Overwhelmed and restless on a regular basis? Is there a specific reason why you feel this way? We’ve all been there. We feel bad in those situations. We’re making the wrong choices. We succumb to our desires, too. Weaknesses are a part of life for everyone. When we’re alone and unsure of what to do. We reach for our phones and scroll through the news or social media in those moments. As a result, things get even worse. And then you start to doubt everything you’ve ever believed about yourself. You’ve lost control of your thoughts. And you’re unable to think clearly as a result. A negative frame of mind is exactly what we’re trying to avoid. But we’ve all been in the zone—completely absorbed in a single task. How come we still get those feelings of being overwhelmed? Is there a person living in your head that’s causing this?
The Constant Idiot in Everybody’s Mind. In our minds, we all have a resident idiot. It’s the voice in your head that tells you:
- Not good enough.
- You must earn more money
- You’re a loser!
- Take a look at the accomplishments of others.
Instead of succumbing to our inner narcissism, we need to learn how to rein him in. We can use wisdom from almost any philosophy to turn off our inner narcissists. I’ve used Stoicism in the past to strengthen my mental fortitude. The teachings of Buddhism, on the other hand, have piqued my interest. I especially like Mindfulness, which is a pure way of looking at the world that’s obtained by meditation. I’ve discovered that there is a plethora of different schools of thought in the field of mindfulness.
As a result, I learned that there isn’t a single way to meditate that is correct. Living in the present moment without judgement is the foundation. So, Mindfulness promises that you can experience life in its purest form. Because we don’t see life as it really is. Our thoughts influence the way we perceive the world around us. Western mindfulness pioneers like Thich Nhat Hanh, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Bhante Gunaratana believe in the tradition’s power. It’s also well-documented in the scientific literature. Mental health benefits from mindfulness practice include stress reduction, anxiety reduction, and the alleviation of depression symptoms.
Not everyone can benefit from meditation.
But does that mean that you should practise mindfulness? After studying it for several years, I think everyone can benefit from the ideas. We live in a noisy world. And a little bit of inner calm and focus doesn’t hurt. But how do you practise Mindfulness, exactly? Is it a good idea to meditate? Would it be beneficial for you to attend retreats? Is it possible to go to a temple? Even though everyone can benefit from Mindfulness, the way you implement it in your life is unique to you. In addition, your personal circumstances play a role.
For example, I’ve tried meditating a few times already. For longer periods of time, too…. Because it made me depressed, it’s not for me. But I’m still a fan of Mindfulness’s philosophy. So, I’m not a fan of meditation. I believe that each person has the right to make their own decision. It’s a bad idea to follow the advice of others. Make your own decisions. And don’t stop studying.
Reading books is the best way for me to learn in general. Here are five books that I’ve found to be extremely beneficial. These books can help you learn more about Mindfulness.
1. Jon Kabat-Wherever Zinn’s You Go, There You Are.
As a medical doctor, Kabat-Zinn pioneered the science of mindfulness. Teachers of mindfulness highly regard him, and his book, Wherever You Go, There You Are, is a great place to start if you’ve never tried it before. People who prefer a scientific and practical approach to mindfulness, which can be very esoteric, should definitely check this out!
2. Thich Nhat Hanh’s The Miracle of Mindfulness
Most people have heard of Thich Nhat Hanh, a famous Buddhist monk from northern Vietnam. And in his book, he explains how to live in the here and now in a practical way. This is a great way to get started with meditation. It’s also a manageable length, so you can finish it in one or two days.
3. Eckhart Tolle’s book “Stillness Speaks”
Tolle claims he doesn’t adhere to any particular tradition, so this isn’t technically Mindfulness. Because of this, some people find his books unappealing. However, I found Stillness Speaks to be a wonderful book. A good summary of Buddhist teachings can be found in his brief paragraphs. A collection of aphorisms is what this book is. It’s wonderful to learn about the principles of conscious living.
4. Waking Up by Sam Harris
When it comes to Sam Harris’ controversial views on religion and politics, he’s hard to forget about. That doesn’t pique my interest. Mindfulness is a topic on which he has a strong opinion. He takes his cues from Jon Kabat-Zinn, who asserted that practising Mindfulness can help you become more awake. We’re so engrossed in our own thoughts that we’ve become numb to our surroundings. Non-religious and non-spiritual people alike can benefit from Sam Harris’ mindfulness techniques. If that’s the case, I highly recommend it.
5. Bhante Gunaratna’s Mindfulness in Plain English is a great book on the subject.
This was the book I preferred to read on the subject. When it comes to explaining the benefits of mindfulness, Bhante Gunaratana excels. You can tell he cares about the reader when you read the book. This is the book to read on Mindfulness if you only read one. It not only explains the theory behind meditation but also offers advice on how to improve one’s skills in practice.
If you’re not much of a reader, don’t forget that Audible allows you to listen to books instead of reading them. You can read or listen to summaries of most of these books on Blinkist as well.
Don’t read too many books.
It’s complicated, you know, this whole thing about trying to learn more and become enlightened. Reading about the ideas presented in the aforementioned books will lift your spirits. You’ll be more relaxed as a result. However, there is a drawback to this method of treatment. You’re doing it all wrong if you’re always looking for the next piece of wisdom. It’s time to get on with your life. This mindfulness and spirituality stuff aren’t going to be the only thing in your life.
In addition, whenever I write about this topic, I’m attacked by people who run meditation businesses. There is an effort by them to show how much knowledge they have and how wrong I am. I’m not interested in them and never respond to them. I’m not here to make a sale. This is what I’ve learned, and I want to pass it on to you. It is entirely up to you what actions you take. I was reading about Mindfulness but not actually putting it into practice for a while. But I soon realised that wasn’t the point of the experiment. My goal in life is to actually DO something. Practising Mindfulness can also be beneficial. Think about what you want to achieve in your life. Look for things that help you achieve your objectives, too. If it helps, use it; if it doesn’t, don’t. Ultimately, we’re all looking for a happy ending to our lives. You’ll be able to do so with the help of these books. Just remember to put the ideas to good use and not get bogged down in them.
