Thought Detox

Detox is a commonly used word and practiced nowadays. Detox is getting rid of the toxins. 

Generally, the term "Detox" is something related to body in sense of, eating or abstaining from certain type of food that cleanses the body or removes harmful substances from the body.

Similarly,  "Thought Detox"    would mean getting rid of the toxins in the mind or cleansing the mind.

Our body & mind are not two independent part of us but our connected. Our state of mind influences our body & our state of body influences our mind. If our body is experiencing illness it invariably affects our mind. In the same way, when we are stressed it affects the energy level of our body.

Hence, while we Detox our body, we also need to detox our mind.

How do we Detox our mind? Here are some steps you can follow:

1) First hour of the day, just observe silence. If you are used to noise and  find silence disturbing then listen to soft calming music as you slowly introduce 5 minutes silence & gradually increase the length of time.

2) Second hour of the day, communicate only when required. Avoid instructions, unnecessary comments & definitely gossips.

3) If a situation calls for your response then abstain from reacting. "Silence" is the best response in such a situation.

4) Your mind just like your body will need to be fed.

So feed positive thoughts. What are positive thought? Thoughts that are optimistic, a gratitude or an appreciation are positive thoughts

5) Sometimes its difficult to control the quality of thoughts. Hence, a daily discipline practice of meditation of mindfulness exercise is required. Meditation helps one to centre thoughts & bring oneself in what I call a "no thought" zone. You would need an anchor initially to bring yourself to a "no thought" zone. An anchor would be observing your breath or listening to heartbeat or repeating a chant. Practice meditation during the first hour of the morning & last 20 minutes before retiring to bed.

6) In your silent state of mind, keep a smile over your positive thoughts. This smile will automatically reflect on your face and

change the aura of your entire energy system.

7) Be a silent observer of thoughts without emotionally reacting to it. Similarly,be silent observer of your physical space without exercising your need to control the situation.

Here are some  benefits of detoxifying the mind.

1) A detox mind will ensure a stress free mind and body. Stress first hits the mind before hitting your body.

2) A stress free mind will ensure improved health.

3) You will start noticing a constant calmness in your demeanor. This calming presence if strong & contained will influence the space around you & the people around you. And hence you become a source of influencing the energy level of space & form (people) around you.

4) Its helps to reduce the control drama with your environment by granting you greater control over your mind.

5) Silence will raise your level of awareness. Awareness will improve your state of conscious living.

The biggest insight you will gain from "Thought Detox" is that, what happens outside you is only a reflection of what is going on in your mind. Also, what happens outside you is an opportunity for you to work on what is happening inside you. For example, your child's behaviour may annoy you. Actually it's your expectation about your child that is annoying you. So fix your expectations by accepting your child's behaviour. The shift in your internal state will change  your perception of external situation.

When you will operate from level of acceptance, your focus will be directed towards addressing your child's behaviour rather than indirectly addressing your emotional distress about your child's behaviour. This situation offers you to be an accepting parent rather than a controlling one. 

Ultimately the real conflicts in life is what happens within rather than outside you. The more toxic your thoughts are the more conflicts you will experience in your life. 

To lead a peaceful life, embrace "Thought Detox" as a part of your daily practice.