Did You Know That You Can Control Your Mind?

I recently spoke with an old friend I hadn't connected with in a while. I noticed they were caught in a fear loop, spinning lots of stories about 'what could happen if...' regarding all that's happening in the world and politics these days.

It's so easy to fall prey to fear, and for good reason. Fear can be a motivator when we feel threatened, but too often it's triggered by narratives we create in our minds.

When we are trapped in fear or any difficult emotion, and repeat the story in our mind, we start to believe it. Thoughts that we repeatedly think about become our beliefs, whether they're actually true or not.

Last week, I wrote about how our instinctive, survival brain, referred to as P'o, is the spirit or consciousness of the autumn season, according to traditional Chinese medicine. Since P'o's job is to make sure we survive, it can get jammed in fear mode, leading to reactivity rather than responsiveness (which comes from responsibility).

During this autumn metal season, a reflective time of year, we use the observer mind, known as the Hun, to shine a light on the thoughts and behaviors that create suffering. By the power of observation alone, we shift how we relate to our thoughts and emotions. This is the beauty of mindfulness.

When we observe without judgment, we're no longer entangled in our emotions; we're simply observing them. To take it a step further, the Yoga Sutra 2.33 teaches us: "When disturbed by negative thoughts, cultivate their opposite." This is known as pratipaksha bhavanam, a technique for countering harmful thoughts by consciously cultivating contrary or opposing thoughts.

Our thoughts affect our cells, so repeated stressful thinking increases our cortisol levels, which creates internal dis-ease, such as hypertension and high blood pressure, and weakens our immune system. And then talking about them obsessively deepens the grooves in the mind, making it harder to stop repeating them.

The beauty and uniqueness of the yoga practice is that through the physical postures, we release the 'issues in our tissues', which creates internal freedom. Through breathwork that relieves stress and anxiety, we have more access to working with our mind and the ability to control it.

So I pointed this out to my friend. I asked her to breathe in deeply and slowly with me so she could start to control her thoughts. And then I asked her what the opposite of the fearful thoughts she was trapped in might be?

What would a courageous thought be that could replace her fear?

This was empowering for her, as she realized that she had choices.

This practice upgrades our reality. So if we notice that we've been critical, we can practice acceptance. Or when feeling selfish, notice it, and cultivate generosity. This becomes a win-win for our minds, our health, and those around us!

It's a practice that trains our mind to brighten and see more possibilities, and is so beneficial to our health! It's like a muscle that needs to be exercised and strengthened. When suffering from our thoughts and emotions, see it, and find what the opposite would be. I like to imagine myself acting more generously when feeling selfish, or to see the other person's face when I cultivate acceptance and compassion rather than criticism.

And what we practice gets stronger.

I hope to see you on your mat to relieve tension in both the body and mind.

Hope to breathe with you soon.

From my heart to yours~

Namaste,

Maggie