How To Radically Improve Your Everyday Experience Of Life In Two Simple Steps

Can you do something for me?

Tell me?

Please don't think tomorrow.

What?

Yeah, you heard me. You have been thinking everyday, every moment, all the time since you were born. Can't you just stop it for one day?

Well, no?

You can't stop? You mean you don't have a choice. You can't stop thinking even if you want to. That sounds like an addiction.

Thinking is an addiction. From the moment we wake up the voice in our heads and the mind's eye become activated. We barely notice them while they dictate our lives. The mind-radio starts off and goes about chattering, commanding, threatening, pleading, talking, complaining and so on. The mind's eye gives you glimpses of past, present, future and motivates your moment-by-moment behavior.

Most of us are not even aware of the presence of this mind-radio and MTV (Mind TV) inside our heads.

Worse, some think, that they are this Mind Radio and Mind TV.

You are not what you think.

I am not?

No, you are not.

Cool. Then what am I?

You tell me.

Tell you what? I am a human being.

Exactly, you are a human being, not a human thinking.

What does that mean?

I mean a couple of things. Let's take them one my one

Your mind has the capability to go into the past or into the future. So it keeps going here, there, everywhere. You think about the past, you worry about the future. The present ? the only moment when you experience life, is ignored.

You can "be" only in the present. Not in the past, nor in the future. It is only in the present, in the NOW that you can exist.

'Thinking' can be in past, future or present. 'Being' is only in present. When you think about the term "peace of mind" ? what are you thinking about? Are you thinking about a quiet, tranquil mind or are you thinking about a chattering, noisy mind playing around 7 TV channels simultaneously.

If I stop thinking, won't I become dumb? Thinking is important.

You will be wise. Thinking is important. But only focused thinking. Thinking with a purpose is important. Thinking with an end-result in mind is important. For example, when you brainstorm to develop new ideas to solve a business problem, that's vital. But thinking 'just like that' is your mind wandering aimlessly. It's like generally walking on the roads of a town without any idea of where you are going or where is it that you want to go. And just like aimless wandering, it doesn't get you anywhere and it makes you tired. Focused thinking makes you energetic, motivated and grateful. Aimless thinking makes you like a directionless floating leaf, your emotional state dependent upon whatever thought pops up in your head next.

Hey, that makes sense. Cool. How do I go about doing this non-thinking stuff?

It's not a question of non-thinking. It's a question of being. You are not trying to think yourself out of thinking. The choice is to "be" instead of "think".

Hmm? How do I just.. Be? Are you going to ask me to meditate on the flame of a candle for one hour at sunrise everyday?

It would be great if you could do that. But no, I wouldn't ask you to do that. (Though it would still be great if you could do that? how about half-hour, 15 minutes?)

I am just going to ask you to do two things?, which you can do everyday, all the time, any time, whenever you remember to do them, with the hope that you remember to do them pretty often

Watch yourself thinking ? Catch yourself thinking: Watch your thoughts. You are not your thoughts. (You say ? I am thinking? who is this I?) Notice your thoughts whenever possible, as you would observe a specimen in a laboratory. Don't judge. Don't get involved. Don't get attracted or distracted. Just observe. Be curious and just see how you think. Notice. Observe. The moment you realize that you are not the thinker; you start observing your mind thinking. The moment you do this, a 'higher consciousness' becomes activated inside your head. You start accessing intelligence beyond thought. Chances are, if you keep doing this, one fine day ? you will observe your thoughts and smile, as one would smile upon seeing the antics of a monkey. This is the one of the ways of freedom from thought.

Become intensely conscious of the here and now. Learn how to just be. How can you just be? By being aware of the present moment. By being present in the now. Take a routine activity, like say washing your hands and completely focus on it. Be involved ? fully. Watch the transparent water bounce happily in your palm, feel the coolness of water against your skin, watch the lines of your palm glistening against the droplets of water, hear the sound of water splashing and splooshing in your hands. Or even breathing. Breathing is like the most routine activity you can possibly do. Observe your breath. Feel it. Pay attention to it. You will suddenly feel much more alive. This is because you have brought your mind from the past or the future or wherever it was to focusing on the NOW. On the present moment. Think about this. Why do you feel relaxed when you go on a vacation or to the zoo or the beach? This is because; you suddenly are focusing, paying attention to what is around you. You are experiencing whatever is around you with all your senses, to the fullest. You are completely engrossed in looking at the waves of the ocean or the animals or the trees ? and you feel inner peace. This is so much unlike how we spend our days ? by focusing on everything except what our experience is right now. (Here is another bit of info, all pain exists in the past, all worries exist in the future ? the now is perfect) This is literally living for the moment, because you will always live in the moment, never in what was or what might be?

