Most people want a quiet mind, although many don’t even realize it.
- It’s the reason we drink, smoke a joint, binge watch series on Netflix, and check our smartphones.
- We want an escape from our over encumbered minds that torment us with repetitive thinking patterns about what happened today, and what might happen tomorrow.
To achieve tranquility, we shouldn’t let our minds linger outside the present moment.
- People do this all the time, chewing over past events even if they occurred many years ago, and worrying about what might happen in the future.
“Wild animals run from the dangers they actually see and once they have escaped they worry no more. We however, are tormented alike by what is past and what is to come.”
Seneca (Stoic teacher)
A quiet mind comes without strain
“Most humans are never fully present in the now because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life which is never not now.”
Eckhart Tolle
Sometimes it’s necessary to step outside of life for a moment to plan for the future or to learn from past mistakes.
- However, when planning becomes worry, and the worry becomes anxiety, and when learning from mistakes turns to repetitive reflections, leading to destructive emotions like shame guilt and remorse; then we know that the mind is lingering in the wrong places.
So how do we achieve a quiet mind? The solution is amazingly simple… “Think Less.”
Re-source: Receptive
able or willing to receive something, especially signals or stimuli : open and responsive to ideas, impressions, or suggestions
The Stoics observed that a noisy mind is caused by desire and aversion.
- Stoic philosopher Epictetus emphasizes that we should unconditionally accept everything that is beyond our control.
- Also if we are able to seek good in every situation, it doesn’t really matter how life has been, and how life will turn out.
- So there’s no need to worry or ruminate.
- That’s why we shouldn’t encumber our minds, but should fully embrace what comes at us instead.
- The idea of “Amor Fati,” which can be translated as “The Law of Fate” is a useful reminder to embrace whatever happens.
“Remember that you must behave in life as at a dinner party. Anything brought around to you, put out your hand and take your share with moderation. If doesn’t pass by you, don’t stop it. If it has not yet come, don’t stretch your desire towards it, but wait till it reaches you.”
Epictetus
craving and resource from “Philosophy For A Quiet Mind” by Einzelgänger