A good mind fitness is an important part in our strive for feeling good. Mind development is something we should practice every day. In that way we can build a strong mind.
The picture of a human as a holistic entity is breaking through today. More and more people recognize that we are more than our body, that we consist of several parts which are all equally important. There are mainly three parts that we focus on, body, mind and soul.
It´s also common knowledge today that all three of these parts need stimulation for us to feel as good as possible. Body exercise is training the body and the muscles, while soul exercise is for example meditation. What this article is about is mind exercise, how we can increase our mind fitness.
Although this is about mind fitness it also relates to the other parts of a human. Maybe that is the best way to practice, to use exercises with a holistic effect and which develop all parts of the individual.
These practices I have noticed working for me.
1. Reading
One of the first things one think of when talking about stimulating the mind is reading. It doesn´t necessarily have to be books, but reading on the whole is stimulating the mind. It also develop ones feeling for language, and developing the language makes one grow as a human. One can assimilate broader and deeper texts. This of course requires that we read texts that gives us something. We all have a level of reading ability and understanding, and to develop our reading and our mind we need to deepen this ability and understanding.
2. Go for walks or be in stillness
Personally I recognize that walking is something that stimulates my mind and my thinking. To be outside gives fresh air and gives a chance to experience nature or whatever is in the surrounding. It increases the intake of oxygen and makes the brain more alert and clear. Even different forms of stillness where we give our mind a chance to relax is to our advantage. Our mind need time to rest to be able to work properly. Mental burnout is probably more common than physical burnout today.
3. Solving crosswords, playing chess and similar things
This is things we do where we have to use your brain to figure out solutions. Solving crosswords is one example, playing chess another. There are a lot of things we can do to stimulate our mind in this way, sudoku, mathematical challenges and so on. I have myself been coaching in football (soccer) and figuring out practices and tactics for sports is another example of this.
4. Colors stimulate
Colors is also something that stimulates the mind. If you want to get attention from the mind you can use strong colors. We can see this in advertising on the internet where the advertisers emphasizes the most important words by using strong colors. Many people become happy in a more colorful environment and thus easier achieve what they want. Just a bouquet of flowers may make a difference.
5. Think before reacting
We are always facing different situations in life. Mostly we react automatically to these situations. If it is something that may lead to a change our immediate reaction is resistance, a no. This is an instinctive reaction, but as humans we also have the ability to think before we decide. Stop for a moment and reflect on what is happening. What is my motive to say no to this? Can this even bring about something good? We should not underestimate the instinct, but by combining it with a reflection we can get better results. By making it a habit to reflect before we react we develop our mind.
What do you do to increase your mind fitness?
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Very interesting. Walking in the early morning is a good way to keep your mind focused and fit. I experienced it many times.
Thanks for sharing the ways to keep my mind fit.
Good reading.
Thanks
Jacob
Jacob recently posted..Benefits of Forgive right away or instant forgiveness
Thank you Jacob! Yes walking early mornings when it´s only you and a quiet surrounding is a great way to start a day.
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Does it matter…
Well, one more wonderful way to keep mind fit is meditation. It’s pretty simple. You follow your breathes and let your thoughts drift away for some time while you clear the resisting clutter and eventually get into the freshness.
Jaky Astik recently posted..How to Stay Connected with Friends- Forever
I am sure these things will help one to control and fit the mind. Because i use to walk around alone when i am upset. Playing chess and crosswords will help a lot.
Nice and thanks for the share.
Goutham recently posted..Google Nexus S Review by Techcrunch
My favorite hobby is mind fitness. I have a few programs about mind fitness and enjoy the benefits of them. Reading and observing people are two of the main keys of my program.
I’ve seen over the years how lazy our nation has become with TV and gaming having taken over the place of conversation and reading. It’s very evident in the poor use of language and spelling that perhaps the texting industry has encouraged.
Your number one asset resides between your ears. Keep it fit and it will keep you healthy.
Andre recently posted..Comment on Clear or Guilty Conscience by Stringfree
Hi Andre, your mind fitness programs sounds exciting. Just watching people is a great way of learning more about human behavior, and about yourself, not least if you notice your own reactions to peoples behaviors.
The laziness is a global trend today.
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Does it matter…
Great article,
Too many people nowadays flood their minds with the negative news from Newspapers,if they read at all,and television.
As mentioned above,playstations and online games have a lot to answer for too;In an age where we talk more and more about social media and the internet,the social side of family life is often suffering because of it!
I prefer constant learning,especially about the internet,and reading my favourite kind of books about Personal Development (always room for improvement),People skills and money mindsets.
My martial arts and some quiet time are also great to keep the’grey matter’actively engaged.
Thanks for some more ideas here;greatly appreciated
Thanks Jan, you´ve really got a point there in talking about our social acting. At the same as we engage more and more in the cyber social life we engage less and less in the physical social life. This is in many ways an artificial way of socializing. It´s good to be able to socialize with people all over the world, but it´s not good if the only way we socialize with our neighbors is in the cyber world.
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Does it matter…
Very interesting!
