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warikoo Wanderings

The key to silencing your mind

Published almost 3 years ago • 4 min read

warikoo Wanderings

Welcome to another edition of Wanderings.
You can read all previous editions of the newsletter, share this edition on WhatsApp, LinkedIn or Twitter.

YOUR MIND CANNOT BE SILENCED! BUT...


Last week, I shared how we shout to hear our own voice, when we have headphones on.
And how that's the same thing that happens to our mind as well.
If our mind is full of noise that we haven't done anything about, our mind will have to shout out loud, to hear its own self.
Creating this intensely busy, hyperactive, overthinking mind of ours.

The truth is - our mind cannot be silenced.
There is no one who is living or has ever lived, who had a moment in their life without any thoughts.
Thoughts are always there.

But so many of us keep fighting those thoughts.
"I shouldn't feel sad."
"I shouldn't feel jealous."
"I hope this happiness lasts. I shouldn't be jumping in joy!"

We are somehow always telling our mind to shut up!
Not let the negative emotions seep in.
But that is an impossible thing to wish for.
It is not going to happen.
Instead, the more you resist the emotion, the fiercely it will try to enter.

Here is why:
Because emotions are meant to serve a purpose.

Think of fear.
Why do we fear?
We fear, because it is a powerful emotion to protect us from danger.
When we were cave men and women, if we didn't feel fear, we would get eaten by a wild animal.
So what did we do?
We started listening to this fear.
When we felt fear, we knew it was because we were in danger.
And we had to listen to those fears.

Today, the nature of fear has changed.
It has moved from being physical in nature (few people get eaten by wild animals today) to more emotional in nature.

"Don't ask that question. People will think you are stupid!"
"Don't approach that stranger. They might say no and you will feel hurt."
"Don't quit that job. People will laugh at you."

The purpose of fear remains the same.
To protect us from danger.
Just that the form of danger has changed.

But here is the interesting bit:
What happens if we know WHY we are feeling fear?
Fear will disappear.
Why?
Because it has served its purpose.
Fear's job was to warn you.
And if you now know why you are feeling fear, you clearly know what the danger is.
And that means fear doesn't need to be there.
It says, "Oh cool - you know why I came. Awesome! It seems you are already prepared. So I am just going to leave. See ya! Byeeeee!"

And there, my friends, lies the trick to silencing your mind.

You silence your mind, not by stopping your feelings or thoughts.
Instead, by being aware of them.
Being aware of the reason why you are feeling those thoughts.

Sounds crazy?
It's true!

Some great ways to be aware of your feelings -
Writing - everyday. Just write, all that you are feeling. And at the end of it, try and arrive at a conclusion.
I am feeling what I am feeling because _______________________
Meditating - everyday. It is hard, but immensely helpful. Start with 10 mins, go all the way to an hour.
Being mindful - every moment. The minute you get lost in your thoughts, immediately realize that you are lost, let go off the feeling you are feeling and come back to the present.

Start with one of them and let me know how it goes :)

CONFUSED IN LIFE?


My new podcast episode is titled "Confused in life?"

Check it out on Spotify, Apple Podcast, JioSaavn or Gaana.

BOOK I AM READING THIS WEEK


Didn't get around to reading much the past week. Nothing to share.
I would love to hear book recommendations from you, though.

Fill up this form - and I will then share the compiled entries next week, with the number of people who made that recommendation, so that we have a nice digest to refer to whenever we need new books to read.

Yay! :)

PS: In the meantime, you can check how sharing my top 12 purchases from last year, helped fund the education of Anjali - a 2nd year Computer Science student. (link on Twitter)

QUOTES TO SHARE


Take criticism seriously. But not personally.
(Share on Twitter)

Problem is that you want everything tomorrow.
(Share on Twitter)

You won’t get out of laziness for something you don’t want to do.
(Share on Twitter)

To share what you have, is the best way to cherish what you have.
(Share on Twitter)

At times all you need to know is that you are not alone in feeling what you are feeling.
(Share on Twitter)

RESPONSES TO LAST WEEK'S QUESTIONS


Last week I asked you -

Which do you think is a bigger reason for our misery? And why?

  1. Religion
  2. Money
  3. Neither
  4. Both

29% voted for money, 13% voted for religion, 23% for both and 35% for neither.

The reasons for neither were fascinating - ranged from "bad parenting" to "my own thoughts" to "greed".

For me, I agree with those who say that our own thoughts are the biggest reason for our own misery. The world is what it is - we make it to be a certain way in our head!

THIS WEEK'S POLL


A technical question this week -

If you put 1,00,000 rupees in a fixed deposit, which gives you 5% returns, how much money will you have at the end of 10 years?

  1. Approximately 1,60,000
  2. Approximately 91,000
  3. Approximately 84,000
  4. I don't like math
  5. I don't like investing

To answer, click on this link (it is anonymous).

You can always send me an email. I love to hear from all of you. While I may not be able to reply to everyone, you should know that I read all my emails.
I READ ALL MY EMAILS (Fixed Deposit se nafrat ki kasam!)

You can read all previous editions of the newsletter, share this edition on WhatsApp, LinkedIn or Twitter.

warikoo Wanderings

by Ankur Warikoo

Entrepreneur, Author, Content Creator with 9M+ followers across platforms. I share this newsletter every Friday around personal growth, books, quotes, pictures - it is the most personal version of me online.

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