The ‘limited power’ of thought

Thinking power in an individual is much eulogized, and the ones who have more of it command greater respect in the society. The reason behind the same is that these people can achieve greater success in the world, earn more, live lavishly and handle situations better. However, this picture is far from complete.

Each one of us would definitely agree that materialistic success is only one aspect of our lives and cannot lead to a life of fulfillment by itself.

You may be super-rich but bad temper & fear of failure can turn your life experience sour.

This other aspect, as to how you are within yourself, gets lost out in all the glitz owing to its intangible nature that makes it less available for ready display. Also, one needs perception and patience to acknowledge it in others – something in short supply in today’s world of instant gratification & limited attention span. Thus, while we are suffering the ill-effects of negligence of this aspect, we continue to ignore it to our own peril.

Once we acknowledge that this is something we need to work upon, the question arises, ‘how’? I am sure everyone knows that anger is not good for them. However, with pure thought, we have not been able to tide over it. Instead, the over-dependence on thought can make one go crazy if one tries to reason out each aspect of life. This makes one resort to smoking/drinking to calm the mind a little.

There are other ways, besides thought, that can help one mold one’s way of being. These include Kriya Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation, and Hatha Yoga. These practices work at deeper levels in the body than thought and are very powerful in bringing about desired changes to one’s personality.

When you are agitated, it is not your line of thought that soothes you down, but some deep breaths and letting yourself loose by closing your eyes.

These profound practices have much more to offer. If practiced consistently even for 30 min a day, they have the potential to alter the very state of your being, thus making your experience of life much more pleasant and joyful.