You might have heard, ‘If you have a racing mind, you have to learn to calm it down and go into a meditative state.’ – but how many of us can actually hope to remain in a thoughtless meditative state for more than a second?
How do we then calm our racing minds and get hold of the anxiety that comes along with it?
Neurologists have concluded that the constant stream of thoughts that we have is something that has helped in our evolution. It is supposed to be a useful trait we developed over centuries.
They confirm that our endless stream of thoughts serves two main functions – help us develop a sense of self and make sense of others around us. This allows us to preempt dangers and find our place in societal living.
However, this trait when left unchecked has the capacity to make or break our worlds. And even though controlling it might take a few years of practice, I have found that directing it works immediately and gives wonderful results.
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By directing, I mean give the brain something interesting and fun to think about instead of letting it wander into anxious thoughts. So, if you know you will be engaged in an activity that does not require your 100% attention, for example when cooking or going for a walk, think about an exciting upcoming trip or activity that needs to be planned.
You can try to give the brain a problem that you have been trying to solve at work. You can even engage in wishful thinking. Go a step further, and in your mind, go to the place you love or would like to visit in the future.
These are some ideas you can try out to make use of your wandering mind.
Another interesting play that you can engage in is to become an observer of your thoughts. When you find yourself lost in thought, see if you can pause and check in with the stream of thoughts running in your mind. Say out loud that ‘my mind is thinking about ____’. And repeat this exercise throughout the day.
You might be surprised at how your subtle thought process directs your actions throughout the day. It defines your relationships and your success in different endeavours.
If your thoughts are leading to anxiety, speak to a therapist or write a journal. This brings to your conscious, the things you are anxious about. They will help direct you to a solution based thinking, rather than a worry based thought pattern.
We lead a very busy mental life, make sure you are aware of this chatter and directing your energies to where you want them to. All of us can do these simple exercises to get familiar with our inner worlds.
Author: Jyoti Dabas, Founder and CEO, Institute of Nutrition and Fitness Sciences (INFS)
