The mind is powerful. It is amazing how if I really want to do something, I will do it. If I really do not want to do something, I will not do it. The challenge comes when you do not want to do something that you really should do. This is the hard part.
The mind will fight you, sometimes every step of the way. I think the trick is to start teaching the mind what the lowest threshold is. You see if you sleep in a lot, lay around and do nothing a lot, watch way too much tv, spend way too much time in other sorts of idle activity then the mind will become conditioned that it can get away with that.
I am starting to learn something. I have been waking up every morning at 5am for a long time now. I think 147 days in a row. I have not given myself an option. There is no alternative. When I wake up now, my mind does not even consider the option of not getting up and starting the day. The advantage to this is that I usually have half of my 365 list done before the day really starts. Of course my mind will start to negotiate everything it can to get around anything else that is hard work, but I have at least started a new baseline. Effectively trained the mind, or forced the mind into doing the basics.
Sort of weird, but it is absolutely true. There is a impulse driven, primal part of our brain that is extremely important for our protection and vital responses. We have to learn to train, control, recognize, and use that part of our brain to our benefit. I am trying this new technique of trying to recognize when I am being driven by this natural primal part of my mind. When I want to do something, for example make a purchase, I ask myself what is the core ambition for this want and where is it coming from? When someone does something to make me angry, I want to lash out and get very defensive – but I take a moment to think – where does this emotion come from?
Ignoring this and just letting this part of your brain take over now and then is truly behaving like Jekyl and Hyde. On one hand you have he capability of doing the right things, of choosing wisely, doing productive things that will help you and your society. The other part of your mind takes over however, and suddenly you are doing things out of character. Lashing out, acting erratic, angry outbursts and making unhealthy choices. Part of good habit forming is gaining ground against this very powerful part of your brain that is a well developed machine built on hundreds of thousands of years of evolution. Your spiritual mind, the thing that makes you you can also become very strong and learn to work with the powerful construct of the human body and mind.
Gaining mastery over the natural mind is required to be successful. I am starting to realize that solid habit forming is a way of creating new minimums, so that even when the natural mind gains the upper hand it still must operate within the confines of the new baseline you created.
Not sure who you are acting like this morning, Jekyl or Hyde – but I hope you realize that the real you is the one that has learned to work together for the combined benefit of your soul.
Guy Reams (197)
365 Member
