Can’t trust the mind

What worries your mind with concern? Why do you care? Is it to maintain a sense of control? Perhaps you feel involved in something over which you are powerless? I want you to recognize if worry is serving you, so that you can break the cycle and find inner peace. Yes, it is possible to stop worrying, but it will take work on your part. So are you committed to change? If so, let me show you how to move from worry to a state of inner freedom.

When we worry, our mind is projected into the future, as we believe that we cannot handle what will happen. Worrying, therefore, is trying to control something over which we have little or no control. Author and psychotherapist David Richo echoes this sentiment in his book The five things we cannot change, where he states: “We worry because we don’t trust ourselves to handle what happens to us. We worry because we don’t trust that the way the chips fall will turn out for the best. We worry because we haven’t said yes yet.” “

The key to overcoming worry is recognizing that the mind cannot be trusted, given its inherent negativity bias. Evolutionary psychologists believe that the brain has adapted over thousands of years of evolution to detect dangers inherent in our environment. When humanity first scoured the savannah centuries ago, assessing a potential threat, it was an important period in the evolution of our brains. However, today, the threat is no longer necessary, yet our biology has not caught up. In other words: our mind still looks for a threat to our safety and survival, even though the threat is not as imminent today. However, we should not allow ourselves to worry about something that may or may not happen. We can safely remind ourselves that all is well and redirect our attention to what we are grateful for, here and now.

Uncertainty doesn’t have to mean worry or fear

Are you happy with this idea so far? Can you appreciate that your mind is designed to help you survive? Therefore, we must not get stuck in incessant worry, but reorient ourselves to the present moment. Every time we return to the present, we strengthen the neural pathways in the brain. It takes practice, patience, and persistence to notice our habit of worrying. If we can practice shifting our attention from the future to the here and now, we will see positive changes in our lives.

To put it another way: we must learn to observe ourselves when we worry and create a space between the mind that observes and the mind that worries. It is about inhabiting our mind and body instead of letting our mind wander into the future. In the same way that we have taught ourselves to worry, we can train ourselves to ground ourselves in the present moment through mindfulness. That is why anchoring ourselves in gratitude will help us let go of worry, since it is the bridge between the present moment and the future. In other words, gratitude is choosing to look at reality through a new filter instead of worry, anxiety, and fear. Yes, the future is uncertain, but uncertainty does not have to equal worry or fear. Uncertainty can be filled with unlimited possibilities that can benefit us. It requires us to keep an open mind and not catastrophize situations beyond our control.

Consciousness Training

Is this something you are willing to practice? Can you give yourself the gift of releasing your worries and fears and anchoring yourself in the present moment? You are worthy of self love by directing your attention towards inner peace. Negative emotions like worry, anxiety, and fear cloud our judgment of what is real. It is the fake news of the mind and an illusion that keeps us trapped and isolated. But this doesn’t have to be your reality, if you’re willing to rewrite a new script for the future.

And here’s the thing: Gratitude allows us to focus on what is real and fixate on this state. Gratitude is the language of love because it is based on appreciation. We cultivate a loving heart through the power of acceptance. Therefore, we must focus on what is tangible instead of illusory states of mind, to let go of worry and fear. Although the mind tries to convince you that the future is uncertain and terrifying, it is a narrative invented by the ego. But it doesn’t have to be this way because we have the power to redirect our attention to the present moment.

Practices such as breathing, mindfulness, and meditation are helpful in overcoming fear, worry, and anxiety. For example, we can practice sitting alone in silence and concentrating on our breath. As we breathe in and out, we safely anchor ourselves in the present moment. Similarly, through mindfulness, we learn to bring our attention to the present moment when our mind wanders into the future. Meditation is the practice of training in awareness and detachment from our thoughts, to become the observer. We can follow our breath as we meditate and notice the bodily sensations rising and falling. This powerful practice is a portal to the here and now and a practice that we can cultivate daily. Although the mind has a negative bias toward danger, we can change our response to worry by being aware of our thoughts. After all, every time we focus on gratitude, we strengthen the neural pathways in the brain, which ultimately become our new reality.