Power within – 12 Strategies – Part4 MIND: PENDULUM

  MIND: PENDULUM

"LIVE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT HERE & NOW. FUTURE WILL BE FINE”

The mind is a powerful device gifted to the humankind by the evolutionary process. This device can be deployed for our own benefits provided we know preciously the method of handling of this device. The life experience becomes frantic & hectic when one fails to manage this device.

Pendulum:

Mind movement is like a pendulum. It swings between the two opposite sides from the neutral position. The two sides are the “past” and the “future” and the neutral position is the “present”. So, the entire time mind moves towards the past and future while crossing the neutral state momentarily. This is especially true when we don’t have an important task at hand. Watch the movement of your mind in the situations like driving a car, brushing your teeth!!  Naturally, mind dwells in the past or fantasizes the future.

Default Network:

In neuroscience, scientists call this pendulum action as the default network of the brain. Nearly 49% of the time, the brain stays in the default network. We know that each of our thought generates an electric impulse. Considering this fact, we spend half the time wasting our energy by random thoughts. We tend to worry when the mind thinks of the past experiences. We fancy our future which is yet to happen. But, there is a way to make this mind lot more productive that generates better life experience.

Leading a life:

We have choices!!  Either, we can think of our future life and compromise our present life or simply, lead the present life to the fullest. Most of us fall into the first category compromising this moment for the better future. But, the simple secret is that if we live and experience the present moment to its fullest, the future will be fine. This secret that I learned has directed my life for greater goodness.

Present moment:

What is the definition of living in the present moment? When I get involved in an activity or simply, when I experience a moment, the experience of space and time become void. This means that I would have spent thirty minutes experiencing an event but in my experience, it was like a minute. Remember those moments where you read your interesting book or watch movies for hours together but the hours fly in seconds. These are those “present moment” where you live in that moment. Future will be fine & very well secured for those who experience the present moment very often in life. It is simply because; how I live today that governs my future.

Summary: Mind always dwells in the past & future. The mind is like a pendulum that swings between past and future.By default, we live in the past or future. So, naturally, we tend to worry our past and fancy our future.

Power within – 12 Strategies – Part3 CONSISTENCY: SUCCESS

Our Definition:

An action when it is repeated on a regular basis becomes our habit. Our habit drives our behaviour. Our own definition is based on our behaviour. Such is the power of repetition and thus consistent actions when done on regular basis have the potential to give a new definition of you on the long run.

Wiring:

 We are automatically driven by our habits in an autopilot mode. It is subconsciously etched in our neural network and doesn’t require the association of our thinking brain. Habits are spontaneous & automatic. It is the easiest path in the neural network that can be activated without our conscious effort.

Problem:

Our own programming and hence our own definition is the net results of consistent repeated actions that were executed in the past knowingly or unknowingly. In fact, we are a slave to our own old habits. All our old habits work in our comfort zone. We strive for a comfortable life & hence, we tend to live in the comfort zone driven by the old habits.

It now becomes difficult to change the old habits or form a new habit as we are engulfed within the framework of the old habits. Your new actions that you want to follow have to be consistent. This is not going to be easy as we need to come out our own comfort zone and that requires effort & determination.

This is where practicing yoga, or going to the gym on regular basis becomes offstage activity. It is simply because it is a new neural network that we need to form but the stronger old network is called upon automatically and restraining us to stay within our comfort zone.

But, remember your consistency that shapes your new definition. If we need to change for good then we need to be consistent in our actions. 

Success pattern:

  The sole reason for not getting the desired result is the lack of the regularity in repeating an action. This is significantly true when it comes to the subject of lifestyle modification. Simple strategy: Constantly repeating a new action on regular basis creates a new habit. New good Habits create a NEW of you.

Summary: The sole reason for not getting the desired result is the lack of the regularity in repeating an action. This is significantly true when it comes to the subject of lifestyle modification.

Simple strategy: Constantly repeating a new action on regular basis creates a new habit. New good habits create a NEW of you.

