Transform Your Thought Processes with This Simple Yet Powerful Practice

Arpita Roy • November 27, 2024
yoga-and-mental-healthIn our day-to-day lives, we often encounter unwanted situations or unexpected problems. It's natural to think these issues arise because of others, leading us to feel irritated and disturbed. In this state of mind, we still need to fulfill our responsibilities and dedicated tasks, which can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, we react impulsively with agitation, while other times, we manage to respond calmly but harbor feelings of dislike or non-acceptance within us. This inner turmoil can silently turn into anger.
Whether we realize it or not, such stress affects our hormonal balance, breathing patterns, and the overall functioning of our body. Stress is a common experience, especially at workplaces where uncalled-for situations are frequent. At work, we not only perform our assigned tasks but also navigate office politics, salary concerns, performance evaluations, team management, and participation. Since we don't work in isolation, conflicts are inevitable, and stress builds up naturally.
However, stress and anxiety are not entirely unavoidable. What matters is how we manage them. For instance, when anger arises, how quickly can we return to a balanced state of mind? Can we respond logically without reacting impulsively? This may seem challenging in the heat of the moment, but it’s possible with simple techniques.
One powerful technique is journaling. Writing down situations where we felt angry, happy, or stressed helps us reflect and analyze. This practice enables us to improve how we handle similar situations in the future. Importantly, while journaling, we should focus on filtering out positive points to strengthen ourselves and let go of negative experiences. Why let go? Because carrying forward aggressive reactions or guilt doesn't serve us. Guilt often arises because we are inherently good-hearted and don’t want to hurt others.
As humans, we all have strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has some resources and lacks others. When we observe the community around us, we’ll notice that we often have things others don’t. This realization is a gratitude point—a moment to thank life or a higher power for the opportunities we’ve been given. Gratitude is a powerful tool; it humbles us, reduces ego, and helps us see situations with a balanced perspective. This mindset makes it easier to respond thoughtfully to unpleasant or uncertain situations.
I’m sharing this from personal experience. In my professional life, I have faced similar challenges. Using journaling as a tool has helped me grow my inner goodness, view situations objectively, and respond calmly and logically. One specific technique that has profoundly impacted me is "writing 10 positive points" or keeping a gratitude journal.
At bedtime, take a moment to write down 10 positive things that happened during the day. This simple act allows you to sleep peacefully, like a baby, free from tension and stress. To understand the importance of this technique better, let me offer an analogy:
Imagine a glass with water filled halfway. You can choose to say, "The glass is half full," reflecting a positive outlook, or "The glass is half empty," which leans toward a complaining perspective. Both statements are technically correct, but the way you view the situation makes all the difference. Focusing on the positive helps control negativity and prevents it from dominating your mind.
I hope this concept resonates with you. Practicing gratitude journaling has helped me reduce my stress and improve my workplace experience significantly. I used to complain constantly about office situations and even considered counseling. But this simple technique transformed my attitude and behavior. If you have any questions or want to know more about this practice, feel free to ask—I’d be happy to help!