Mind plays Games

Do you know that mind’s only pre-occupation is playing games? We are often fooled by our own minds. John Milton said, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.”

Mind is that aspect of our personality that thinks. A continuous flow of thoughts is mind’s food. No thought, no mind. Thoughts are either about past memories or future expectations. Present moment passes so fast that it offers no opportunity for the mind to think. The present moment can only be experienced, not thought about. Mind virtually dies in the present moment. Therefore, mind hates the present moment. It conspires to keep us from being in the present moment. It plays variety of games to keep us occupied in its playground – past memories and future expectations.

For example, you want to buy something. You collect all the information, carryout all the possible analysis / negotiations and zero in on one item. However, no sooner have you bought it and wish to enjoy, mind raises doubts about your decision. Now, you are not sure if you bought the right stuff or paid the right price. Your enjoyment from the purchase is no longer complete.

Consider another example. You are preparing for a job interview. You study all about the company and the job. You mentally rehearse a number of scenarios to perfection. But, on the D-day, mind presents a new scenario that you have not rehearsed. Your confidence is shaken and you cannot concentrate on the ongoing interview. Success becomes a matter of chance.

Yet another example: You are well prepared to make a presentation to a large gathering. But, no sooner you face the audience; mind throws doubts about your preparation or simply your appearance. Now there are butterflies in the stomach.

And, how about this example? You want to marry. You make a list of criteria and start exploring for a suitable match. You ultimately find a match and decide to live together forever. But, soon after the marriage, your interest drifts elsewhere. Mind starts highlighting deficiencies in your decision, while presenting alternative options. You are on a wild goose chase for the ultimate marital bliss. Increasing rate of divorces is a testament to this game of mind.

In reality, mind never gives 100% consent on any choice. That part of the mind, which does not give its consent, fights back soon after making the choice with greater force to convince us that our choice could have been better. Having committed a wrong action, mind hates to say ‘sorry’. It will fabricate all sorts of excuses and reasons to justify that action. Mind maintains a huge video library of all the past memories, especially the miserable ones, and replays the scariest number when we are about to launch a new venture or waiting for an important news. Child is late in returning from the school and the mind will suggest only the worst scenario. Mind never sleeps, even when we sleep. It weaves variety of dreams with strings of unfulfilled desires and fancies. We are never left alone in peace. Mind keeps us busy with unending series of dilemmas. It is a chatter-box in which internal dialogues never stop.

So, what do we do with such a mind? We can neither ignore it nor dump it at will. Perhaps the answer lies in the old adage, “Mind is a great servant, but a terrible master.” We can use it to our advantage. For this, first we must realize that we possess our minds – not the other way round. Hence, we have higher power than the mind. We should use this power to maintain a constant watch over the mind. Simple observation with a detached attitude can stop mind’s rambling to a great extent. Mind becomes unruly when we lose this objectivity and start flowing with it. Keeping our attention in the present moment is an excellent way of cutting the supply line for the mind.

We should refer to the mind when required. We should use it to carry out a given task or problem analysis. Let it throw possible options and choices. But, while making the decision, we should refer to our hearts. Heart is beyond logic and reasoning. Love is the only food for heart. It is closer to the core of our personality and hence can better judge what is right for us. Heart has wonderful quality of connecting with other hearts. So, it also knows what is good for everybody. Decisions reached by heart are comforting and do not have any disturbing aftereffects.

Once we regain control over our minds, we can reverse the game-plan. We can now play games with our minds. Since mind is so good in creating illusory visions, we can instruct it to create desired visions at will. We can ask it to create a vision of success before an interview or a business meeting. We can ask it to create a vision of applauding audience before the presentation. We can command it to lift the gloom and spread joy. We can use mind to go beyond the mind.

A prisoner confined to a dark cell in France for several years used this power of the mind to play virtual Golf in his mind everyday and became a professional player soon after his release. There is no reason why we can’t do the same with our minds. There is no reason why we can’t start living spontaneously – moment-by-moment.