The cost of an unsettled and agitated mind.
- Nitten V Mahadik
- Oct 14, 2022
- 2 min read
The mind can be used to our advantage, or it can also lead to suffering. An unsettled and agitated mind has various implications. Some of them are: -
Impaired thinking and loss of clarity.
Unwanted wandering and rumination.
Leads to disruptive emotions.
Lack of focus and mental exhaustion leading to low productivity.
The various reasons for the mind to be turbulent are: -
Strong craving or aversion.
Negative thinking leading to anxiety.
Brooding over past failures.
Events which have a strong emotional impact.
And if nothing of the above and seemingly life is all right, still the mind is ticking with so many thoughts, mental images, desires etc., that we don't vividly recognise the busy background hum of the mind.
A settled mind, on the other hand, can lead to: -
Higher focus and productivity.
Inner calm and peace.
Sense of well-being.
Happiness.
Physical vitality
How to settle the mind?
Mindfulness of breathing is a very beneficial practice for this. We withdraw all our attention and place it on something that's neutral and doesn't excite or agitate us. The breath is neutral. It's neither pleasant nor unpleasant. So we focus on the breath and watch it as long or short, deep or shallow. When any thoughts, mental images and desires arise, without following their trail, we simply let go and return to the breath. This practice is also a good biofeedback. When thoughts excite or agitate us, there is an immediate subsequent change in the breathing pattern. This awareness of the breath helps us to become more aware and let go of the contents of the mind. Because we are not consciously engaging or averting anything that arises in the mind, the mind starts settling down, and we can experience peace, calmness and a sense of well-being. In our busy lives where the mind is constantly ON, mindfulness of breathing can allow us to recover from being pulled and pushed by the mind and cultivate peace and well-being.
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