How is it that we so often discuss health in terms of the body and rarely mention the health of the mind? Most of us make our debut into the world with a perfectly healthy body, pure and clean from the safety of our mother’s womb. What happens next to the body is a product of genetics, environment, nurturing, and socio-economonic conditions.
But as physical health is so often the focus, the larger part the mind plays must become a larger presence and take its rightful place of prominence. Quite simply, the mind plays the most important role in physical health. When exercising, the mind must be as involved as the body for a serious workout to have an excellent benefit. Otherwise, time is wasted and the body is fooled
We are taught to ‘eat right” and exercise and all will be well. Do that every day without mental and conscious involvement and the likelihood that any lasting change for a healthy balance in weight, nutrition and mind health will be just part of the routine and the homeostasis we all are challenged with in adult life. A wolf stays at the door only until it is part of awareness and chased away.
As children we are filled with optimism and welcome daily challenges. This same route beacons as we become adults: to learn again to be optimistic and challenge ourselves daily. This is how to be happy. A happy optimistic person is engaged and involved and is not focusing minute by minute on what is problematic in life, but busy working on problems as they come up.
Developing the the habit of observing your mind daily is the first exercise in keeping Mind healthy. “Watch yourself“ is a mild mantra to practice. Watch and let go. Don’t obsess.
We have a rich reservoir of ancient wisdom we can access at any time. Learn how the thinkers think. Study a bit of philosophy, wisdom and learn some of the aspects of how successful societies prospered. Cultures come and go in success. Wisdom was once taught and held as an ideal in ancient Greece, China, Egypt and many older societies that have come and gone. Consider that we could study and adopt the wisdom of the ages and apply it to our lives. In that, each practicing individual would become independent from the lower mind pop-culture contrivances that serve not the mind, but a temporal invention that will be gone with the next generation. Consider that youth is fun, but temporal and that wisdom endures. Consider that society and the mind can get caught up in what dazzles but does not sustain.
Mind is strengthened just by paying close attention. Attentive concentration on any action or activity equals what the sages call Mindfulness. The result of this purposeful attention is excellence. Striving for excellence is nothing but the conscious and useful expense of time ….and why would we consider doing anything but that.
The first step is awareness; focusing and exercising the mind to the best of its ability in deliberate action, without an excess of deliberation. Being in awareness of the moment calms the heart, assists concentration, and strengthens the centered self to produce at best and keep distractions in their proper place. Practice becomes habit and improves the mind daily.
As one notices an ease and a joy in engagement, it is also noticed more fully when things are uncomfortable. Instead of mindlessly staying in discomfort, one can move in the direction of dreams, comfort and joy. Life is not an easy journey, it is a challenge and we must bite big, facing and working through the obstacles that keep keep us sharp.
Challenging the mind with new information and testing beliefs that may be stale is a must for a sharp and evolving mind.
Spending time alone, especially in Nature, brings insight, clarity and even epiphany at times. This renders a personal freedom and confidence that cannot be gained in any other way.
Walking has been proven one of the most healthful practices for the mind. A daily walk will enhance holistic health clearing the mind for potential new insights beckoning to be recognized.
Learn something new that requires more serious concentration. Studying music or a foreign language for those more left brain focused, and for those with a more right brain tendency, digging into a scientific concept or listening to challenging debate on a complex issue will charge a mind which can get lost in unchallenged imaginings. Both sides of the brain must be exercised. Learning this difference in how the brain and therefore, Mind makes contribution to the world helps us to understand how both aspects are necessary, but more importantly how to understand our opposites. People see in different ways and understanding this promotes harmony rather than the division, discord and the need to be right.
We are all born in wonder with hearts and souls reaching out for comfort and acceptance. That is our bond and “oneness”. It is our individualism, our minds, our Healthy Minds that hold the promise of a world of wisdom, peace, harmony, Natural health and true progression.
