Page 37 - Abhivyakti - Vol 4.3

from battleground to playground:

mastering the mind gently

"The man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he cannot...both are right."
So what in your mind is important? Your mind-set.
Imagine you are wrestling with a cloud; every time you reach for it, it slips through your fingers. That is what "trying" to
control your mind feels like. But what if you were to treat your brain like an aging friend who needs a little coercing
occasionally?

A Little Mind Game
Let's do it! Find a nice comfortable spot, set your timer for 30 seconds, and say to yourself; "Don't think of anything at all?"
How did you go? You probably spent the full 30 seconds thinking about just how impossible it is to not think, right?
Underneath your brain is saying, "I want to chew on something!" That one obnoxious thought is the reason why we should
be friends, not foe.
Five Ways to Befriend Your Brain
1. Find a Name
When your brain starts whining -- "I don't want to study!'' -- stop and say out loud, "Oh, that is just procrastination". By
translating your resistance into a character
2. Small Steps Are Big Wins
Are you looking at a mountain of work? Cut it in half.
First: you can outline for five minutes.
Then: write one paragraph.
Finally: have a two-minute dance break.
Every mini-win is like a tiny high-five for your brain.
3. If-Then Plans
Unexpected ambushes stress you out. So set clear triggers:
If the clock turns 7 PM, then I will review my notes for ten minutes.
If I get through that, then I'll take a five-minute walk.

It is not you arguing with yourself, it is your brain simply following the road map you built.
4. Design Your Environment
Your environment has a quiet way of speaking to your brain. Want to start reading more? Put a book on your pillow. Want to
get in the flow? Put your phone in a drawer. You're not relying on will power - you're designing the playground.
5. Be Generous With Yourself
Everyone messes up. You watch one more episode instead of starting that project. Instead of calling yourself "lazy," try "My
brain probably needed a break anyways." Keeping that coaching tone allows you to keep coming back healthy, not fall into
self-blame.
Why This Works?
Your brain is programmed to avoid pain and to seek pleasure. By turning resistance into a friendly face, chunking big jobs into
easily manageable pieces, establishing cues, organizing your environment, and saying nice things - you are cooperating with
your own brain. In time, the small habits become strong pathways so that the tough work of heavy lifting is less cumbersome
and even a little more...friendly.
Your Turn
So, which tactic are you going to try today? Remember:
>"The man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he cannot.... are both right."
Which way are you leaning? Your brain is not an adversary waiting to trip you up, it is a colleague waiting to engage with you if
you will only speak its language. Give it a shot and see what you as a combo can achieve.

JAY MANEK

GRADE 12
SAINIK SCHOOL

BALACHADI, JAMNAGAR
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