Mindfulness Series Part 2 - Mental Diet

In Ayurveda, it is believed that consumption needs to be an active & intrinsic act but it has now become a passive or extrinsic one.

When we encounter a health issue or obstacle in our well-being, we become mindful about what to feed our bodies, but what about what we feed our minds?

When was the last time you put your mind on a digital or information diet, avoided those that cross your boundaries, switched the tracks on your train of thought, pointed inward to see your own red flags, or just asked your mind what it needs?

Sleep and meditation give our minds rest and peace, akin to lying down after a long day for our bodies. But just as our bodies do, our minds need a detox too, so we can have quality rest & relaxation.

Most of us are often oblivious to the kind of content we give our minds. We fail to intellectually screen or censor our thoughts because we are perpetually binging information for it to process.

Junk for the mind gives rise to thoughts & actions because of activities that are done without actual reasoning, almost like eating a bag of chips non-stop.

This could be binge-watching an intellectually deficient reality or fictional TV series, scrolling through random insipid videos or social media posts, gossiping, unnecessary small talk, and even consuming processed food and drinks that trigger lethargy, bloating, and rob your mental and physical nutrient banks blind. The gut-brain connection is undeniable in this department.

While doing this in moderation is healthy, how many of us are perpetually indulging in mental junk food, almost like we’re on auto-pilot? As tempting as it is to engage in mindless activities after a long, exhausting day, it may be doing you more harm than good if done without respite.

The trick is to listen to your mind as you listen to your body, and be mindful of what it needs and doesn’t need. Our minds may not have a nuanced indicator like our stomach does, which tells us when we’re full, hungry, or unwell.

But if we listen carefully we’ll realize that’s the very role our emotions play in the most straightforward way possible.

Here are a few ways to live more mindfully for the sake of your mind:

-Start with some simple introspection and journal your regular or occasional activities and interactions as well as their corresponding feelings and thoughts.

-Identify a pattern to them in a day to a week and even a month.

-After which, observe your mental monologues and the tone of those conversations.

Are they negative & critical or positive & kind? Retrace their trails to their triggers or catalysts be it, food, hormones, activities, medication, weather, events, people, or even if it's just been one of those days.

-The intention behind this exercise is to understand yourself and your mind better without judging, blaming, or shaming yourself or others, while coming up with suitable coping mechanisms, cathartic solutions, and if needed, major changes so you can counterbalance the draining activities in your day with reinvigorating ones.

For example, going for a walk in the park after an overwhelming meeting, grabbing some golden milk after a stressful day, or indulging in a nice aromatic oil-soaked bath to soothe your senses and nerves. All this depends on what you’re feeling and needs to be released so you can feel like yourself again.

-Next, indulge in time away from mental & emotional overstimulation. This can help you silence the inner noise of the mind. After all, you can’t make butter without cream, so set your digital devices aside and leave your mind to its own devices.

-Be a silent spectator and let your mind run free, see where it goes, and snap it back to the present when needed. It may help if you accompany this activity by listening to some light instrumental music with a focus on repetitive beats.

-You can also try listening to some Sanskrit chanting to deepen the activity with cognitively calming effects. Feel free to listen or just chant along as each Sanskrit chant is believed to hold subtle auditory nuances that stimulate different mental benefits.

*Fun Fact: Scientific studies discovered that the sounds of chants may elevate mental well-being and fortitude. Uncover more in our Chanting emailer

Besides, subliminal mindfulness, fostering our cognitive functions with mentally nourishing and enriching herbs is one of the cornerstones of Ayurveda to safeguard the rest of our physiological health.

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