I think music also makes the mind active. Some time away everyday from the daily chores is essential to ponder upon and relax your mind. Enough sleep is needed to get recharged and so that the mind does not over work and burns out!
Yes, you´re right. Music is also an important mind stimulator. Need to add that to my list. Thank you!
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Does it matter…
Great article! One of the things I do religiously is try to continue performing day-to-day activities without relying technology. I refrain from using a calculator for check book and other math functions, I exercise my awareness of surroundings without using a GPS for getting to new destinations, I physically look up new words in a dictionary, etc. Yes, it takes longer and is less convenient (especially with some of these new iPhone apps – YOWZA!) but it keeps me on my toes. What we don’t use, we lose : )
So true Debi! We need to use the talents and gifts we were born with. Those are some great tips you share there that we can use in our daily life. It´s like with exercise, you can get a lot of exercise just by getting it into your daily habits. It doesn´t always have to be planned.
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Does it matter…
Great topic and tips, Tom. Seems more and more we are bombarded with stimulus and entertainment that is designed to make us detach and tune out. When we are committed to honoring and expanding our superlatively creative nature there is really is no time to spend on such trivial matters. Participating fully in life requires constantly expanding and exercising body, mind and soul.
rob white recently posted..How Help Arrives
Thank you Rob! All those stimulus and entertainment risks making us walking zombies with no contact with the real world. We need to spend more time on creatin and doing things that are really important to us and makes us develop and grow.
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Does it matter…
Tom –
I especially appreciate #5.
Thinking is an act of contrarianism, demanding independent thought, which requires courage, explaining why so few people are contrarians. Conformity on the other hand requires a certain degree of mental apathy, and the lazy mind demands nothing of itself, which explains why so many people are conformists.
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect”. ~ Mark Twain
Good stuff, Tom!
Contrarian recently posted..Antogonizing the Dunces of the Confederacy
Thank you! If the majority is running in one direction in their thoughts, run in the opposite direction and you will get where no on else is. Show them the treasure you´ve found and they will run after you. But you are already in a new place.
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Does it matter…
Thanks Tom,
I’ve always spoken fairly fast and found it was confusing for others to follow what I was saying. So lately, I’ve made a conscience effort to slow down, think out what I’m going to say for every sentence, and then speak it.
Thinking before you speak is tougher than it sounds. Definitely a great way to keep your mind fit.
Bryce Christiansen recently posted..Top Myths that Dash the Hopes of Reaching Your Ultimate Potential
Great thought there Bryce. Use the same method as in living a simple and slow life in your thinking and speaking. Thank you!
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Does it matter…
Hey Tom. Welcome to CYT authors club
It’s great to have you write a guest post for us.
Your article touched me in that you speak about the human body being more than the body itself and made up of the mind, the body and the soul. It’s always good to be reminded of that and also good to be reminded that they are all inter-connected. I also believe that we touch each others mind energy, which is why your article about keeping the mind fit is so important to hear.
Thank you for a great article Tom.
Thank you Steven! It´s an honor to get the chance to write in your blog. Yes, I definitely think we are more than our body, because every time we move the body we have first had a thought about moving it. The reaction doesn´t come from the body itself, but is triggered from a thought. And yes, I agree with you on us touching each others mind-energy.
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Does it matter…
Hi Tom, great article. My mind is constantly on the go – and very inquisitive. Can’t say that the same applies to my efforts at physical fitness! I agree with your point on the connectedness of body, soul and mind. The human body, along with the mind are fascinating works of electrical/ energy genius. I like to think in particular of the mind being split in two – conscious and subconscious (your emotions, beliefs etc) with the soul (your intuition/ purpose/ natural gifts or talents) being your superconscious or spirit. Maybe I should publish an article…
Anyway, great work Tom and much appreciated
Stephen recently posted..Your responsibility is to become wealthy
Hi Stephen and thank you for your thoughts. You should definitely publish an article.
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Peace Here And Now Tantra part 8
Its funny that the hardest thing for me on your list is sitting still. I think that this is such a mind strengthener since if you are able to focus on being still you could focus and keep present and ultimately be happier as you are in the moment.
Nice post!
Alejandro “The Fittest Vegan” recently posted..Is Fruit the Most Perfect Food
Hi Alejandro, I recognize that problem with sitting still. When I sit down the thoughts attack me with all the things I should do. But I have noticed that if I don´t react on them but just let them pass they will do just that and then comes the relaxation after that.
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Peace Here And Now Tantra part 8
Hi Tom,
Nice tips! We can also keep the mind healthy by changing the way we judge people or circumstances around us. Judging and perceiving things negatively hampers our mind’s creativity. We can not achieve anything unless the judging or the analytical mind is put to rest.
Hi Vandana. That´s a great point you have there. Giving up judging everything is also something we can exercise and getting better at. Thank you!
Tom Sörhannus recently posted..Peace Here And Now Tantra part 8
You mentioned one of my favorites in #3…Sudoku. I keep a pocket size booklet of these puzzles in my purse and I also play it online. What a wonderful way to continue giving the mind a workout.
Nea | Self Improvement Saga recently posted..Inspirational Words- Where Is Your Self Confidence