We all long for freedom from disease and other sufferings. We do not realize that mental disturbances such as worry, anxiety and egoism are the real cause of misery and disease. One has not only to exercise and eat right, but also to get rid of the mental bacteria of anger, fear, consciousness of failure, lack of initiative and purpose, scepticism, a doubting mentality, and a solely materialistic outlook in life! This understanding and self cleansing is Mental Housekeeping!
Mental hygiene—keeping the mind pure—is very important. Our mind runs at high speed, day and night! We are plagued with sad and tormenting thoughts. When there is too much annoyance bottled up, it turns into poison. Then, we are conditioned to consider some emotions as bad and we unknowingly programme ourselves not to be aware of them. We cover them up with countless thoughts to insulate ourselves from feeling and confronting what needs attention.
Some deep wounds may be very old but still raw. Their emotional component has not yet been resolved leading to a vicious cycle of misery and disease. To resolve them, their identification is necessary. It has been said that fear fades as the facts are faced.
We usually associate our stress and its effects with the people with whom we have interacted, and with the way they have made us feel. Some make us feel good and positive, while others, whom we remember more easily, are the ones who trigger the entire event—that vicious cycle in our system—throwing us off balance. Introspection leads to a path of self-discovery, humility and happiness. A thorough mental housekeeping begins by introspecting our relationships.
Sit undisturbed and at ease, and think back on all the people you have interacted with to date. Divide them into three categories:
1. People to whom we need to be thankful.
2. People to whom we need to apologize.
3. People whom we need to forgive.
Doing this exercise itself releases half the emotional burdens from the mind. Somehow, it also shows the way to handling the person or the situation. Physical and mental health improve significantly, and people start feeling ‘weller than well’.
How does it help?
Gratitude - We also take many acquaintances for granted, especially our near and dear family members. As life goes on, we meet more people and we forget about them. Many of them have contributed to our present success and happiness. This acknowledgement will help develop humility in us, and an attitude of gratitude towards them and life. This positive emotion helps in the healing process. It is not necessary to call them physically to say ‘Thank you’—a mental attitude of thankfulness would suffice. At times, the incidents might be so old that offering thanks at the present moment would be a socially inappropriate act. Just acknowledging in the mind would be enough.
Forgiveness - Forgiving does not mean accepting someone’s wrong act. That would be unfair! Forgiveness means deciding to let go the hurt and the pain, and regaining control of our life and emotions. It eases the burden of revenge and hatred, and allows us to move ahead in life. Consider these words—‘As long as you do not forgive, who or whatever it is, it occupies rent-free space in your mind.’
Forgiveness does not necessarily mean reconciling. By forgiving, we move on. We consciously step out of the trap and the episode that caused us pain. The burden of the past gets released as we decide not to let hatred or anger take over. By forgiving we release the burden of unresolved emotions from our nervous system. This washes us with a flow of positive energy that has been found beneficial for our health—by reducing blood pressure, relieving stress-associated pain, depression, etc.
How to apply mental housekeeping in day to day life -
• Prioritize. But be mindful that nothing is static.
• Be flexible in attitude - Chose acceptance over resistance
• Trust & Delegate and ask for help if required
• Give up the hesitation of knowing your colleagues & neighbours.
• Don't be a slave to your e-mail or to phone calls
• Know your weakness and strengths
• Be forgiving, especially of yourself.
• Set boundaries and learn to say NO.
• Love without losing yourself
• Practice appreciation & gratitude
• Allow decisions from head to pass through the heart
• Anything that leads to peace of mind takes us in the right direction
• Create your own personal space.
Mental hygiene—keeping the mind pure—is very important. Our mind runs at high speed, day and night! We are plagued with sad and tormenting thoughts. When there is too much annoyance bottled up, it turns into poison. Then, we are conditioned to consider some emotions as bad and we unknowingly programme ourselves not to be aware of them. We cover them up with countless thoughts to insulate ourselves from feeling and confronting what needs attention.
Some deep wounds may be very old but still raw. Their emotional component has not yet been resolved leading to a vicious cycle of misery and disease. To resolve them, their identification is necessary. It has been said that fear fades as the facts are faced.
We usually associate our stress and its effects with the people with whom we have interacted, and with the way they have made us feel. Some make us feel good and positive, while others, whom we remember more easily, are the ones who trigger the entire event—that vicious cycle in our system—throwing us off balance. Introspection leads to a path of self-discovery, humility and happiness. A thorough mental housekeeping begins by introspecting our relationships.
Sit undisturbed and at ease, and think back on all the people you have interacted with to date. Divide them into three categories:
1. People to whom we need to be thankful.
2. People to whom we need to apologize.
3. People whom we need to forgive.
Doing this exercise itself releases half the emotional burdens from the mind. Somehow, it also shows the way to handling the person or the situation. Physical and mental health improve significantly, and people start feeling ‘weller than well’.
How does it help?
Gratitude - We also take many acquaintances for granted, especially our near and dear family members. As life goes on, we meet more people and we forget about them. Many of them have contributed to our present success and happiness. This acknowledgement will help develop humility in us, and an attitude of gratitude towards them and life. This positive emotion helps in the healing process. It is not necessary to call them physically to say ‘Thank you’—a mental attitude of thankfulness would suffice. At times, the incidents might be so old that offering thanks at the present moment would be a socially inappropriate act. Just acknowledging in the mind would be enough.
Forgiveness - Forgiving does not mean accepting someone’s wrong act. That would be unfair! Forgiveness means deciding to let go the hurt and the pain, and regaining control of our life and emotions. It eases the burden of revenge and hatred, and allows us to move ahead in life. Consider these words—‘As long as you do not forgive, who or whatever it is, it occupies rent-free space in your mind.’
Forgiveness does not necessarily mean reconciling. By forgiving, we move on. We consciously step out of the trap and the episode that caused us pain. The burden of the past gets released as we decide not to let hatred or anger take over. By forgiving we release the burden of unresolved emotions from our nervous system. This washes us with a flow of positive energy that has been found beneficial for our health—by reducing blood pressure, relieving stress-associated pain, depression, etc.
How to apply mental housekeeping in day to day life -
• Prioritize. But be mindful that nothing is static.
• Be flexible in attitude - Chose acceptance over resistance
• Trust & Delegate and ask for help if required
• Give up the hesitation of knowing your colleagues & neighbours.
• Don't be a slave to your e-mail or to phone calls
• Know your weakness and strengths
• Be forgiving, especially of yourself.
• Set boundaries and learn to say NO.
• Love without losing yourself
• Practice appreciation & gratitude
• Allow decisions from head to pass through the heart
• Anything that leads to peace of mind takes us in the right direction
• Create your own personal space.
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