That's it. No time to take out to do an exercise or stick to a routine. All you have to do is do this whenever you remember to do it. Of course, you can help yourself remember to do this by sending anonymous mails to yourselves or putting alarms. (Once I put a reminder about this in my mobile and kept snoozing it and therefore kept doing it again and again)

This is one of the most important things you can do to improve your concentration, mental peace, even performance (ever did something with full attention and something while distracted? Which performance was better?).

You will soon discover that all things that truly matter ? beauty, creativity, truth, peace, love ? arise not from thought, but from beyond it.

Sound Interesting. I think I will give it a try.

There you go. Come back to the present moment please. I will give it a try is a ghost.

OK OK. I got the message. I am paying attention to it now.

Look at your hands on the keyboard, appreciate them. Look at the keyboard. The colors, the dirt patches. Look at the wall. The color. Notice your breath. Observe the shape of the monitor, the contours, the glow. Feel the presence of your body on the chair, the weight. Feel your legs pressing against the shoes. Feel your clothes lightly touching your body. Look at the mouse and trace its body with your eyes. Pay attention to your breath. Feel your elbow on the arm-rest. Feel the temperature of the room, the movement of air.

Yeah, that is how NOW really is. That is how 'being' feels.

Wow? I gotta do this regularly.

Are you sure?

Absolutely!!!

Really? You are going to do this?

Definitely pal. Definitely!!

Well, All the best.

About The Author

Applicable, relevant, easy-to-use information on improving the quality of life available at the web site of Abhishek Kumar - http://www.abhishekkumar.cjb.net/

Also subscribe to the free monthly e-zine 'Notes from Abhishek' for world-class articles and words that will have a significant impact on the way you are living your life now.

Do pay a visit. www.abhishekkumar.cjb.net

abhi143@yahoo.com

---

Failure is Only Feedback

Does the thought of failure send a cold shiver down... Read More

Optimism: The Tremendous Benefits of a Positive Attitude

How many times have you heard someone say, "Hey, cheer... Read More

Motivate To Activate A Positive Lifestyle

What do you do when things in your life don't... Read More

Cleaned Up or Cleaned Out?

I need your help. I did a good deed recently,... Read More

Positive Thought

The power of positive thoughts to affect one's experience of... Read More

The Power of Passion

Improving this single attitude makes your days fly by. You... Read More

Positive Mind, Successful Life

It took me a long time to realise the benefits... Read More

From The WorkWise Collection: Transform Your Fears into Positive Power

Fear is a double-edged sword. It can hold you back... Read More

Don?t Worry, Be Happy!

Philippians 4:6-do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,... Read More

I Know I Can, I Know I Can

I'm sure most of you remember the children's book about... Read More

Creating Icebergs Out Of Hostility

Have you ever dreaded an upcoming presentation, meeting or function... Read More

Your Best Defense Against Aging: Your Attitude To Life

In the international bestseller, Blink, Malcolm Gladwell explains how researchers... Read More

How You Treat People Matters

I encountered several interesting people that really taught me something.... Read More

The Gift of Envy

The summer I was 20 years old, I worked as... Read More

The Power of Inner Dialogue

Are you aware of your inner dialogue? If not, you... Read More

Looking For Answers In All The Wrong Places?

Looking around at our circumstances we may see only mountains... Read More

Knowing the Power of Positive Thinking

In the self-help and wellness industry, a mission has been... Read More

If Youre Stuck Then Make a Different Decision

Many people don't really understand the gift they have been... Read More

Is Your Glass (Ceiling) Half Empty or Half Full?

The infamous "glass ceiling" is blamed for business issues for... Read More

Managing Your OCD, Panic Attacks, and Obsessive Thoughts

There are times that we encounter fearful thoughts that can... Read More

Change

One thing in life is certain---change. Things never stay the... Read More

How to Deal with Discouragement and Develop Exceptional People Skills

Ever feel like giving up? Do you ever feel so... Read More

4 Ways You Can Get Over Your Need for Acceptance and Get on with Your Life

Imagine what your life would be like if you could... Read More

Life as a Burden Vs. Live as a Privilege

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Is the glass... Read More

Having the Attitude I am the Greatest!

While trying to ignore my teen daughters rap music a... Read More

Positive Changes Achieved by Exercising Mind, Body & Spirit

My story explains the struggles I had as a 23-year-old... Read More

You Are A Winner!

You are already a winner, and so am I.Although you... Read More

Letter of Hope from Hospital Patient

Hospital patient undergoing surgery recounts how Hero Soul provided strength,... Read More

Change Your Head Position For A Flood Of Positive Energy!

Have you ever considered that you may be subconsciously sabotaging... Read More

Prescience

"The knowledge of actions or events before they occur; foresight."You... Read More

Garbage Words In - Garbage Thinking Out

"At birth, a baby's brain contains 100 billion neurons, roughly... Read More

Lunacy at its Finest ... Crazymakers and Intimidators In Your Life!

Did you ever run into that person that just nags... Read More

The Use of Affirmations

What is an affirmation? One possible definition is a specific... Read More