Against the Current

I recently had this thought while meditating.

Our muscles grow when they are put under stress. For example, we work against gravity when we do a pull-up. It is this tension that causes them to grow. I believe the resilience of our mind grows in a similar way. We grow when we learn to act even when our mind tells us to be lazy.

Some days, my mind wanders a lot and I'm not able to pay attention. In those moments, I turn to my breath. I count each breath, one at a time. By bringing my attention back to my breathing, I am training my mind to slow down.

Other days, my mind gets stuck on one thought and I keep returning to it. In those moments, I try to look at things from a different perspective. By considering different angles and possibilities, I am training my mind to become more flexible.

Both situations ask me to go against the current flow of thought. A scattered mind needs focus. A narrow mind needs perspective.

I notice this most clearly during periods of anxiety. Anxiety can make us fixate on one particular problem. My thoughts can multiply quickly or get stuck in the same spiral. I try to notice the direction they are moving in and widen my perspective.

Meditation gives me the space to practise this. It helps me observe where my mind goes and choose how I respond. Each time I bring my attention back, I am strengthening my ability to guide it.