Your mind might be working against you. Here’s why
I was eighteen years old when I excitedly opened my diary.
I scribbled away without breaking a sweat.
For me, writing was a hobby.
Only this was no ordinary piece of writing. This was my plans for the next couple of years.
This would determine how my life would become awesome, fun, and all that.
I even drew a brick wall. Each brick represented a step to my greatness.
In just a few short years, I, michael would become a very important personality.
Satisfied with my failproof strategy to greatness, I stored my diary away and ran off barefoot to play football in the streets with other street boys.
It’s been over two decades since I made those plans.
I achieved 17% of those lofty goals.
I had successfully talked myself out of most of those.
“This is not realistic! How will this really work?”
“I don’t have the money to complete this. What’s the point in starting?”
“They will never agree to this. Everyone will think I’m an idiot!”
These thoughts raged on and on in my head until I totally abandoned everything I set out to do.
I look back on those days and wonder what went wrong.
A careful observation of my life revealed that this was not a one-off occurrence.
I have been consistently, systematically sabotaging my own plans and progress.
I think, think and overthink.
Then I analyse, analyse and over-analyse everything.
I poke holes in my plans.
Play the devil’s advocate.
I am quite persistent until I can sit back and not take action on anything that actually benefits me.
I’m probably not alone in this. You too. Might have talked yourself out of things.
Have you?
The mind is the most potent machinery ever created, with the propensity to recreate your entire world, bringing about smiling life where death existed.
But without the right reins, the mind might be your greatest enemy. The one reason why you have not accomplished all those awesome plans you think about in your head.
Isn’t it ironic?
Let us consider some reasons why the mind acts against us.
Understand that your mind isn’t broken; it’s only running on an Operating System that is designed for survival, not happiness.
From our days in the jungle, living in the wild, to just about a hundred years ago, when warriors could raid your village, kill, pillage and grab some loot, the mind has been conditioned to survive.
Telling the difference between leaves rustling in the wind and animals running through the bushes determines whether you live or not.
People operated in a state of fight-or-flight most of the time.
Your mind might still weigh decisions as such, and if something did not seem very necessary, the mind would discourage you from doing it.
Have you noticed how much more comfortable we are with what we are used to than with starting new things?
Your mind will fight new ‘good’ habits to conserve energy.
It would seem a bit too much to abandon the things we already mastered. Things for which your brain already created pathways. Your muscles already formed memories, and your body is accustomed to them.
There are times when the mind compares you to others and decides you have no chance.
A boy sees a very beautiful girl. Without making an attempt, he concludes that she’s not in his league.
It is easy to compare ourselves to others and conclude that we cannot match their abilities.
When you realise why your mind works the way it does, then maybe it’s time to make a change.
But by no means is this a simple task. It will require that you update the software. I’ll recommend three ways to do this.
First, learn to label your thoughts properly.
When I say, “I am Michael.” That is who I am.
But if I said, “I think I may be old.” That’s a thought.
Never refer to your insecurities as yourself. There’s a difference between your feelings and you.
This is the most important practice to imbibe because Thoughts become things.
This is the basis of manifestation: if you can think it, you can achieve it.
Never treat your fears as reality.
Second, practice the 5-second rule.
Make decisions quickly. Act on them.
Finding optimism is difficult. But the way I have learnt to approach it is simple.
Don’t be scared. Do it anyway and then see what happens.
Most of our fears will never materialise.
Third, consume only curated content.
Your mind acts based on what has been fed to it.
Trust me, this is true.
The mind, they say, is like a flowing river; all sorts of debris, filth and carcasses will flow by. Let them go.
Protect your mind, and it will reward you.
Your mind is a powerful tool, but a terrible master.
It will retain parts of the various natures in you.
Your job is to hone it till it becomes the partner that cheers you on to achieve your dreams and goals.
Will your mind occasionally act up and try to revert to this self-sabotaging component of your being? Yes.
But that’s where you have your job cut out for you.
Safeguard it.
Care for it.
Nurture it, and it will be your best friend.