Power within – 12 Strategies – Part2 PHYSICAL EXERCISES BASIS

"DIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT & ALIGNMENT IN THE EXERCISES ARE THE BASIS FOR THE GENERATION OF ENERGY”

To have your ideal health & fitness level, you might be training your body using some exercise formats such as weight training, aerobics, running, swimming, cycling, yoga training etc. All these pieces of training help in adding up your flexibility, agility, endurance level, stamina, strengthening your body etc.

Energy Flow:

 Any format of exercise calls for the energy consumption and hence, there is a need to generate a proportionate energy for you to sustain through the different phases of an exercise. In other words, you have to become a medium for the energy transference to happen in this simulated condition effortlessly. Smartness lies in acting as a perfect medium that retains this equilibrium state throughout the phases of the simulated condition. Otherwise, we will burn out as we progress the different phases of the exercise. Our inability in gradually building the resource to match up to the requirement that is called upon is the key element for our failure in any format of exercise.

Energy Generation:

Energy generation is the source of your resource. The basis for the energy generation comprises of two elements.

Directional movement

Alignment

Yes!!  Directional movement & alignment during the physical exercise are the basis for the energy generation. Remember, the earth rotates in an orbit and revolves on its axis. These movements require a lot of energy.  But, the earth is not drawing energy from an external source. It is simply drawing the energy from its own directional movement & alignment along its axis.

Human Body:

 Here are the two important elements of the body. The navel is the centre of mass of the body. Consider this as a centre point for the body. The spine is the axis and the entire central nervous system operates upon this axis. Consider this axis as a centre line.

Any directional movement with respect to the centre point and /or centre line generates energy. For example, a forward & backward movement of the body generates energy, twisting the body along the spine generates energy & so on.

Earth aligns by a degree along its axis as it revolves. Same way, for us the spine is the axis. How one stays in the neutral spine position determines the seamless flow of energy in the body. The perfect posture with the awareness to the spine plays a crucial role in the generation of energy. This is absolutely true in all sorts of exercises such as running, horse riding, yoga, swimming etc.

SUMMARY:

Earth rotates in an orbit & revolves on its axis. Earth generates its energy by the directional movement & alignment of the earth. Here is the simple strategy: Mimic the pattern of the earth and ensure that the exercises deliver directional movement & alignment irrespective of the form of the exercises to generate energy.

Power within – 12 Strategies – Part1 ART OF LISTENING TO THE BODY

Physical Strategy: 1

ART OF LISTENING TO THE BODY

"LISTEN TO YOUR BODY FIRST IN ORDER FOR THE BODY TO LISTEN TO YOU”

SUMMARY: Pain, heaviness, warmness are gross sensations. Throbbing, tickling, pulsating feelings are the subtle sensations. Art of listening is simply tuning to the subtle sensations in the body by which you will gain access to your involuntary system (autopilot mode).

SIMPLE STRATEGY: The art of listening to the body gets enhanced by the practice of yoga mindfully.

  If you are into the endurance sports such as marathon running then you must be well aware of the level of injuries that the beginners agonize. It is overwhelming 65% injury rate for the novices. The early enthusiasm that one has in developing the endurance skill diminishes at the later stage due to the injury factor. One of the main reasons for the cause of injury is the inability to focus and listen to the warning signals that spring out from the body. Yes, body has an inbuilt intelligence that breeds warning signals when one surpasses his own resource capabilities.

Mechanism: So, it is a common recommendation in this arena to “listen to the body”. What exactly does it mean listening to the body? For example, you are trying to run much faster than what your limits are. Your breathing is the one that distresses first. You may start to breathe faster. Since, you consume lot of energy in the faster running; your body naturally calls for more of oxygen to burn. As a consequence, Lactic acid forms in the body when there is depletion of oxygen. This lactic acid induces fatigue & hence, the brain generates pain signal in order for you to stop or slow down the running process.

