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Do you overthink? Here is a beautiful solution || Acharya Prashant, Sir J.J. College, Mumbai (2022)
131K views
2 years ago
Importance
Overthinking
Mind
Immunity
Immersion
Bhagat Singh
Freedom
Mental Health
Description

Acharya Prashant addresses a question about overthinking everyday things and the fear it generates. He advises the questioner to think of better, more important things. To prevent random thoughts from taking over, one must have something in life that is so significant it overpowers all trivial matters. He uses himself as an example, explaining that despite being a busy person with many potential concerns, he can focus entirely on the conversation at hand because it is important to him in that moment. When one lacks a sense of what is worthy and important, the mind is invaded by numerous little things, which he compares to germs. Just as one cannot entirely avoid germs but can build a strong inner immunity, one cannot completely block out trivial thoughts. The only defense is to develop a strong inner immunity, which he defines as a sense of importance. When you know what is truly important, random things cease to matter. Overthinking unimportant matters indicates a significant inner vacancy that needs to be filled with something meaningful. The mind cannot tolerate a vacuum and will chew on whatever is available; if not given something substantial, it will occupy itself with trivia, leading to a wasted life. Acharya Prashant illustrates this with the example of Bhagat Singh, who was so consumed by his mission for freedom that he had no time for trivialities. He was wedded to his cause, which is why he is remembered, unlike many who live long but insignificant lives. The speaker concludes by urging the audience to find one thing worth living for and to become so immersed in it that there is no time or space for fear, anxiety, or other mental troubles. This state of immersion is described as the best form of meditation and the antidote to all mental afflictions. By being fully occupied with something beautiful and important, one can tell fear and anxiety, "Sorry, no vacancy."