How to Workout Your Mind

Believe it or not, we all have got a mind muscle. It is meant to be stretched and worked out.

But unfortunately, you see the majority undermine their mind capacity. They keep it as it is without extra effort.

Now a question that may pop into your mind is: How can I workout my mind muscle? What I need to do?

Well first before you jump straight away to practicing your mind, you need to understand its mechanism and operation.

Our minds have been created with attachment systems. They need to attach no matter what, whether it is a good thing or bad. It just needs to attach.

Second, there are built-in hormones and chemicals wired inside our minds. They are triggered interestingly by our daily actions and behaviours. For example, you have donuts. You like it. You feel good eating it. You want more. That’s a reaction from your brain signalling to you to have more. The same thing happens when you scroll through your social media feed, when you workout in the gym, when you spend quality time with your loved one or when you start a new hobby or project.

Third, our minds have got built-in database of the thoughts, feelings and memories from the past, present and future. If you don’t know how to approach your mind database, you can be hooked in the past and forget about your present and future.

Fourth, our minds have got a capacity to be challenged and stretched. Probably many don’t know that. But its potential and capacity is so unlimited.

Now that you have got an overall idea of your mind’s built-in system, let us see how we can challenge and strengthen it.

Firstly, you have got to look at your mind objectively from a distance. For example, your mind says: I am not good enough. No body is interested in my work. No body cares. What is the point. Just give it up and stick to the familiar.

When you objectively watch yourself thinking this way, you question your mind by asking: Really? Is it really the case? Interesting. From where did that idea come from? How it started? Is it really that I am not good enough or there is something else going on?

I recommend doing this reflective process on paper through the method of journaling. By using your pen and notebook, write whatever is happening in your mind whether it is negative or positive. Don’t judge or think. Just write whatever is in your mind. After that, read what you wrote and think for yourself: Does this make any sense? Who is doing the thinking here? Is it me or a little child or my parent or my boss? What am I so scared of? Is all this worry and excessive thinking worth it or I could do something else that is more worthwhile and meaningful?

Remember to be compassionate and kind with yourself when doing this exercise. Give yourself all the time, space, energy and patience that you need. There is no rush here. No deadlines. No certificate end of the year. It is just you and yourself. Also remember to take yourself gently, slowly and step by step. Don’t blame or judge your mind’s thinking process. Give it all the time and patience it needs.

Second, look at your daily routines like morning routine, work routine, evening routine or whatever other routines you have. Ask yourself: How can I modify those routines to make them more challenging and difficult for my mind? For example, if my morning routine starts at 6:00 am, it can rather start at 5:00 am instead. Or let us say your evening routine is just you chilling and snacking in front of the T.V. Instead what if you swap it with having meaningful and in-depth conversations with your partner?

Third, get back your original birth-given curiosity to learn again. With the education system we have, I am not surprised to see many lost their natural interest to learn especially with the grading, reward and punishment approach. But leave all that aside and retrieve back your natural instinct to learn. What are you curious about? What would you like to know? What topics and subjects that interest you the most? What is your preferred way to learn? Is it by reading or watching videos or experimenting and trying new things? According to that, you go on fill up your learning cup.

Finally, I hope any of those tips resonate or relate with any part of your daily experiences. Remember. Your mind has got a potential. And it is only you who can tap into it and utilize it fully.