When the distress occurs, the signals can be picked up at various levels such as breathing sensation, faster heart beat sensation, pain signals, heat sensations etc. These are the combinations of signals varying from the subtle to the gross sensations. Some of us feel the signals at the subtle level whereas others feel at the gross level. Some even ignores the signals.

  This process is not only transpires during the process of running but it is always there and can be witnessed for every normal happenings such as walking, sitting & sleeping.

Levels: Ignoring the warning signals is the worst thing and one can cause harm to himself. Pain, heaviness, warmness are gross sensations. One should able to acknowledge & honour these gross sensations. Throbbing, tickling, pulsating feelings are the subtle sensations. These are the finer signals that keep you in close proximity to yourself.

Power: Do increase the level of awareness & stay closer to you by tuning into the subtle sensations. By doing so, you will have the power to tap the whole gamut of the involuntary systems such as your respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous system etc. It is magical. It is the body intelligence that runs in an autopilot mode for which we have no control. Now , you get this power.This power changes the way you perceive your internal world. Obviously because of this same power, you start to experience your external world very differently.

Techniques: There are multiple levels of techniques defined in the yoga culture that gives you an opportunity to tap this power. The art of listening to the body gets enhanced by the practice of these techniques mindfully.

Live Large -Success Characteristic

Success:

Opportunity is presented to all of us equally. In fact, the opportunity is infinite. But, success comes only to the handful of people. These people have mastered to abode their awareness in the gradient zone and explore the things regularly in their area of interest irrespective of the results. These people, when the opportunity presents they have the upper hand over the ordinary because they get the ability to cross the tough boundary that the opportunity demands. Can you see the characteristics for the success here?

These people, when the opportunity presents they have the upper hand over the ordinary because they get the ability to cross the tough boundary that the opportunity demands.

Live Large - Solution

Design the platform that exposes the gradient of the comfort zone and discomfort zone vividly which provides an opportunity to tap the evolutionary energy.

We have been discussing, on one hand, the powers within and how to channelize those powers for our growth. Also, we have discussed the traps & limited belief which hold our progress. In this chapter, I would like to put forward the solution.

The solution is to create a right platform that provides an opportunity to tap the evolutionary energy. For this, whatever one does in his life, the platform should create an opportunity for an individual to push himself little further to the next level mindfully. This allows him to gain new learning & new experience.

The result becomes futile when one step into the discomfort zone mindlessly without utilizing his full awareness. This means to move mindfully from the termination of the comfort zone to the commencement of the discomfort zone. This transition is not a step response but it is a gradient. The whole point is to keep our awareness in this transition region (awareness area as shown below). So, design the platform that exposes this region vividly that provides an opportunity to tap the evolutionary energy.

Live Large - Limited Belief

Limited belief is a belief that one cannot execute certain task & he feels that he has limited resource and unable to perform the tasks. This kind of situation naturally constricts the person and eventually hampers the growth.

Initially, a person tries to do a new task which he has not done before. Let us assume that he has failed in executing the task. He tries again & he fails one more time. With multiple failures, he may come to the conclusion that he is not good enough to execute the task. This is now imprinted in his memory.

But the questions: What are his resource capabilities? What are the resources that the task demands and what are the resource gaps? Now, if one moves mindfully in extending his resources (not too far or too less) then he will get sufficient time to gauge in real time the resource needs that the task demands. Eventually, he may not end up completing the task at one go but he would have learned to step into that unknown area mindfully and get adapted to this new demand. This is really a big step and a great achievement. He has now experienced this area which allows him to stretch his resource little further next time when the opportunity presents. Over a period of time, he will develop the ability to enhance the resource to complete the task.

With the absence of the mindfulness, a limited belief constricts a person. Then over a period, this construction really takes a shape & practically starts to limit a person. It is unfortunate that we only nurture the construction that is being imposed upon us. We are not experimenting ourselves with the evolutionary energy & hence we are limited.