It’s my experience that the mind will not let go of what is bothering it.
Try as we might to ignore or suppress the issue, it will not let it go.
The Mind-Body Consequence
Similar to the previous post, Let Go or Be Dragged, there are consequences.
- Did you do something “a little” immoral or unethical? The mind-body will let you know.
- Taken something that is not yours? The mind-body will let you know.
- Said something a little hurtful? The mind-body will let you know.
It’s amazing how this works, and through habitual suppression, it unfortunately becomes just that … habitually suppressed ... and you live with the unease that remains and accumulates ... and sends you off on yet another path such as self-criticism or resentment, and around and around we go.
Two Books on Stillness
Two books often spring to mind when trying to make change (or teach others how they can make change):
- Ryan Holiday’s Stillness Is the Key
- Eckhart Tolle’s Stillness Speaks
There are many others, but these two come to mind.
It seems to me that the mind is like a compressed foam ball. The more distracted we become, the more accumulated weight we pile on by just living out of harmony with ourselves and others, the more untangling or releasing and relieving there is to do.
As we learn how to sit in stillness, the mind will decompress. In its own time. But it has to be given the environment in which to do this. That’s your task.
Paring Down the White Noise
I’ve mentioned elsewhere Johann Hari’s book, Stolen Focus. It speaks to the paring down of tasks and activities that we pile on in an attempt to “do it all”… whatever that means.
Eventually, with practice, the mind starts to ease up and bring to your attention what needs attending. It will let you know, and ignoring it doesn’t work.
It’s a bit like having a tiny stone in your shoe, a toothache, or back pain. It won’t let go until dealt with.
Reducing the Suffering
When attended to, suffering decreases. And if you are really aware and attuned, a lesson is learnt:
- This behavior leads to remorse.
- This behavior leads to joy and satisfaction.
It’s not easy, but it’s oh-so-useful. If you’re dealing with betrayal, infidelity, addictions, or compulsions, this should be #1 on your list of “recovery” strategies.
👉 Book a Call with David Today
Recommended Reading & Next Steps:
- Methods of Recovery: How Broken Trust Is Actually Rebuilt — The 6-step relational reconstruction blueprint.
- Let Go or Be Dragged — Stoicism, Pema Chödrön’s Shenpa, and clearing out dead wood.
- Being OK with Not Being OK: Bluffing & Marriage Vows — Dropping the mask and ending the series of bluffs.