The mind is like the sea, it can be calmed or agitated.
A calmed mind promotes happiness, while an agitated mind can negatively impact our health and make us unhappy. So, what does it mean to have a calmed mind and how do we get one?
I want to explain what a calmed mind is by telling you what it is not. A calmed mind is not letting your thoughts wonder all day every day to the point that you no longer live in the moment. It is not living in a hurry, being constantly late, and living stressed out about things that have not happened.
Our mind was meant to be used, but when we are constantly making up stories in our minds that are far from the true and those stories start affecting our lives, it is time to stop and evaluate how intelligently we are using our minds.
Look at the following scenarios:
A calmed mind
As you prepare breakfast you enjoy the smell of coffee and the tranquility of your morning, you look through the window and realize the beauty of the day ahead of you. Afterwards you make time to sit down to think of possible solutions to a problem or what present to give your friend for his/her birthday.
An agitated mind
As you wake up, you start thinking about work. What are you going to tell you boss about the new project. You start preparing breakfast, but wait, you realized that your friend didn’t call you last night like she said she would, and you start thinking that maybe she is mad or jealous because you had a promotion and she didn't. You go as far as thinking that maybe your friendship isn't meant to be. In the meanwhile, you forgot to add salt to the eggs and ran the coffee machine without coffee. Your mind is going a hundred miles an hour and the multiple thoughts took you away from the moment. You even left your house without your wallet and phone and had to turn back to get them wasting time and money. Now you are late to work without really knowing what you are going to tell your boss about the project, are mad at yourself for forgetting things and also mad at your friend whose phone was stolen and couldn't call you.
Does this example resemble what you go through? Does a calmed mind looks more appealing?
When you have a calmed mind:
- You know that living the present moment is important because is the only real moment.
- You don't let others dictate how you feel.
- You know there is time for everything.
- You don't take things personal and avoid judging others.
- You are in peace with who you are.
- Circumstances outside of you don't make you overreact but instead you are calm enough to assess the situation and think clearly.
- You live with intention.
To practice having a calmed mind you can start with a deep breath and bringing your thoughts to the moment. The exercise of breathing and bringing thoughts to the moment is also known as Meditation. Meditation can help calm your mind.
Other things that can help calm your mind include taking a walk in nature, paying attention to how your body feels, listening to soft instrumental music, taking a yoga or qi gong class, and practicing mindfulness. Anything that gives your mind some focus at the same time that relaxes you can help. Now, having a calmed mind requires practice. If you are interested in helping your mind calm down, start by taking three deep breaths.