Morning Thoughts

There's a certain joy in starting your day early--you get a head start. The mind is also at its freshest in the morning. I usually try to put in between 1 to 2 hours of work before breakfast. Today I've decided to blog instead.

Mental health is a great concern to authorities during these difficult days of the pandemic. Being cooped up at home and not being able to socialize physically with friends have been difficult for many. The uncertainty of the future and possible financial worries also contribute to the problem. Dealing with such stress is not easy.

The root of the problem lies in the fact that we are forever consumed by thoughts, especially thoughts of the negative kind. We are able to command our hands and legs at will but when it comes to the mind, we do not seem to have that much of a control. Thoughts occupy our minds like uninvited guests, hogging the space in our heads. When too many of such stressful thoughts accumulate consistently for prolonged periods, it could cause psychosomatic problems and plunge us into depression.

The first step in overcoming this condition is to recognize thoughts as thoughts. This may seem like a trivial thing to say but a lot of people don't actually objectify their thoughts. To them, they are their thoughts. People who meditate are taught to see thoughts as arising and disappearing, simply noticing without reacting to them. This is mindfulness 101. In doing this frequently, you are able to see thoughts as they are, something external that come and go like the ebb and flow of tide on a beach.

Thoughts are useful only as a means of processing information. But too often than not, our thinking is circular, driven by our fears and obsessions. Recognizing these infinite loops and breaking out of them is also a mindfulness skill. We live most of our lives unconsciously, driven by the promptings of our feelings. We are always trying to escape from pain and hide in our comfort zones. We seek the momentary pleasure of distracting ourselves from the boredom and tedium of the present.

But why should the present be boring? Simply noticing the mind and its myriad machinations is a fascinating exercise. Look at how it jumps from one thing to another. See how easily you get distracted. Feel the impact of thoughts on your body: is there tenseness in the stomach? Are there palpitations in the heart? Is there a surge of pleasure in the loins? The movie of the mind is simply endless.

As you stand and watch your mind with bare attention, you'll learn to create distance between you and your thoughts. That is a good first step. But there's a more difficult challenge ahead. Ask yourself: who is this 'you' entity that is watching 'your' thoughts? Does it exist? Or is it...another thought?