Mental Hygiene

Let the past rest. Our memories are not as reliable as we think — the brain constantly reconstructs the past. Dwelling on it draws our attention away from what is happening right now.

Every situation is new. Treat even the familiar as unknown. Handling things on routine increases the chance of errors. Structure is fine, but must remain flexible.

Be careful judging people. How we interpret behaviour is coloured by our own state of mind and our limited view of someone's circumstances. The human mind is not as consistent as we would wish. Look at the whole picture.

Finish what you need to do, one thing at a time, so you can close it mentally as well. Don't push things ahead of you. Execute and leave behind.

Don't worry about the future. Let the present unfold. Don't plan too rigidly, leave free space. This allows you to take more time and do things more thoroughly.

Look at the whole of a situation. Don't get lost in petty details. Sometimes you can reach the same goal by a different path.

Keep it simple. Simplicity burdens the mind less. Maintain your mental balance even under stress and confrontation. Be prepared.

Don't lose yourself in negative thoughts, nor in forced positive ones. Try to see the facts, without distortion. Let a situation unfold before you orient yourself and judge. Move with the flow.

Think when it is functional. Thinking is an instrument. Words and language are not the thing itself. Contact with things is better without the interference of language and thought. Use the intensity of your senses to close the distance.

Naming happens too fast. Allow yourself to look, feel, listen — and only then name. Give your perception space. Let things be what they are. Being able to let go and forget creates space.

Look at the ground from which something grows. Bring things back to their essence. Look at what drives someone. Look at what moves you. An essence cannot be looked at directly — easier to follow its trail.

Don't do too many things at once. Do things one by one, step by step. Our thinking is limited in its capacity.

Be careful in your speaking and your listening. Unspoken, implicit assumptions in a conversation often lead to misunderstanding. Make sure someone has understood what you meant. Be economical with words. Speaking is silver, listening is gold.

Choosing is not an act of will. Only choose when something is clear. Look at the whole picture. There is only one right choice. The freedom to choose gives us an enormous responsibility.

Bring awareness into daily actions. Reduce complex activities to their essence: lying, sitting, standing, walking. The simpler the form, the easier it is to be present in it.

Slow down. Don't do things faster than eighty percent of your maximum speed. This leaves room to adjust, to correct, to notice.

Choose ways of moving where all your senses can follow — walking, cycling. Let yourself be carried so the mind stays free to observe.

Tunnel vision is a form of violence. When we act without seeing the whole, we cause harm without knowing it.

Don't lose yourself in negative thoughts, nor in forced positive ones. Looking for a bright side can distort just as much as despair.

The mind is afraid of empty space — it wants to leave or fill it. Sit down before sleep. Give things a place. Let the mind settle. This gives rest during the night.

Write down in the evening how your day unfolded. Write in the morning what came up during the night. It is important to know your subconscious and to see what it brings forward.

A clean conscience gives inner rest. Things done in hiding create resistance. They keep you from sleep. Put your cards on the table with those close to you.

Meditation can be learned. A few conditions help the body cooperate: sit without moving, without moving your eyes, keep your back still and straight so that sufficient oxygen can reach your head. The rest follows.

Our sensing is not really part of thinking. It is rather the other way around. The whole being is involved — the senses, the place you occupy in space, the interpersonal environment, what you feel, the entire experience you carry with you. What we call intuition is that which responds before thinking gets involved.

Fear and other strong emotions also colour and narrow what we see. There is a zooming in on the threat or the attraction — and with it, the primary reactions of fight or flight, or reaching and grasping.

Recognising all this already creates a little more space.

What do you do in your free time? Do you really take the time? Are there trees or a piece of nature in your surroundings? Just a suggestion.