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Sometimes it just doesn’t work. Your mind is so busy and scattered, it is all over the place. You cannot find a moment of quietude, not one moment to repose. Restlessness clenches its fist in your stomach, your muscles are twitching, your head aches.
This is indeed a problem, because when this restlessness attacks there’s no cohesion. The information that we are putting in front of you seems meaningless, just floating words with no connection. The potential of these words is of great value as they carry energy – if you are concentrated and focused the words can grow in you like seeds to flourish and bloom. But sometimes the magic does not happen and it all seems like a big waste of time.
Your eyes just pass over the words and nothing really happens. Frustration grows and sinks its teeth into your confidence, and then insecurity rises, either inwardly or outwardly. You may feel the program is not valuable and doubt its merits. You may judge it to be worthless, and out of despair you may contemplate abandoning your commitment. Or, even worse, you may feel insecure about yourself and that you don’t have what it takes to give up smoking.
In such moments it is important to relax. Take it easy and don’t be hard on yourself. Remember the golden rule, the ultimate unshakeable truth and the equation that never fails to deliver the right conclusion:
This too shall pass.
And so if you feel frustration and despair, remember it is only temporary. This is the truth. And if it is temporary, why make a big deal out of it? If it is just a passing notion, and that’s definitely what it is, let it pass. The less you cling to the feeling and the less you dwell on it, the faster it passes.
The problem you are facing now – a lack of concentration – is one of the mind’s fiercest implements of war. It is a very efficient weapon to combat any assault by change. The mind reads the efforts you invest in this program as an attempt to achieve change.
But your mind doesn’t want you to change.
You are fighting your addiction to nicotine but the mind sees the big picture, which is that you are attempting to change a pattern of behavior. The mind fears that once you win this battle you may get other ideas and embark on the next assault, attempting to deprive it of yet another territory under its control.
The mind is anxious. It is therefore the mind that is insecure and the more focused and determined you are, the more desperate and desolate the mind becomes.
Restlessness and lack of focus are powerful combat devices that the mind employs to distract you and put obstacles in your way. And so if you cannot focus, if you experience a lack of concentration, scattered mind and restlessness, remember that this is a state of war. Recognize that this is just a counterattack by the enemy and that the worst thing you can do is to feel despair or, even worse, defeated.
There’s no use whatsoever for such feelings. You are here to win and you will win. And so, when you are attacked by the mind and you lack the necessary concentration to proceed, just remember yourself and relax – let it pass.
There are a few other things you can do about this problem.
You can regain your concentration and focus.
Start by simply relaxing, allowing any negative emotion to rise and pass like a breeze. Don’t cling to negative emotion; just let it pass.
Do something else. Take a break and walk for ten minutes, or as long as you can, while reminding yourself that there’s no place for negative feelings and emotions. If they rise let them pass, don’t suppress them and don’t cling to them. Never succumb.
Remain balanced even if you feel you are making no progress, and achieving the goal seems impossible. Maintaining balance is a victory, a great victory. If you manage to maintain your equilibrium you spread terror in the enemy’s camp. So spell it out loud to yourself, speak to yourself inwardly and remind yourself of what is going on – you are under stress, your mind is scattered.
It is the mind that combats you, and so it is relatively easy for the mind to induce this condition. However, awareness is the key to remaining in control. With awareness you can stay calm and not try to change the situation, rather you should accept it for what it is in the present moment.
Do not succumb to feelings of insecurity, despair, frustration or defeat. Remind yourself that this too shall pass and if it is just a feeling in transit, why should you make a big deal out of it. Just let it pass.
To help it pass you can divert your attention by taking a walk, watching TV, going to the gym, or any other fun activity that doesn’t demand too much focus and concentration.
Remember that patience pays, so wait calmly.
Equanimity is a great virtue – embrace this word and what it represents.
Let the phenomenon pass while maintaining a sense of detachment.
Detachment is freedom.
Freedom is liberation.
Liberation is bliss.
Don’t make a drama out of this or any other sensation – simply let it pass and maintain a sense of detachment.
It is just a sensation in transit, so why cling to it? |
