mental-health

Something to look forward to

1 Point Contributor

Why we need something to look forward to:

Beyond regular duties of life, achieving goals, we need something that we truly enjoy just for the sake of doing it. We have talked about simplifying life to a North Star Goal – a guiding principle that helps us navigate our life challenges and stay focused. We all have many priorities to juggle for in the life. Yet, even with this clarity, life can feel overwhelming. Our minds constantly seek happiness: sometimes through success at work, sometimes through harmony at home. But what happens when neither is going as planned? How do we keep going when life doesn’t cooperate with our expectations? The answer lies in finding something that nourishes us from within — something that keeps us grounded and joyful, no matter the external circumstances.

How to convince your mind to do it: Identifying what we like is an important step. But it is not enough. The harder part is allowing ourselves to spend time on it — without guilt. For example, you know that at work you need more engagement and at home, you have tasks to be done. In such a situation, how do you convince yourself to spend time on your interest? For me, it’s not easy. I may end up doing work first. To convince myself to spend time on an interest or hobby, I try relating it directly to my work productivity. For example, we are convinced that time spent on physical fitness is not a waste of time as it provides us with energy to do what we want to do in a day. Similarly, we need mental “fitness” time that generates happy hormones so that we can stay motivated to continue living the life we imagined.

How to find what we like: I think we need to find our interest where we feel joy of doing it for the sake of doing it. Some examples of such interest could be reading books, writing articles, curiosity about finances, spiritual seeking inclination, or anything that seems effortless. To find out a task you enjoy, I think the simpler way is to ask yourself:

  1. If you have enough money for your retirement and other family needs, what would you like to do in your free time?
  2. What is a task in that you lose the track of time? In other words, what is the task in that you forget that you are the doer?

Or, try other creative ways to find out what you like. Help me learn what you came up with.

When to do to it in the week: Once we are convinced to spend time on our identified activities, we need to find time to do it. It won’t be easy. Mind may tempt us to skip it for the day or the week. To find time, we have to ruthlessly prioritize. For example:

  1. Daily meditation is equally important as daily physical fitness. Allocate time for it everyday as if it’s an essential sleep routine.
  2. Plan for a half day on a weekend in a way that doesn’t impact family or other commitments. It could be Saturday mornings or Sunday evenings.

Once you identify it, stick to it as we stick to an important work meeting.

Summary: We briefly discussed the value of spending time on a hobby, how to find out what we like, and when to do it in the week. Looking forward to the next steps of implementing it.

Simplifying Life to a North Star Goal

1 Point Contributor

Why we need to simplify life: In the current situation, we have chaos everywhere. There is so much information, so many philosophies, so many distractions, and so much uncertainties about all areas of life like relationship, finances, and politics. In such a difficult time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and get distracted from the mainstream and essence of life. That’s why it’s more important than ever, to simplify life to live meaningfully.

What are common distractors: In my article, how to simplify life, I have written some basic steps to avoid common distractors. The biggest influencer is the worldwide accessible open social media. In addition to it, human ego makes things more complicated.

What is simplest checkpoint to avoid distractions: The simplest thing I an think of is to scan your decisions from the lens of ego-check. For example:

  • Do I want to get that pair of jeans to show off or do I want it because I like the band, the comfort, and durability of it?
  • Do I want to become a famous writer who has maximum number of instagram followers or do I want to write because I like writing and I want to help people with my thoughts?

How to create a simple structure to follow: Bringing clarity to life is as important as oxygen. We need a vision for our life, to structure the life in a simpler & a purpose driven way. I had other thoughts about simplifying life further and relating it with Maslow’s law and seven spiritual centers of the body. Here is how I related my earlier defined areas to Maslow’s law and seven spiritual centers:

Maslow’s Law of needsSeven centersMy areas of life
Physiological
Safety
Social		Root
Sacral
Heart		Foundation (Fitness, Finance, Family)
EsteemSolar Plexus
Throat
Third Eye		Forward (Skills, Learning, Achievements)
Self ActualizationCrownFreedom (Autonomy, spiritual liberation)

Explanation of life goals:

  • Foundation: I realized that my basic goals of fitness, finance, and family (including friends and society) are related to a basic foundational needs to live life.
  • Forward: Forward is a name given to efforts we do, to build our self esteem. I like the word Forward as it has a push for an action to look forward to. We can also call it taking actions or doing karma for anything in life. For example, look forward to:
    • Learning to continuously build skills to achieve goals and enjoy.
    • Advancements & Achievements by expressing (doing) in areas like leadership, writing, technical, and other as per our profession and interest.
  • Freedom: It is about transcending the journey and becoming free. It can’t be achieved unless we have a strong foundation and strong self-esteem.

