Sometimes my mind wanders; other times it leaves completely. - Daniel Tosh
By the end of the year I’m sure we have a lot on our plate to consume… It’s a tricky time with a winter depression waiting impatiently to embrace us. Thoughts, plans, meetings… Sick cycle of your tasks, responsibilities and new problems to solve goes round and round. But who said that we are ready to give up and jump into the state of depression? Whatever goes through our ever wandering mind can be tamed by balancing and developing its unlimited powers using 7 zen habits I recently discovered.
We first make our habits, and then our habits make us. – John Dryden
7 Zen Habits For Your Mind
Curiosity Is The Ultimate Key
Remember yourself being a kid always in search for the answers? Wondering why the sky is blue and the grass is green? Who painted the space with stars? And so on…
I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious. – Albert Einstein
I had a ridiculous habit of “saving it till later” whenever I stumbled across some interesting or eye-catching piece of information to learn. Simply because of the laziness to get involved and actually learn something new! But recently I put a stop to that. And now I welcome new sources of information and always strive to learn more every day.
So keep asking questions! Stay curious.
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. - Albert Einstein
Healthy Body = Healthy Mind
Our brain is in constant need of nutrients that reach the body through travelling some distance before hiting the target. Our task is to make that “journey” as easy as possible for those nutrients. That’s why we have to take care of our physical health and always stay in good shape. You would be surprised just how well we eat and how active we are directly affects our brain and mind!
It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. - Mahatma Gandhi
Present Perfect
Many people are obsessed with their past and with constant rerun of things thinking how they could have turned out if only we could alter the time and take matters in our hands. Others obsessed with predicting the future. What’s left is our present that we are so eager to forget about sometimes.The truth is it’s the only TIME we can actually influence. Our life is what is happening right now at this very moment. So how could we possibly benefit from it and learn every lesson until our thoughts out there in the alternative temporal dimensions?
In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time. - Leonardo da Vinci
Stuff your Diary, Not your Mind.
Plans, meetings, birthdays of your endless number of relatives and friends, schedules and dates of your presentations and all that endless flow of information… Keep it out of your mind. Keep it in your diary instead. Imagine your mind as a huge sponge that absorbs every piece of information the day may bring – why overwhelm it with so much extra clutter that you may not even need to hold? Declutter your mind. Keep it clean and it will be ready to take in new information when it really matters.
A clear and focused mind will last a lifetime. Getting your mind in shape is nothing less than the key to sustainable success in the world. - Russell Simmons
Be Good With People Around You
A true connection with people can bring so much joy and fun and it’s no wonder – the happier you are the more stress proof your mind is! Don’t waste your thoughts on those who hurt you in the past. Let it go. Surrond yourself with likeminded people, ready to cheer you up when you need it the most.
The world is round so that friendship may encircle it. - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Learn To Meditate
Meditation is the tongue of the soul and the language of our spirit. – Jeremy Taylor
Meditation is a special state that can help set our minds free. It’s a great tool in decluttering things that could have stayed in there for many years. The more you practice, the better you will get at this. It was the same with me. The first time I tried to meditate, it didn’t last that long and I found that idea stupid and pointless. I didn’t understand the concept of relaxing and letting things go back then. But when I realised how simple it was there were no stopping ever since. I have been meditating daily and they say that 20 minutes of meditation amounts to nearly 2 hours of sleep. Think about how much sleep you could catch up on if you learned how to meditate!
Stay Positive
Don’t hang out with people who are particularly successful in screwing your positive vibes and mood. Swim among those who lift your soul and mind a little bit higher each day, who make you feel better, who challenge the best in you, who care about you deeply and show their affection! Find positive side in everything you may come across with. Learn your lessons. Always seek positive in everything and you will find that eventually….
Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will. – Zig Ziglar
By Lesya Li
Photo by East News