How To Radically Improve Your Everyday Experience Of Life In Two Simple Steps

Can you do something for me?

Tell me?

Please don't think tomorrow.

What?

Yeah, you heard me. You have been thinking everyday, every moment, all the time since you were born. Can't you just stop it for one day?

Well, no?

You can't stop? You mean you don't have a choice. You can't stop thinking even if you want to. That sounds like an addiction.

Thinking is an addiction. From the moment we wake up the voice in our heads and the mind's eye become activated. We barely notice them while they dictate our lives. The mind-radio starts off and goes about chattering, commanding, threatening, pleading, talking, complaining and so on. The mind's eye gives you glimpses of past, present, future and motivates your moment-by-moment behavior.

Most of us are not even aware of the presence of this mind-radio and MTV (Mind TV) inside our heads.

Worse, some think, that they are this Mind Radio and Mind TV.

You are not what you think.

I am not?

No, you are not.

Cool. Then what am I?

You tell me.

Tell you what? I am a human being.

Exactly, you are a human being, not a human thinking.

What does that mean?

I mean a couple of things. Let's take them one my one

Your mind has the capability to go into the past or into the future. So it keeps going here, there, everywhere. You think about the past, you worry about the future. The present ? the only moment when you experience life, is ignored.

You can "be" only in the present. Not in the past, nor in the future. It is only in the present, in the NOW that you can exist.

'Thinking' can be in past, future or present. 'Being' is only in present. When you think about the term "peace of mind" ? what are you thinking about? Are you thinking about a quiet, tranquil mind or are you thinking about a chattering, noisy mind playing around 7 TV channels simultaneously.

If I stop thinking, won't I become dumb? Thinking is important.

You will be wise. Thinking is important. But only focused thinking. Thinking with a purpose is important. Thinking with an end-result in mind is important. For example, when you brainstorm to develop new ideas to solve a business problem, that's vital. But thinking 'just like that' is your mind wandering aimlessly. It's like generally walking on the roads of a town without any idea of where you are going or where is it that you want to go. And just like aimless wandering, it doesn't get you anywhere and it makes you tired. Focused thinking makes you energetic, motivated and grateful. Aimless thinking makes you like a directionless floating leaf, your emotional state dependent upon whatever thought pops up in your head next.

Hey, that makes sense. Cool. How do I go about doing this non-thinking stuff?

It's not a question of non-thinking. It's a question of being. You are not trying to think yourself out of thinking. The choice is to "be" instead of "think".

Hmm? How do I just.. Be? Are you going to ask me to meditate on the flame of a candle for one hour at sunrise everyday?

It would be great if you could do that. But no, I wouldn't ask you to do that. (Though it would still be great if you could do that? how about half-hour, 15 minutes?)

I am just going to ask you to do two things?, which you can do everyday, all the time, any time, whenever you remember to do them, with the hope that you remember to do them pretty often

Watch yourself thinking ? Catch yourself thinking: Watch your thoughts. You are not your thoughts. (You say ? I am thinking? who is this I?) Notice your thoughts whenever possible, as you would observe a specimen in a laboratory. Don't judge. Don't get involved. Don't get attracted or distracted. Just observe. Be curious and just see how you think. Notice. Observe. The moment you realize that you are not the thinker; you start observing your mind thinking. The moment you do this, a 'higher consciousness' becomes activated inside your head. You start accessing intelligence beyond thought. Chances are, if you keep doing this, one fine day ? you will observe your thoughts and smile, as one would smile upon seeing the antics of a monkey. This is the one of the ways of freedom from thought.

Become intensely conscious of the here and now. Learn how to just be. How can you just be? By being aware of the present moment. By being present in the now. Take a routine activity, like say washing your hands and completely focus on it. Be involved ? fully. Watch the transparent water bounce happily in your palm, feel the coolness of water against your skin, watch the lines of your palm glistening against the droplets of water, hear the sound of water splashing and splooshing in your hands. Or even breathing. Breathing is like the most routine activity you can possibly do. Observe your breath. Feel it. Pay attention to it. You will suddenly feel much more alive. This is because you have brought your mind from the past or the future or wherever it was to focusing on the NOW. On the present moment. Think about this. Why do you feel relaxed when you go on a vacation or to the zoo or the beach? This is because; you suddenly are focusing, paying attention to what is around you. You are experiencing whatever is around you with all your senses, to the fullest. You are completely engrossed in looking at the waves of the ocean or the animals or the trees ? and you feel inner peace. This is so much unlike how we spend our days ? by focusing on everything except what our experience is right now. (Here is another bit of info, all pain exists in the past, all worries exist in the future ? the now is perfect) This is literally living for the moment, because you will always live in the moment, never in what was or what might be?

