Slow Down Your Thinking
Slow Down Your Thinking
BK Dr Sudhanshu Sekhar Mishra
Based on the lecture by BK Shivani | Sydney, June 28, 2019
BK Shivani discusses the alarming rise of overthinking as a modern global epidemic. While society often labels a racing mind as "normal," it is actually a state of illness stemming from poor thought quality. True peace is not an external goal to be achieved; it is our inherent nature. To reclaim this state, we must consciously redefine our internal standards and bring the mind back under our authority.
Is my mental speed too fast?
You can identify if your mental speed has become unhealthy by checking for these symptoms:
• Disturbed Sleep Patterns: Difficulty falling asleep, needing medication, or oversleeping as a defense mechanism to avoid the "noise" of waking life.
• Constant Inner Noise: A persistent "background music" of thoughts that you feel unable to silence.
• Repetitive Patterns:Replaying the same unnecessary thoughts or past memories instead of focusing on the present.
• Physical & Emotional Toll: Loss of appetite or stress-eating, chronic fatigue, loss of enthusiasm, and high levels of frustration.
• Diminished Clarity:Feeling confused or taking an excessive amount of time to make simple decisions.
How do I stop my mind from overthinking?
To slow down the mind, one must transition from being a passive observer to an active director of their thoughts.
Putting the Mind on "Silent"
Just as you would silence a mobile phone, you must consciously instruct your mind to enter a state of mental silence. This involves recognizing that you are the master of the mind, not its slave.
Using Mindfulness Tools
Engaging in meditation or listening to soothing spiritual commentary creates an environment that allows a tired, racing mind to decelerate.
How do I talk to my mind?
The way we communicate internally determines our mental speed. Sister Shivani suggests a shift in internal dialogue:
Give Direct, Authoritative Instructions
When the mind wanders, talk to it as you would a colleague or a child. Use firm boundaries like: "I am busy right now; we will address this thought at 1:00 PM." By scheduling a specific time for worries, you prevent them from cluttering the present moment.
Shift from "Why" to Knowledge
A "questioning intellect" (often referred to as Kutark) cannot be silenced by force. It needs answers. Instead of spiraling into "Why is this happening to me?", feed the mind spiritual understanding and affirmations such as: "Peace is my nature."
How do I change my inner music?
Changing your inner thought patterns requires a fundamental shift in perspective regarding your identity and environment.
Recognise Your True Nature
Inner peace does not come from external circumstances, specific locations, or other people. It is an internal original quality. When you stop looking for peace outside, the "searching" music of the mind stops.
Reduce Physical Overstimulation
Mental speed is linked to physical habits. Regulating sleep cycles and eating patterns helps stabilise the mind, preventing it from becoming chaotic.
How do I stop living in the past?
The mind often "skips" the present by looping past scenes—like a negative conversation from the morning—over and over.
• Interrupt the Loop: The moment you catch a past memory replaying, explicitly say, "I am doing something else."
• Focus on Relevancy: Ask yourself if the current thought is relevant to what you are doing right now. If it isn't, redirect your concentration to your immediate task.
Does inner noise affect life decisions?
Yes. A busy mind creates a fog of confusion. This leads to:
• Procrastination in decision-making.
• A fear of taking responsibility, leading to over-reliance on others.
• An inability to see the long-term benefits of a choice for oneself or one's family.
Does inner noise cause physical fatigue?
Overthinking is physically draining. It consumes a vast amount of internal energy, leading to "burnout" even when no physical labour has been performed. In extreme cases, a mind overwhelmed by noise can lead to dangerous levels of exhaustion, such as falling asleep while driving.
How does my mind act like a child?
Sister Shivani compares an untrained mind to a three-year-old child:
• Constant Questioning: It asks "Why?" repeatedly until it receives a satisfying answer.
• Lack of Focus: It jumps from one "toy" (thought) to another without finishing anything.
• Ignoring Instructions: It will continue its noise unless the "parent" (the soul) takes a firm, loving stand to set boundaries.
Conclusion
Slowing down the thinking process is the art of reclaiming personal authority. By recognising that peace is an inherent quality rather than an external pursuit, we can use tools like scheduling thoughts, providing spiritual answers to "why," and setting authoritative boundaries to quiet the inner noise. When we treat our mind with the disciplined care of a wise parent, we move from a state of "crushed" questioning to a state of present, peaceful clarity.