What is a north star goal: We need a north star goal in a word so that we’re not lost into multiple goals. I found it very satisfying and simple to come up with one word, to describe my life. For me, that one word is, Freedom. For me, it means freedom from foundational things like: freedom from diseases; freedom by saving for retirement and other life needs; freedom from family needs by transcending to the world as one family; and finally, freedom from my mind or desires.

What’s next: I’d like to explore what stops us from taking actions to live life we imagine. Stay tuned to read more on it.

References:

  1. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/
  2. OnePointAhead, https://onepointahead.com/

Avoiding Mind Traps and Worries: Giving the Mind the Right Engagement

1 Point Contributor

The human mind is a restless force. It constantly seeks tasks, attention, and engagement. This is how the mind is designed—it cannot remain idle for long. When it lacks meaningful engagement, it quickly drifts into overthinking, and overthinking often breeds worry.

If I am not engaged in a task, I will inevitably think. The problem is that these thoughts, left unchecked, can spiral into mental noise, doubts, and anxieties.

The Nature of the Mind

The mind can be compared to an active monkey—always jumping from one branch to another, always restless, always hungry for the next thing. When the monkey has no clear branch to hold on to, it starts flailing wildly. Similarly, when the mind has no constructive task, it wanders into unnecessary thoughts, eventually leading to worries.

It is important to recognize the difference between thinking and worrying. Thinking is creative, solution-oriented, and purposeful. Worrying, however, is repetitive, draining, and rooted in fear. Overthinking often creates the bridge between the two.

You Are More than the Mind

One of the most liberating insights is understanding that you are not the mind. Thoughts arise automatically, shaped by memory and past experiences. Situations trigger emotions like anger, fear, or frustration, but these reactions are just patterns of the mind.

You, the true self, are beyond this. You are the witness. You can observe the mind like an audience watching a play on stage. The drama unfolds, but you need not get entangled in it.

For example, a situation may make you angry. Instead of blindly reacting, pause and notice: Why is my mind producing anger? What memory or conditioning is behind it? This act of witnessing creates distance and freedom.

Don’t Suppress the Mind

It is not necessary to fight, suppress, or purify the mind. The mind will continue its activity—that is its nature. Let it be. Thoughts will come and go, like clouds in the sky. Your task is not to control the clouds but to stay as the the clear sky that holds them.

Let thoughts arise. Witness them. But do not feel compelled to act on them.

Intellect as the Decision Maker

Here lies an important distinction:

  • Mind suggests ideas and reactions based on memory and conditioning.
  • Intellect has the power to evaluate and decide which suggestions to accept.

By strengthening the intellect, you learn not to act on every impulse of the mind. You allow thoughts to arise, but only act on those aligned with reason, values, and clarity.

Give the Mind the Right Engagement

Since the mind needs tasks, it’s wise to guide it rather than let it run wild. The best way to do this is by providing meaningful engagement:

  • Follow a routine: A daily structure tells the mind what to do next, reducing unnecessary confusion.
  • Schedule thinking time: Instead of letting the mind wander all day, dedicate a specific window to reflect, brainstorm, or even process worries. This prevents restless overthinking at random times.
  • Engage in purposeful activities: Physical exercise, creative hobbies, service, and learning can channel the mind’s energy productively.

When the mind is engaged in constructive ways, it has less room to wander into worry.

Closing Thoughts

The mind will always seek engagement—that is its design. The key is not to suppress it but to guide it. By providing the right tasks, cultivating awareness, and strengthening the intellect, you can prevent the mind from falling into traps of overthinking and worry.

Be the witness. Watch the drama unfold. And remember, you are not the restless monkey—you are the vast sky that holds it.

How to Simplify Your Life: Key Steps

1 Point Contributor3 Comments

We live in a well-connected world where life changes faster than ever. Every day, life becomes more complex, with increasing expectations at work, in personal life, and in society. Many of us also want more results, happiness, and productivity. We want to achieve more in the limited 24 hours we have each day.

At work, there is a constant need to learn and execute. For example, if you’re a computer programmer, you must continuously improve your development skills. The same applies to any role in technology. As we advance in our careers, we are expected to acquire higher-level skills, such as understanding the company’s overall technical architecture. Technologies evolve rapidly, while businesses continuously innovate to remain competitive.