That's it. No time to take out to do an exercise or stick to a routine. All you have to do is do this whenever you remember to do it. Of course, you can help yourself remember to do this by sending anonymous mails to yourselves or putting alarms. (Once I put a reminder about this in my mobile and kept snoozing it and therefore kept doing it again and again)

This is one of the most important things you can do to improve your concentration, mental peace, even performance (ever did something with full attention and something while distracted? Which performance was better?).

You will soon discover that all things that truly matter ? beauty, creativity, truth, peace, love ? arise not from thought, but from beyond it.

Sound Interesting. I think I will give it a try.

There you go. Come back to the present moment please. I will give it a try is a ghost.

OK OK. I got the message. I am paying attention to it now.

Look at your hands on the keyboard, appreciate them. Look at the keyboard. The colors, the dirt patches. Look at the wall. The color. Notice your breath. Observe the shape of the monitor, the contours, the glow. Feel the presence of your body on the chair, the weight. Feel your legs pressing against the shoes. Feel your clothes lightly touching your body. Look at the mouse and trace its body with your eyes. Pay attention to your breath. Feel your elbow on the arm-rest. Feel the temperature of the room, the movement of air.

Yeah, that is how NOW really is. That is how 'being' feels.

Wow? I gotta do this regularly.

Are you sure?

Absolutely!!!

Really? You are going to do this?

Definitely pal. Definitely!!

Well, All the best.

About The Author

Applicable, relevant, easy-to-use information on improving the quality of life available at the web site of Abhishek Kumar - http://www.abhishekkumar.cjb.net/

Also subscribe to the free monthly e-zine 'Notes from Abhishek' for world-class articles and words that will have a significant impact on the way you are living your life now.

Do pay a visit. http://www.abhishekkumar.cjb.net/

http://www.abhishekkumar.cjb.net/

weekly home cleaning Highland Park ..
In The News:

Scammers nearly stole an Apple account by exploiting the support system with authentic-looking tickets and phone calls, users can protect themselves with safety steps.
FoloToy restored sales of its AI teddy bear Kumma after a weeklong suspension following safety group findings of risky and inappropriate responses to children.
Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.
Viral video shared by Elon Musk shows Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots performing tasks from cooking to construction, garnering over 58.5 million views on social media.
Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.
Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.
Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.
New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.
FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.
New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.
OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.
Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.
New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.
DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.
Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.
Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.
Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.
A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.
South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.
Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALLĀ·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.
Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Banishing Hannibal Lecter Personalities From Your Life

We all know them. We all have somebody like them... Read More

A Good Joke Can Lighten the Mood

A joke is a way of getting people to laugh.... Read More

Self Confidence and the Way You Use Your Words

The way we use language can have a huge impact... Read More

Have a Present Moment!

It was the 10th day of rain, and I walked... Read More

10 Passion Principles to Creating the Rest of Your Life

1. Take passionate action towards living your life by design.... Read More

How To Stay Positive In spite of The Negativity Around You

I'm often asked how it is that I stay so... Read More

Short Cut to Self-Confidence: Say Yes to You!

You are the only one that can give confidence to... Read More

Today, A Wonderful Day

Believe me, today is the most wonderful day of your... Read More

Never Run Out of Altitude, Airspeed, and Ideas at the Same Time: Lessons From the Vietnam POWs

Bosses can't control many things at work. In fact, they... Read More

Keep Your Cool

Know your limits. Accept what you can't change and let... Read More

Positive Affirmations

Never used 'em. Not likely to start now.OK, so I... Read More

Affirmations for Success + Music = Pow!

Music penetrates our mental barriers and influences the deepest areas... Read More

What Every Employee Should Know About How to Maximize His Potential for Success

There are countless books that describe success principles. Here are... Read More

How Attitude is Everything

"Most overnight successes are just plain lucky. Just ask any... Read More

Enhance Wellness by Doing Something Different.

Many people would say that it is absolute madness to... Read More

Your Frame of Mind May Determine Your Health

The mind absolutely amazes me. It will never be understood,... Read More

Mindfulness and Curiosity: Inspiring Affection

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious."... Read More

Our Beliefs Define Our Limits

The universe is vast, it's dimensions inconceivable, it's potentialities unimaginable,... Read More

Individualized Positive Affirmations for Improving Self-Esteem

Positive self-esteem is very important if not crucial to our... Read More

Lifes Curveballs

Do you realize how good you have it? Yes, everyone... Read More

Surrounding Yourself With Positive Energy

Our lives are busy. We rush here only to remember... Read More

Focus Your Attention

Lately, there has been a collective challenge to avoid being... Read More

A Major Block to Constructive Change

A Yale University study a few years ago revealed that... Read More

Anger And Your Health

HOW YOUR OUTLOOK INFLUENCES HEALTH AND ABILITY TO CONTROL ANGERJane... Read More

The Enchanted Cottage

Decades ago, I saw a metaphysical movie that wonderfully illustrates... Read More

whole house cleaning Park Ridge ..