The Silent Thief Stealing Your Joy

Beyond an event is knowledge

Beyond an object is infinity

Beyond a person is love

                                                                                                                Sri Sri Ravishankar

Beyond an event is knowledge

Beyond an object is infinity

Beyond a person is love

                                                                                                                Sri Sri Ravishankar

Sometime back, I encountered a patient who had difficulty sleeping. He said that until a few days back, the moment he hit his bed, he used to be engulfed into a deep and restful slumber. However, sleep evaded him in the last couple of days and he was kept awake by the constant barrage of thoughts. They took him to places he did not wish to visit leaving him awake by night and exhausted in the mornings.

Have you ever been caught in such a spell? Have you experienced life being taken away from you while you live in monotony and misery? Do you feel caught up in a constant loop of errands, deadlines, notifications and responsibilities? A pressure to continue while you desperately seek a break!

 In our hyper-connected, result-driven world, our inner well-being and mental health takes a backseat. We push ahead until we can no longer move. Until we are either overwhelmed or burnt out. Suffering in silence and falling deeper into an abyss of no return.

Stress and anxiety are silent epidemics plaguing our world. Although the World Health Organisation estimates that there are around 301 million people (2019) living with anxiety disorders, there is a much bigger figure going through it in silence.

However, what if I told you that there is a way out. There is a way to balance your responsibilities without burnout and desperation.  A way from stopping your mind from stealing your joys. Of course, counselling and medical treatments cannot be ignored, yet small changes in your daily life can lead to large impacts.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says,

 “For those who have conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends, and for those who haven’t the mind is the worst of enemies”.

The first step is knowledge. Realization that you are the owner of the mind, and not vice versa. If the mind is a horse than you are the charioteer. You have the reins of the horse in your hand and you can guide it to your destination. However, if you loosen the reins and let the horse take charge he will pull you through rough roads, stony paths and uncomfortable routes, making you sick and misguiding you from your destination.

In the hustle bustle of today’s world, we have lost the reins of our minds, and become slaves to its whims. Taking back control of our minds is what will lead us to inner joy and guide us on a path we want to move.

Every event in life, whether joyful or miserable brings you knowledge and wisdom. Use the experience to guide your life. Make it a daily practice to introspect. Watch your thoughts, emotions, and your mind. See what overwhelms you and where joy can be found.

Work with these realizations. Work on your body too. Only a strong body can put in the efforts needed to sustain in this world. Irrespective of your age, prioritize your health. Take a walk, run or simply do stretches or yoga asanas. Let these few minutes of daily introspection and self-care become a routine. Work at it repeatedly, consistently and see your life transform.

Yes, hurdles and deadlines will still exist and so will your external world with all responsibilities but, when you have taken control of the horse of the mind, you will be able to guide it skillfully on your chosen path of happiness and fulfilment.

This is your journey and every step you take towards your inner sanctuary is a victory. By consciously choosing practices that cultivate inner peace and manage stress, you can begin to reclaim the joy the silent thief had been trying to steal.

Stay tuned for more insights and practical tools to help you discover your inner warrior!