How to work with our mind
Even a little introspection can demonstrate to us how distracting and distractible our mind is — it gets captivated by trivial things and then makes [...]
Are you someone you would want to live with lifelong?
If our partner is someone we can’t live with, that would make our life miserable. How much greater would be our misery if we had [...]
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Suppose we are living with a moody person who has extreme negative mood swings — during those dark moods, they tend to be both deceptive [...]
When self-talk is counterproductive and when productive
Self-talk can refer to two broad things: Something inside us talks to us: We all have a voice inside us that keeps commenting about the [...]
Why discipline is important — and not just for self-improvement
We often presume that discipline is something we need to adopt if we want to improve ourselves: say, become fitter, more well-read or more skilled. [...]
When our conscience speaks ….
We all have inside us an inner guiding voice: the voice of conscience that guides us to act in ways that are worthwhile, ennobling and [...]
Why does Krishna stress equanimity of the mind as a prerequisite for renunciation?
In the Bhagavad-gita’s sixth chapter, Krishna stresses that renunciation of work (06.03-04: shamah) can lead to progress only for those who have situated their mind [...]
Is poor mental health just a weakness of will? (Mental health series 4)
Suppose someone says they can’t do something challenging because they are not mentally healthy. Are they just weak-willed? To analyze, let’s consider a similar physical [...]
How self-doubt differs from self-appraisal (Dealing with doubts 3)
Suppose we have two acquaintances: one who gently explains to us our limitations during a mature discussion when we are seeking to learn from our [...]
Why self-awareness matters more than self-discipline — Desire management series 3
Whenever a desire drives us into doing something regrettable, we may think that desire is the problem and self-discipline, the solution. However, the root problem [...]
Three ways to live more effectively
Suppose we are driving a car. If our car map is unclear, if a distracting partner is sitting next to us and if excess baggage [...]
Why spiritual weakness is tougher to detect than physical weakness
What happens when we become physically weak? Many of our normal activities become difficult or even impossible. We can't lift heavy weights; we can’t even [...]
Why wisdom doesn’t automatically make us wise
When we are taught wisdom-texts such as the Bhagavad-gita by its expert teachers, we may learn much wisdom about how to act wisely when faced [...]
When living in the present helps, and when it harms
“Live in the present” is valuable advice to counter our mind’s tendency to wander off into the past or the future. That wandering can rob [...]
How our mind can be a double agent
Suppose a country’s intelligence agency needs to do a vital mission for which they need a particular spy. Suppose further they suspect that spy to [...]
How to get away from the mind when it troubles us?
When someone speaks negative things constantly, we may feel the need to get away from them. We may feel a similar need when our mind [...]
How to monitor and mentor ourselves?
One of the most intriguing verses in the Bhagavad-gita (06.05) urges us to elevate the self with the self, not degrade the self with the [...]
Why do small things irritate us so much?
We may notice that our mood often gets spoiled when some small things go wrong. Why do we get so irritated by small negatives? Because [...]
How inner bridges and inner barricades can empower us
Our mind is sometimes a source of creative ideas and sometimes a source of destructive desires. Pertinently, the Bhagavad-gita (06.05) urges us to elevate ourselves [...]
How to deal with the crazy mind?
Suppose a crazy psychopath has taken a child hostage and is using that child as a shield against the police seeking to rescue. At such [...]
How to deal with the mind’s craziness
Suppose we have been giving into an unhealthy craving of our mind for a long time. Then, the mind feels entitled to our obedience. If [...]