There are two essential components of any weight loss journey: mindful eating and regular exercise. People may differ on what to eat and which exercise to do. Thus, we have to focus on both the intake of food and the burning of fat deposits. Similarly, there are two things common in the mindfulness journey: the making and the burning of fixations.
Every day during our interactions, we keep developing new fixations. We drive on the road, look at the cars of new brands and models, and desire a new car. Slowly and gradually, this desire gets converted into a fixation. Similarly, we meet a friend who is settled abroad, and he tells us all the good things about being abroad. We develop a desire to settle abroad, and slowly, that dream gets converted into a fixation. The world is full of many such temptations, and the temptation we get fixated on becomes the fulcrum of our lives. We have developed many such fixations during our childhood that still influence our decisions. In the journey of mindfulness, we observe the truth behind our past fixations and also remain mindful in each new interaction to avoid new fixations.
Mindful living is difficult and at the same time very easy. Like weight loss, it is difficult because of strong habit patterns. We have strong habit patterns to eat sugar, refined wheat, and more carbohydrates, and the moment we try to give them up, we crave calorie-rich food. Similarly, the moment we try to say no to socialization, we develop FOMO and feel uncomfortable. The moment we take a stand different from the majority, we feel afraid of "being left alone". The moment we take our attention away from money, we develop a "fear of losing money". We have very strong fears that keep our attention constantly occupied.
The best way out for weight loss is not to deprive the body, but rather to provide alternative food to the body. We replace a calorie-rich diet with a protein and fibre-rich diet. That makes the process easier. On the one hand, we do not feel deprived, and on the other hand, we get better nutrition and fewer calories, and slowly and gradually we start coming into shape. Similarly, we just need to be mindful of our thoughts and company. We just need to replace the "mindless content" of our conversations with "mindful content".
Without realizing it, most of our discussions hover around complaining about the people around and their behaviour. We fail to realize that by talking about people on their backs, we are doing nothing but either venting our frustration or getting an assurance from the other person about our own thought process. We can turn the same discussions into psychoanalysis of different behaviour patterns, including our own behaviour, and use these occasions to get great insights into human behaviour. That's like taking sugar away. "I" is just like sugar. It tastes good when the discussions are centered around "I," but that is not good for "mental health". The moment we take "I" out of the discussion and analyse the human behaviour, the toxic discussion turns into a very healthy discussion. We get to notice the highs and lows of human behaviour, and the wide range of possibilities fills us with amazement and compassion. Rather than feeling angry at somebody, we start becoming compassionate for their limited understanding of life and "lack of self-control". Rather than feeling victim, we feel inclined to talk to people to understand their pain at a deeper level and give them a different perspective on life so that they may come out of their "self-created mental trap".
Similarly, most discussions are centered around "good" and "bad"; "right" and "wrong". These discussions are like packaged food. These taste good because of the "hidden taste enhancers" and not the healthy contents. Similarly, these discussions feel good because we want validation of our thoughts from other members of society. There is a deep deprivation of "self-worth," and therefore, we keep begging for validation from others for our actions. We define "good" and "right" without understanding and appreciating the background. Giving a huge dowry for the marriage of a daughter is "good" because it is the "duty" of the father to get his daughter married. Then what about the example that such a father has set for the rest of the society? What about the "inferiority complex" developed in the mind of the daughter that her father needs to spend money to get rid of her? We criticize people for being "chikchickia," saying that such people argue a lot. We fail to realize that if somebody can tell the majority a perspective different from the majority perspective, it should always be welcome because that will help all of us widen our perspective. Thus, the discussions need to be free of these hidden "taste enhancers," and that's why we need to avoid discussions packaged in "good" or "bad," "right" or "wrong".
We need to increase the portion of protein and fibre in our diet. Protein helps build muscles. Similarly, discussions around the purpose of life help us build a robust framework of life. That's why discussions around the lives of mythological figures and people like Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sri Aurobindo help us understand the meaning of life. We need to have small discussion groups in which we can discuss with these people. That gives us a very different perspective on life because these people experimented with their lives and discovered new possibilities. Often, we miss these possibilities in our daily routine full of carbs and sugar.
Fibre is good for gut health and helps "good bacteria" grow. We need to add fibre of meditation or solitude, at least for some time during the day. During this time, we contemplate ourselves. We observe "I" staying away from that "I". We observe nature without that "I" interfering with the observation. We contemplate life without the "past understanding" affecting that contemplation. We observe our body and sensations in different parts of the body dispassionately. The "fibre of meditation" helps build a "strong gut of intuition". We develop that inner connection to reality. That strong gut helps us make decisions for "healthy living" that is not guided by the "strong taste buds," but rather guided by the overall health of the body and mind.
Thus, building a healthy body and a healthy mind is a long journey. We must be mindful of what we eat on our journey to a healthy body. Similarly, we need to be aware of what we think and how we observe in our journey to a healthy mind. We simply have to reduce the sugary discussions around "I", limit talks about "good" and "bad", and "right" and "wrong", like packaged food with "hidden taste enhancers" of mindless social validation. We also need to increase the quantity of "protein" in the form of discussions about the purpose of life, which help us build a strong "framework of life". Additionally, we should enrich ourselves with " fibres " through "self-contemplation", strengthening our "gut" and helping us develop the right understanding of life to make "right decisions". "Right" not in terms of what society considers to be "right" but in terms of the real meaning of life. Health is a lifestyle issue, and similarly, "mindfulness" is also a lifestyle issue. It can't be a 10-minute exercise in the morning followed by letting your senses dictate the rest of the day. It's about being mindful in every single moment.
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