we have learned from our past. it is a survival mechanism that holds us back from liberation and freedom. Our mind and body keep us into the same habit of negative thoughts and feelings.
The reason is because we think the answer is outside, that someone, a group, a government, a community will save us all.
Because we feel powerless, we stay in a victim mode. I can't change the world, so there is nothing I can do apart from suffering by keep feeding on sad stories of the world.
While we cannot change the world, nor the people, there is ONE thing we can change: Ourselves! The way we think, the way we behave and the way we feel.
Some of you may think it is selfish to do that. Once again, ask yourself who is thinking that? The mind that has been conditioned to suffer for others. This keeps us in our victimhood.
Where we focus our attention, we focus our energy. This is one of the concepts from quantum physics. This video of 9 minutes is a great explanation from Dr Joe dispenza.
How to break free from the same loop pattern?
Becoming aware of our thoughts is the fastest way. We start to see our own patterns. I like this analogy of the movie director who can see the actor acting in his own movie. The director, with his different and broader point of view can redirect the actor to act differently.
As long as we stay the actor of our own movie (aka, our life), we cannot become conscious of our unconscious patterns.
To become the observer, the mind needs to quiet down first.
The easiest way is using meditation. Just by observing the breath between your upper lip and nostrils, any new thought coming in, welcome them, without attaching yourself onto it.
There are wonderful meditation apps or YouTube channel that can guide you.
In your own town, you can find a mindfulness center and start practicing. It is always better to start with someone to guide you. The beginning may seem impossible or hard, but just starting with a few minutes per day, can already make a big change in your life.
The key is to go back within and become this observer. Observe your own breath. Observe the thoughts coming in without attachment. Go back to the breath over and over.
This article talks about the power of mass meditation during war time.
Below are a few free places you can go to start your own inner journey.
Heart math Institute - How to bring coherence between heart and brain.
Dr Joe Dispenza official website - Scientific research
Insight timer app - Some free meditation and courses
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