It’s been a long day … you need sleep … you flip the switch … and your mind
starts screaming at you.
“What about that project due tomorrow!?”
“Can you believe she said that about you!?”
“What am I going to have for breakfast?”
It’s a common phenomenon. With the fast paced lifestyle that so many of us live, experiencing these burdensome, thoughts has become the norm for many of us. Let me share a secret with you … it doesn’t have to be this way.
Mastering The Mind
Imagine that your mind as a water wheel. Each time you use it, you add a bit of water, and with it, a bit of momentum. If you have been spinning all day, assuming it will stop on it's own at the end of the day is at the far end of wishful thinking. It’s this phenomenon that leads so many of us to drugs, mind numbing entertainment, or more extreme measures. We are seeking, no craving, a break from the never ending onslaught of our minds.
I've Got Good News.
You don’t have to accept this state of being. There is hope! I will describe two different paths, each with their own strengths, and allow you to prescribe the treatment that works best for you.
Tried And True, Meditation Is For Me And For You
Meditation... the past time of monks, new age hippies and high performance Silicon Valley executives alike. If so many successful people are using and benefiting from meditation, why aren’t you? The benefits of meditation are countless. To name a few: Source
- Reduces Stress
- Increases Concentration
- Increases Happiness
- Slows Aging
If you're not convinced, a recent study showed that meditation lead to a 30% decrease in your risk of dying! Source. Spend enough time on the cushion and you may even crack the code for eternal life!
Practicing meditation is like shutting off the flow of water.
It will not stop your thoughts instantly, you may even experience an increase at first, but over time, they will begin to slow down. It’s a marathon folks, not a sprint. This is one of those things that you want to add as a daily habit. Your future self will thank you.
New Science Meets Old Biology
Ever heard of the term Flow? It refers to the mental/physical state of being in the zone. It marks the times when we are absolutely focused on the task at hand, lose track of time, and perform at our best.
Flow was first named in the 1970’s by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi but has been experienced by humans since the dawn of time. Since it’s “discovery” it has primarily been experienced by high performance athletes, particularly those in extreme sports. More recently it has become a topic of interest to performance researchers and those looking to apply the technique themselves.
Flow is an interesting state. Marked by hypoactivity in the frontal lobe, (science fact: Hypoactivity refers to a decrease in activity, or fewer neurons firing) it leads to a decrease in our mental "self talk". Especially if our minds chatter is not of the positive kind, this can lead to a much needed break. In addition, flow is coupled with a massive dump of neurochemicals such as norepinephrine, dopamine and endorphins, giving us increased focus, alertness and a massive boost of “feel good”. These factors combine to create an internal experience of stillness that is similar to the mystical experiences experienced by monks during intense meditation.
Flow is no longer the realm of extreme sports athletes alone. Flow sports such as freerunning, slacklining, poi and others have allowed individuals to break down their own barriers without putting their lives at risk. In addition, the modern music festival has become a haven for flow seekers, dancing their way into deeper and deeper states of serenity and bliss.
If you have never experienced flow, you are seriously missing out. The state is so pleasurable that some high level athletes experience a sort of “postpartum depression” when their careers come to an end (don’t worry, with balance and responsible behavior this is not an issue). If you are interested in learning more, I highly recommend the Flow Genome Project. They are one of the thought leaders of this space and have the goal of “democratizing flow”.
The mind is an inherently trick beast. With practice and insight we can learn to tame it and have it work for us instead of against us. It will take practice but it is an investment in yourself and your future. These practices have worked well for me, hopefully they will work well for you.
I hope that this article has been fun to read, informative and inspiring. If you take one thing from this and apply it to your life I will have succeeded in my goal. If you have any questions, or want to share your own experience, please leave a comment below. A healthy discussion will benefit everyone involved and further the spread of information.
Check Out Some Of My Other Posts Here
Change Your Mind, Change Your Life Series: Brain/Body Basics
Consumerism Is Dead: Welcome To The Sharing Economy Of The Future
Hack Your Life Series: Learning To Create From A Place Of Stillness
