Words from the Master

Alright, now let us analyze what actually happens inside your mind when you are worrying.

Just watch your mind when you are worrying about something.

You will see that a continuous stream of thoughts is being generated in your mind - totally disconnected thoughts - and usually negative thoughts. An influx of negative and repetitive words will be like a current in your mind.

You see: we all use two kinds of speech – speaking out and speaking in. Speaking out is speaking to others - what we normally call speech or conversation. Speaking in is speaking to ourselves. Actually, this speaking in is a continuous process that goes on inside us. This speaking in is called ‘inner chatter’ and this is what is called worry also.

Worry is nothing but this continuous, uncontrolled inner chatter happening in your mind. This inner chatter has become your master. It has taken control of you. It keeps on happening the whole time.

Whatever words you speak out, you speak carefully because if not, society will ask you to be careful, is it not? But your ‘speaking in’ is not controlled in any fashion. When words that you speak out, when words that have volume, can be controlled, why can’t words without volume be controlled?

You don’t control what you speak inside because you don’t have self-respect. You simply say what you wish, inside you. Do we throw garbage on a plate of food? No. But we throw it in a garbage can. You treat others like a plate of food and yourself like a garbage can; because of this, you become indigested.

With outer conversations, there is a break sometimes. But this inner chatter is continuous. It can drive you mad! Actually, many times, speaking to others becomes a way of escaping from your inner chatter that is driving you mad. That is why, so much of talking is going on in the world! People are afraid to be silent because there is a madhouse inside them. So they meet up, socialize, talk, and keep themselves occupied.

What exactly do we mean by this inner chatter?
Just try this small exercise when you are by yourself: Just sit for a few minutes with your eyes closed. Keep a pen and paper with you. Don’t focus your mind on anything. Just witness your mind. Just see what is going on in your mind. Almost as soon as you close your eyes, you will see that there is a continuous stream of thoughts flowing through your mind. There is continuous activity in your mind. Write down, honestly, whatever thoughts are there. Do this for five minutes.

Now, sit down and read what you’ve written on the paper. You will be shocked! Whatever you have recorded on the paper is your inner chatter. If you read it, you will see how disconnected, how irrelevant your thoughts are! One moment you will be here; the next moment you will be in America; the next moment you will be in your office; the next moment you will be thinking of your children…!

This is the state of your mind – this uncontrolled flow of thoughts. This is the mind you have entrusted your life to! This is the mind that generates all your worries. This is the mind that is living your life for you. If you simply understand this much, you have taken a quantum leap towards freedom from worry and inner chatter.

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This excerpt has been taken from the book: Guaranteed Solutions.