The Mind

Our mind is a great servant but a dangerous master. If you don't have control over your mind it will take control over you.

You make decisions based on various aspects of something. If you were to give me a choice between reading a book or reading a textbook, I would choose to read the book. How did I decide? Well, it may instantly occur to you that a textbook is filled with facts and information while a book is something we read for relaxation. A textbook is categorized with homework, learning, and tests. While a book is something you read for fun. So, without even realizing it I would choose the book. This happens in our day to day lives. It becomes second nature for us to choose the so-called ‘easier’ option or to go with something that gives an instant reward. 

If I gave you a choice to eat ice cream now or eat double the amount of ice cream as a reward for a good day's work, most of us would choose to eat it now. You know the other option will be more beneficial in the long run but you still choose the first choice. Why? Because your mind controls you. Your mind doesn't want to do the work. It see's an easier path in receiving the reward so it chooses that path. If you choose the latter, then that is you being in control. You know that taking the ice cream as a reward is the better option because it will keep you motivated to finish your work. But almost every time we fail to make this decision. We give in to the wanting of our mind forgetting what we really need. At the end of the day you're just going to regret that you didn’t finish your work. 

So, how do we become the master? It’s simple really, you just have to be disciplined. You need to make rational decisions. But that's the hard part. Every morning you wake up saying ‘today i’m going to be productive’! You're motivated to get things done and most of the time you accomplish those tasks that you needed to do. But occasionally we don't finish our work, not because we didn't have time to, but because we let the mind be the master. 

We need to stand up again and take charge. This won't happen all of a sudden. You can't just say, ‘from today onward i’m going to write with my left hand’, if you have been right handed your entire life. Practicing to write with your left hand will gradually lead to being able to write easily with your left hand. In the same way, you have to gradually take back control. Start with the little things. You know how we turn on the TV and watch episode after episode and just keep going. Start by saying no to that third episode of the show. Instead, go take a walk outside. You will feel energized and ready to tackle any task. It will also relieve stress and anxiety. These small changes will start affecting us in big ways. With a little bit of effort you can be the boss of ‘you’.  

Let's work on ourselves together. For the next week we are all going to get up and go for a walk, you don't have to talk to anyone or listen to music, all you have to do is breathe in the fresh air. When you come back from your walk, stretch a little. Then you can start your day. After a week, if you feel like it’s worth it, continue your walks. If you dont, you can stop. Let’s start with this little step. After a few weeks analyse yourself. Do you feel different than before? Do you feel happier and energized? Do you feel like you're in control?

Our mind is powerful. Give it too much control and it will destroy. Train it right and it will create:)