How to use the mind?         Part -2

In the last article, we just understood various aspects of mental health, symptoms and factors contributing to unstable mental health, significance of maintaining healthy mind and all of what we can do to maintain stable, healthy mind.

In this article, we are going to focus on using the mind in effective way to improve and maintain healthy mind.

 Powers to achieve our goal

We have 2 powers to achieve our goal. 1.Muscle 2. Mind. Ex:  Porter is one who needs to use lot of Muscle power. A Teacher is one who needs to use Knowledge to share. Surgeons need skills in operating humans while the Innovators need ideas to build creative products. Based on the requirement, one needs to invest time and energy to strengthen the power for efficient and productive usage.

The physical form of the mind is the brain. We will currently focus on the mind. In future articles, we will also see how the current trend in the world of technology is mimicking the brain and trying to use maximum power of brain, which is called as Artificial Intelligence.

The mind comprises of the following components:

The power with which we think is “mental dynamite,” and it can be organized and used constructively for the attainment of definite ends. If it is not organized and used through controlled habits, it may become a “mental explosive” that will literally blast one’s hopes of achievement and lead to inevitable failure. —Andrew Carnegie

Having seen the above components of the mind, we need to agree with Napolean Hill who said – “ Whatever mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” Which is why it is so important for positive thinking. This is the basic principle in enhancing the good and stable mental health.

 

States of Mind Conscious

Mind comprises of 2 states.

Courtesy :https://www.yourvibration.com/2943/iceberg/

1.       Conscious State: The state of immediate experiences Ex: mind that is working right now - while I am writing this or you reading this line etc. Only 10% of mind comprises of this state of mind.

2.       Subconscious State:  The stored memory which is not conscious but can be brought to conscious state. Ex: What did you have for breakfast today ? The response can be brought from memory to current conscious state. This state is around 90% of the state of mind.

Prof William James from Harvard University said – “Even the most successful people use up to 10% maximum of their mind power.”

Conscious part works only when we are awake while Subconscious state works all 24 hours, making things happen based on our habitual thinking.

Conscious state is responsible for setting goal, Subconscious mind achieves the goal.

Benefits for using subconscious mind

1.      Build Self Confidence
2.      Reduce Anxiety, Fear and stress
3.      Kick in your choice for execution
4.     Heal oneself
5.    Unleash your full potential for effective living,
6.    Stable, healthy mental state
7.     Scientific way of relaxation
8.    Law of attraction
9.    Power of thoughts, belief
10.    Problem solving

How must we use the mind?

Some of the techniques that are practical and in vogue are :

1.       The full potential of a person is unleashed only if maximum mind power is utilized. Conscious mind is the director, the subconscious mind takes the orders based upon what conscious mind believes. The subconscious mind is the executer of the body. Ex: If the body is aching, if we keep thinking about the ache, the ache keeps increasing.  Hence it is important to do positive self-talk almost always for wonders to happen in our lives. Technique called as Visualization or Mental Imagery is very useful.  Olympic Gymnastic players are trained in this technique to imagines completing in ‘x’ secs during their practice sessions. Ex: If you have exam anxiety, start practicing deep breathing, relax your mind and body, imagine that you are entering the hall, reading the question paper, you are able to recollect answers for each question, able to write well within time and able to come out of the hall. This should become a habit, since the rehearsal would have cultivated into a habit, the real exam would have become familiar and whether or not you are able to answer all questions. Of course, answering all questions will solely depend on your preparation & recollecting!!

2.       To remove discord, confusion, lack, and limitation, the cause has to be removed and not think about changing environment and circumstances. Cause is the thought and imagery happening in the conscious mind. Ex: If there is a traffic jam, getting irritated is of no use, the situation is not under our control, if the cause of irritation like, am I feeling tired due to delay? or is it some urgent work that has suddenly cropped up? Based on the reason, one can start on the problem solving or solution approach. The intelligent, conscious mind will suggest various options. Argumentative method - reasoning where you convince the patient and yourself that his sickness is due to his false belief, groundless fears, and negative patterns lodged in his subconscious mind

3.       Look within for answers.  The subconscious has the answer to all problems. If you suggest to your subconscious prior to sleep, “I want to get up at 5 A.M.,” it will awaken you at that exact time. Sleeping technique – relax body, mind, in the sleepy state, repeat the change that you want to see in yourself, slowly for about 10 mins. This is like inducing the subconscious mind

4.       Affirmation technique: To affirm is to state that it is so, and as you maintain this attitude of mind as true, It is belief(thought) statement towards health, harmony, peace for oneself or others. Never think or say “I can’t do it” or “I can’t afford it” for a cause which has virtue of its own, or that which doesn’t affect anyone negatively. Sentences and imagination should be that things happen according to how positively, effectively that you desire. Subconscious mind can’t reason like conscious mind. As we sow the conscious mind, so we reap the benefits.  All things that have happened are based on thoughts impressed on our subconscious mind through belief. The constructive, harmonious thoughts should be frequently repeated for the subconscious mind to accept, leading to new and healthy habits of thought and life. To get the subconscious to work for us, we need to keep conscious mind busy and habitually positive thinking. Ex: If for no reason somebody says that you are looking sick, pale, it is up to your conscious mind to accept or negate with logic. The negative suggestion should have no power on you to accept.

5.       Prayer asking with a belief and hope is positive thought. It is affirmation with strong belief that your request to God will be fulfilled. Also, thanks giving is acknowledging that affirmation is fulfilled. The hope increases, positivity increases and this becomes a habit of positive faith.

All of the above requires some kind of knowledge to the mind. To acquire that, we need to read books, seek information on media of the same kind. Be in the company of positive people, since observational learning is the quickest and most effective ways of learning. Keep practicing till the skill is developed.

Conclusion

Our Patanjali, Yoga Exponent of 200 BCE spoke about – “When you are inspired by some great purpose, all of your thoughts break their bonds, your mind transcends limitations. Consciousness expands in every direction. You will find yourself in a new, wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents are unleashed and you discover yourself to be far superior a person than you dreamt to be. The best examples are Ms. Jessica Cox (first armless pilot), Ms.Arunima Sinha( first female amputee to scale Mount Everest),  Mr.Barack Obama and his brother Mr. Malik Obama (healthy mindset and attitude of Barack, while is brother is still sulking in Kenya), Dr.Abdul Kalam ( from newspaper selling), Shree Narendra Modi (from tea selling) etc