In personal life, we face expectations from family, friends, and society. For instance, as a parent of a 3-year-old, you may want to spend quality time with your child. If you cannot, you might feel guilty. Similarly, societal expectations—like participating in social causes—can add pressure. Beyond external demands, many of us hold high standards for ourselves. We want to be productive and increase our self-worth.

So how can we manage life with so many expectations, needs, and desires? A first step is to define your focus areas, goals, actions, and learn to avoid distractions.

Define Your Focus Areas

Decide what truly matters to live a wholehearted life. Start by listing everything you want to do. Over time, group them into broader focus areas that cover all aspects of life. Clear focus areas help you prioritize and say no to things that don’t align with your core goals.

Examples of focus areas:

  • Inner Growth: This defines who you are, what you want to do in life, and how you will do it. It involves understanding your personal mission, vision, and values. For instance, if your core value is service, your goal is to contribute to others and add value to their lives. Think of Inner Growth as the base of a tripod — the foundation supporting everything else.
  • Fitness: Includes physical health, mental well-being, and a balanced diet. Without fitness, you cannot fully engage in your desired activities. Fitness is the first leg of the tripod.
  • Family & Friends: Support from and to loved ones. Humans are social beings, and having a support system is essential. This forms the second leg of the tripod.
  • Finance: Planning for financial needs is critical. Money is a means to live purposefully, not an end itself. In the tripod analogy, this is the third leg. Financial planning involves leveraging your skills to contribute meaningfully while securing your future.

Blend Focus Areas When Possible

Whenever you can, blend focus areas for a more integrated life. For example, if your Inner Growth emphasizes service, try to serve through work, family, and fitness.

Example: If you have a family business teaching yoga, you can:

  • Spend quality time together as a family (Family)
  • Contribute to society by teaching yoga (Inner Growth / Community)
  • Earn a meaningful living (Finance)
  • Stay fit while practicing yoga (Fitness)

Define Goals

Once focus areas are defined, set goals for each: lifetime, 5-year, 1-year, 1-month, 1-week, and daily goals.

Example for Finance:

  • Lifetime: Estimate total financial needs, including retirement, kids’ education, vacations, and housing.
  • 5-Year: Identify upcoming expenses and plan how to earn and save to meet them. Adjust strategies if necessary.
  • 1-Year: Break the 5-year roadmap into actionable yearly targets.
  • 1-Month / 1-Week / 1-Day: Plan specific actions to achieve short-term and long-term goals.

Plan Actions with a Schedule

Translate goals into actionable steps and schedule them.

Example weekly allocation for focus areas:

  • Inner Growth: 15 minutes of meditation daily, plus reflection throughout the day. On weekends, dedicate more time to Inner Growth activities such as reading, visiting meaningful places, or self-discovery exercises.
  • Fitness: 30 minutes daily, following weekly CDC guidelines — 150 minutes of moderate activity plus 2 days of muscle strengthening.
  • Family & Friends: 2 hours daily with family, weekly calls or visits with extended family and friends.
  • Finance / Work: Focused work time, skill improvement, and relationship-building.

Plan for Unplanned and Ad-Hoc Needs

Life is unpredictable. Reserve a few hours weekly for unplanned tasks. For ad-hoc or exceptional tasks (like a week-long course), accept that you cannot “find” extra time in a regular week. Adjust your schedule, take time off, or delegate other responsibilities to accommodate it.

Avoid Distractions

Desires and external demands can pull you away from focus. Ask yourself:

  • Does this align with my focus areas and goals?
  • Does it help me live according to my mission, vision, and core values?

Examples:

  • Money / Wealth: Focus on earning what you need, not chasing excess for ego.
  • Fame / Recognition: Focus on contribution rather than social media validation.
  • Respect / Influence: Focus on creating an environment of mutual respect rather than personal prestige.

Learn to say no to tasks or demands that do not align with your focus areas. Understanding your mind, body, and ego can help manage distractions, comparisons, and wandering thoughts.

What’s Next

Simplifying life is a skill that takes time and practice. Clarity allows you to plan tasks that are achievable within your limited lifetime. Decide what’s important, act deliberately, reflect on your journey, and seek feedback from others. Inner Growth, combined with planning, reflection, and continuous self-discovery, helps you live a more intentional, productive, and fulfilling life.