Patnagarh, Balangir
BK Dr Sudhanshu Sekhar Mishra
Based on the lecture by BK Shivani | Sydney, June 28, 2019
BK Shivani discusses the alarming rise of overthinking as a modern global epidemic. While society often labels a racing mind as "normal," it is actually a state of illness stemming from poor thought quality. True peace is not an external goal to be achieved; it is our inherent nature. To reclaim this state, we must consciously redefine our internal standards and bring the mind back under our authority.
Is my mental speed too fast?
You can identify if your mental speed has become unhealthy by checking for these symptoms:
• Disturbed Sleep Patterns: Difficulty falling asleep, needing medication, or oversleeping as a defense mechanism to avoid the "noise" of waking life.
• Constant Inner Noise: A persistent "background music" of thoughts that you feel unable to silence.
• Repetitive Patterns:Replaying the same unnecessary thoughts or past memories instead of focusing on the present.
• Physical & Emotional Toll: Loss of appetite or stress-eating, chronic fatigue, loss of enthusiasm, and high levels of frustration.
• Diminished Clarity:Feeling confused or taking an excessive amount of time to make simple decisions.
How do I stop my mind from overthinking?
To slow down the mind, one must transition from being a passive observer to an active director of their thoughts.
Putting the Mind on "Silent"
Just as you would silence a mobile phone, you must consciously instruct your mind to enter a state of mental silence. This involves recognizing that you are the master of the mind, not its slave.
Using Mindfulness Tools
Engaging in meditation or listening to soothing spiritual commentary creates an environment that allows a tired, racing mind to decelerate.
How do I talk to my mind?
The way we communicate internally determines our mental speed. Sister Shivani suggests a shift in internal dialogue:
Give Direct, Authoritative Instructions
When the mind wanders, talk to it as you would a colleague or a child. Use firm boundaries like: "I am busy right now; we will address this thought at 1:00 PM." By scheduling a specific time for worries, you prevent them from cluttering the present moment.
Shift from "Why" to Knowledge
A "questioning intellect" (often referred to as Kutark) cannot be silenced by force. It needs answers. Instead of spiraling into "Why is this happening to me?", feed the mind spiritual understanding and affirmations such as: "Peace is my nature."
How do I change my inner music?
Changing your inner thought patterns requires a fundamental shift in perspective regarding your identity and environment.
Recognise Your True Nature
Inner peace does not come from external circumstances, specific locations, or other people. It is an internal original quality. When you stop looking for peace outside, the "searching" music of the mind stops.
Reduce Physical Overstimulation
Mental speed is linked to physical habits. Regulating sleep cycles and eating patterns helps stabilise the mind, preventing it from becoming chaotic.
How do I stop living in the past?
The mind often "skips" the present by looping past scenes—like a negative conversation from the morning—over and over.
• Interrupt the Loop: The moment you catch a past memory replaying, explicitly say, "I am doing something else."
• Focus on Relevancy: Ask yourself if the current thought is relevant to what you are doing right now. If it isn't, redirect your concentration to your immediate task.
Does inner noise affect life decisions?
Yes. A busy mind creates a fog of confusion. This leads to:
• Procrastination in decision-making.
• A fear of taking responsibility, leading to over-reliance on others.
• An inability to see the long-term benefits of a choice for oneself or one's family.
Does inner noise cause physical fatigue?
Overthinking is physically draining. It consumes a vast amount of internal energy, leading to "burnout" even when no physical labour has been performed. In extreme cases, a mind overwhelmed by noise can lead to dangerous levels of exhaustion, such as falling asleep while driving.
How does my mind act like a child?
Sister Shivani compares an untrained mind to a three-year-old child:
• Constant Questioning: It asks "Why?" repeatedly until it receives a satisfying answer.
• Lack of Focus: It jumps from one "toy" (thought) to another without finishing anything.
• Ignoring Instructions: It will continue its noise unless the "parent" (the soul) takes a firm, loving stand to set boundaries.
Conclusion
Slowing down the thinking process is the art of reclaiming personal authority. By recognising that peace is an inherent quality rather than an external pursuit, we can use tools like scheduling thoughts, providing spiritual answers to "why," and setting authoritative boundaries to quiet the inner noise. When we treat our mind with the disciplined care of a wise parent, we move from a state of "crushed" questioning to a state of present, peaceful clarity.
Patnagarh, Balangir
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