The fast pace of the modern world may put our mind in chaotic state.
Information comes and goes, we must do this and do that. There are
simply too many things that reside in our mind. While it may cause
stress or even depression, at the very least it puts us away from a
peaceful state of mind. But a peaceful mind is essential for our
effectiveness. It keeps us calm no matter how the situation is, and it
allows us to stay joyful during the day. At the end of the day, it makes
us happier and more productive.
So here We’d like to share 11 ways to have a “mind like water”, a state of mind so peaceful that it’s like a calm water. Pick the ones that works for you:
1. Reduce your use of rational thinking
We need rational thinking, but we tend to overuse it in analyzing our
situations and making decisions. That brings a lot of things into our
mind which potentially also brings in noise. Is rational thinking really
that important? I don’t think so. Even Einstein once said that
“I never came upon any of my discoveries through the process of
rational thinking.”
While you should reduce your use of rational thinking, you should
increase your use of intuition. Listen to your intuition whenever you
need to make decisions. Your intuition often knows more than you think.
Furthermore, since intuition works instantly, it won’t bring a lot of
things into your mind. Your mind will remain calm and peaceful. No
wonder Einstein said that “The only real valuable thing is intuition.”
3. Listen to your heart
Your heart tells you what is right to do. There is where your deepest
value and principles reside. Following what your heart says helps you
be true to yourself, and that has a great effect on giving you peace of
mind. So learn to listen more to your heart, and do what it tells you to
do.
4. Get the stuff out of your mind
This is a basic principle of Getting Things Done
(GTD). In fact, the term “mind like water” comes from GTD. You should
record the things you need to do or remember on an external system you
trust so that they do not occupy your mind. This way your mind will be
freed to focus on your current task.
5. Meditate
Meditation is one of the best ways to calm your mind and have a “mind
like water”. Even if you do the other ways mentioned in this post,
sometimes there is still noise left in your mind. Meditation is a good
way to purify it. There are many forms of meditation to choose from.
6. Limit your information intake
Consuming more information often means introducing more noise into
your mind. That’s why limiting your information intake is essential to
have a calm and peaceful mind. The rule of thumb in consuming
information is this: consume information no more than what is necessary.
But how do you know what is necessary? Rational thinking may help you
figure it out, but I believe that your heart and intuition can help you
just as much – if not more.
7. Read spiritual texts
Spiritual texts are among the purest kinds of information you can
possibly get. It helps you link together your mind, heart, and
intuition. While generally you should limit your information intake, I
believe that you can safely consume spiritual texts without introducing
noise into your mind.
8. Eliminate unessential stuff
It will be easier to have a peaceful mind if you don’t have too much
stuff to worry about. So always look for ways to simplify your life.
Eliminate the things which are not essential so that you can focus on
the essential. Elimination should be a constant part of your life.
9. Don’t think too much about yourself
We usually think about our own needs and problems most of the time.
But self-centered thoughts rarely bring peace into our mind. Quite the
opposite, it may make us feel stressed and frustrated. So don’t think
too much about yourself; forget yourself for a while.
10. Do something for others
Instead of thinking too much of ourselves, we should think more of
others. Think of what you can do for others and do it. There is joy in
giving which will give you peace of mind.
In whatever you do, you do not need to be in rush. Doing so may only bring you faster to the wrong direction.
First of all, you need to know where is the right direction to go. Slow
down so that you can clearly hear the voice of your heart and
intuition.
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