Why we should work with the mind

It’s hard not to believe our thoughts — after all, they are a part of us, right? Wrong — a lot of our thoughts are influenced all day long by outside sources, media and, indeed, other people. Very often, we begin our journey into wellness by changing external things such as food and fitness. However, if you still live in an untamed mind, you will only get so far. There’s a Buddhist saying that if you don’t rule your mind, it will rule you. Just like if you don’t train your body, your muscles won’t be toned, and if you don’t eat right, it will affect your mood. We can train our brain, and when we do, miracles happen. Start simply by waking each day and practising gratitude. This way, you are telling your brain to look for the good things in your life. It’s possible to train your brain at any age, and tell your neurons what to say to each other. The neuron is a specialised cell designed to transmit information to other nerve cells — we have about 100 billion of them. We need to tell these neurons what to tell each other, and we can do this only by becoming aware of our thoughts and behaviours, and then changing them. These pathways in the brain are formed and reinforced through repetition, which means we also need to be consistent with our good habits and practices. So what are you grateful for today?