The five steps to a peaceful mind - Part 2

The first three steps to a peaceful mind are:

1. Awareness of your present state of mind

2. A deep desire to change

3. Evaluation of critical areas of your life

The fourth step is the key and the differentiating factor between leading a peaceful and happy existence and one of stress and drudgery. Let us take you through the method and magic of the 3 M’s.

• Mindfulness

• Meditation

• Magnanimity

Mindfulness is the practice of staying in the present moment or activity. It is also paying attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them as right or wrong. We must, with awareness, tune in and concentrate on the current activity rather than allowing our minds to wander into land of the past or future. This ancient Buddhist practice has enormous physical and mental health benefits and has been scientifically proven.

In the modern era, we are encouraged to do exactly the opposite of mindfulness, i.e., multitasking. For e.g. having a meal and chatting on the mobile phone simultaneously is common practice. Even worse, I see young people riding bikes and talking on their cell phones glued to their ears. Thinking about my next article, when having a shower is a common problem that I face.

Some tips to start practicing mindfulness: when you are climbing the steps, count the number of steps; observe its colour and texture. When you are having a shower, focus on the water droplets falling on your face and body and enjoy that refreshing feeling. Yes, your mind will take a walk down a shopping street, but consciously bring it back to the shower. This will take a little time, but with practice, it will become easier. Stop is another popular technique suggested in the article from https://psychcentral.com/, especially when you have stressful or judgmental thoughts. Attending a course on mindfulness will be an excellent choice.

Meditation has been long established to bring awareness, peace of mind, and a host of health benefits. There are several types of meditation, ranging from transcendental to mindful meditation. Try out a few and practice what suits you. This ancient tradition may not be easy, especially for someone with a restless mind; you can make a start with a few minutes of meditation and extend it gradually, thus reaping the benefits for a lifetime.

Magnanimity is being big-hearted, generous, and forgiving; a virtue of not being resentful. Carrying destructive emotions is a sure path to destroying your peace of mind. Begin practicing magnanimity with small gestures, such as offering your seat to a fellow passenger or allowing your spouse to watch her TV show when you wanted to watch your favourite cricket match.

Forgiving someone who has disrespected you or tarnished your image is a step higher but involves letting go of your ego and self-importance. These acts may not be natural to you, yet the response, in most cases, creates goodwill and is reciprocal. More significant is the wonderful feeling that you get after a magnanimous act. Being magnanimous will help you on the journey to serenity and peacefulness.

The fifth and final step is to review, reflect, and reinforce the virtues of mindfulness, meditation, and magnanimity. An ideal way is by periodically monitoring your progress in a journal.

For seekers who pursue this path to peace, the good news is that each of these steps is connected and complementary. The more you do each one of them; the others become easier and add up cumulatively.

Isn’t it prude to take this time-tested path to peace of mind and discover our truly deserved happiness and bliss? A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, today is the day to take that first step on the journey to our peace of mind.