Is there a single person in the world who lives without any anxiety?Β The psychological reason behind humanβs anxiety dates back to 10,000 years ago, when human beings lived in a hunter-gatherer society. During this time, anxiety was a vital reaction to survive attacks from wild animals out in nature. The positive side of this is that it helps us to deal with situations when our life is threatened; it causes changes of body reaction and awakens the mind. On the other hand, what if it goes over a certain level way too often? The more your stress level increases, the more it could threaten not only your mental health, but also physical health. Why do we live with so much worry and anxiety these days? How can we live without unnecessary worry and anxiety? π§
When I was around 7 years old, my parents went to their end of the year party, but did not come back home until late at night. Since they would usually return home early and not leave us alone at night, I became anxious and countless worries arose in my mind. βDid they have a car accident?β βNo, if that were the case, I would have already received a call from the police.β βThen why have they not come back yet?β βIf something bad did happen to my parents, then how will I live alone with my younger sister?” I was overwhelmed with all kinds of negative thoughts and soaked in sweat. Every single minute seemed to be an hour. I envied my younger sister who could fall asleep peacefully beside me. When my parents came back, I was completely worn out and burst into tears of relief. While they had a delightful time, I suffered from enormous worries that I created. π
Since childhood, I would get easily frightened by small things and quite often bad scenarios arose automatically. I often felt like I was dead on my feet, about ready to collapse but still standing.Β My anxiety would knock me down so often that I started to observe others carefully to find out how they dealt with it.Β βHow can others endure their anxieties?β After a long period of observation, I came to the conclusion that not everyone becomes as easily tense, anxious, or hurt as I do, and they overcome regret better. Also not everyone constantly worries about the future and cares about his/her reputation like I do. I then said to myself:Β βWhat is wrong with me?β βCould I ever live with a relaxing and comfortable mind?βΒ βIf I go on like this, I will probably die young.β From then on, I kept searching for the way to be free.
After graduating from university, I found out about meditation through an acquaintance. It was so amazing, like finding an oasis in the desert! There is a meditation method that actually allows one to throw away built-up thoughts.π Looking back on my life lived according to the method, I was so excited to throw away my anxious thoughts. Some of you may already know, but scientists have said thoughts are also material, and so they have weight. Therefore, it is not just an illusion that your head feels heavy when you have many thoughts, but a reality. After one week of intensive meditation I could take a deep breath and I felt much lighter.
In one meditation session, the guide gave a short lecture: from birth until now every human being has captured what he sees, hears, smells, tastes and feels through the five senses, and has saved them as a picture form in the brain. Based on these pictures, he thinks and behaves. One big question came up in my mind. βWhy have I taken pictures more sensitively and negatively than others?β My meditation guide answered that this is because of a weak mind. I contemplated what he said, and tried to understand it deeply. Suddenly I found a clue as to why so many situations in my life have repeated themselves. Since I had a weak mind, I instinctively became more sensitive to protect myself. I would become too concerned about how others saw me, and I would also keep a distance from them. It seems that because I was not as capable of reacting to situations on the spot, I had to prepare myself in advance and check all possible scenarios in my head.
Now the next question appeared. βThen why was I born with a weak mind?β On practicing meditation, I could recall many pictures of my mom, who is also sensitive and anxious. Since I had spent much time with her in my childhood, I was maybe influenced by how she reacted to her mother-in-law and other people around her. Unconsciously, I followed suit. After talking with her about her childhood, it seemed she also got this anxious mind from her parents. I realized it might not only be related to me; it was also the tendency of my ancestors to become anxious, create worries, and react to people and situations more sensitively. Slowly the root of my anxious mind came up to the surface, and it was much bigger and more serious than I could have imagined. I thought, βoh my God, could I ever be free from this?β π³
The meditation that I practiced explains the cause of this phenomenon and presents the solution clearly. The human mind consists of the karma from life lived, the habits inherited from parents and ancestors, and the construct of the body. All of this is the false mind that can be thrown away.
As much as the human mind disappears, our original, true mind is revealed. During the meditation practice, I was able to confirm that the true mind is a healthy, wise, and lively mind. When my false mind was thrown away, my mind became healthy. When my mind became healthy, consequently my body became healthy as well. Since I have thrown away the root of false mind, the causes which used to create the anxious thoughts are naturally decreased. Now that the positive mind has become dominant, negative thoughts become unfamiliar to me. Are you looking for a solution to snap out of your anxiety? How about instead of worrying whether it is possible or not, you take action? I would like to share one video with you, and I hope it will help you find your anxiety-free life. π
