The Wind Chimes of the Mind
Battling Influenza and Insights on Mental Patterns
This week, I suffered from a yearly case of influenza. My girlfriend caught it first and effectively passed it on to me. My brain was inflamed, enduring an almost constant headache for much of the four days I was sick.
A Night of Realization
During one particularly tough night with the flu, I woke up around 4 AM in a surprisingly calm state of consciousness. Despite the quiet, the pressure in my head was intense. It felt as if the synapses in my brain were firing independently. Noise and thoughts filled my mind, ranging from random to negative thoughts that triggered feelings of insecurity.
Understanding the Mind's Pathways
As I observed these sensations and thoughts, I realized that these synapses are old phrases stored in my mind. Experiencing something triggered a journey down familiar neural pathways, setting off these synapses like wind chimes hung on a specific path, sounding as I tread the same path again. I understood that these synapses were merely old sentences stored in my brain.
For instance, at work, specific events trigger synapses containing phrases like "your work isn’t good enough." Each time these synapses fire, I face a choice: engage with these old 'wind chimes' or let them pass. This moment of clarity showed me the importance of being present during these critical moments, choosing a new path instead of feeding old beliefs.
Changing Mental Patterns Through Presence
Whenever I start a new idea or project, I encounter neural pathways filled with discouraging phrases like "this won’t work," "you’ll just waste your money and time, so why bother?" or "there’s too much competition." Recognizing these as mere old sentences, I've learned that cultivating presence means taking small steps forward, regardless of the doubts.
To test my ideas or projects, I now start on a small scale, challenging the old patterns. This system not only keeps a record but also updates it. By breaking old patterns a few times, new synapses upload to my mind, replacing the outdated ones.
My Journey with Boxing
My experience with boxing illustrates this beautifully. Initially, my mind would doubt, thinking "I don’t know what I am doing." Now, after proving my skills in class and sparring, the synapses have shifted to "I know I can do this."
Conclusion
Realizing the power of presence has been transformative. It's about recognizing old, limiting sentences in our minds and consciously deciding not to let them dictate our actions. Instead, by taking even small steps against these old patterns, we can literally rewire our brains, leading to personal growth and increased confidence in our abilities.
