Do you believe that our minds contribute to a large extent to our suffering?
Hello everyone, it's time again for a discussion question. I am really curious to hear your thoughts on this - suffering!
Now, let's discuss everyday suffering, conditions or feelings brought on by circumstances that arise in everyone’s lives like not being able to get something we need, missing the bus etc., not very serious suffering like trauma.
Do you believe that our minds contribute to a large extent to our suffering?
Can you explain why or why not?
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@amiablePeace77
Very deep question, Ami. I need mental space to think about it. I'll be back.
@purpleTree4652
Looking forward to see you back purpleTree
@amiablePeace77 Suffering come from struggling to find ways to deal with emotions
@LukeSkywalker8
So when we struggle with emotions we suffer. Do you believe that our minds contribute to a large extent to our suffering and how?
Minds are difficult to define and quantify as everyone thinks differently. I believe if you learn a positive and constructive way to deal with emotions you mind will help you beneficially, on the other hand the mind may cause you to do destructive actions such as lash out or self harm to deal with the emotions.
@LukeSkywalker8
I believe so too, our minds react in a way they have been trained.
@amiablePeace77 nope! I think worrying really works, 97% of the things I worry about never happen😁😁😁
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@GiselleNyen 😁😁😁💖
Do you believe that our minds contribute to a large extent to our suffering?
Can you explain why or why not?
Yes, the negative thought patterns, the ruminative thinking, the overthinking, the intrusive thoughts, the dominating thoughts, make my life rotten.
@WharfRat
I agree, this can happen but thankfully we can "reshape" our minds with mindfulness to think more in a positive direction.
@amiablePeace77
Could you go into more detail about this, please?
Yes, I believe that our minds contribute to our suffering. Guilt, sadness, anxiety are felt in our hearts but I believe that the message is sent from our brain.
@Lifer
Everything is connected and impacts each other. Taking care of our heart and mind can avoid much suffering in my opinion.
@amiablePeace77
Yes, by and large, they do and this is true also for a lot of physical suffering. Some people are better at it than others, though.
I can't explain why. I should ask my faith healer and come back to this post...
Do you believe that our minds contribute to a large extent to our suffering?
Can you explain why or why not?
@Fradiga
When I was young, I let my mind cause me a lot of mental and physical suffering but with practicing mindfulness I could reduce it to a great extent.
@amiablePeace77
Actually, on second thought, the reverse is true as well. When you are sick, your mental state is also going to reflect it...
Absolutely. Our perceptions are our own reality. How serious you perceive something is based upon the sum of your past experiences. If we can perceive things that trouble us as a minor inconvenience, it would probably reduce anxiety. The big question is, how do we do this?
@lostman2608
I believe so too that "How serious you perceive something is based upon the sum of your past experiences". These experiences build the foundation of future perception/thinking. Processing such experiences, maybe with guided help, can lead to better outcomes in how we see the world and ourselves in future.
Yeah, I guess because our mind is the one who is making decision. You worry about things only when you care about it. Whatever happening is inside our mind only, if we can stop caring, then we will remain happy, but if we stop caring, we won't worry about the things we want to do. Because I guess there are only 2 ways to do things, either you are highly motivated or you worry about the things. So yeah if we care, our mind worries.
@UniversalLuminescence
Thank you for sharing this point with us! Something to think about more deeply. I wonder if we could exchange worrying to at least some extend with trusting.
@amiablePeace77 yeah.
@amiablePeace77
I think yes. I read sth like that what we see is not the exact truth, because the way we think of it, the way we imagine it is, affect our picture of truth. And our mind shapes the way we deal with everyday problems etc. As a probably highly sensitive person, my thoughts and feeling may be so different from a person with lower sensitivity, even if a similar thing happen for us. I may overthink about an event and suffer a lot from overthinking but another may not overthink. And I think as well, the environment shapes how we think, how our minds work. Like a cycle. If I had experienced a trauma, so, in a similar situation I would become so stressed but it may not be such stimulating for another person with no related traumas.
@moonlightinnight
No mind is the same! A highly sensitive person might naturally worry more than others and requires more self-care to stay balanced.
@amiablePeace77
That's right
Yes, yes, yes, yes. Oh, and also, yes. Lol.
My mind contributes to most of my pain, anxiety, suffering, and worry. Because I can’t let things go and because my mind has to fill in the blanks that I don’t have. I can’t just accept the blanks and live and let live. I need to have answers. I need to fill in everything, and when I don’t have answers, I fill in with negative. Which I find interesting, actually. My brain never fills in with positive thoughts.
I’m not sure why that is. I’m not sure why it goes to the negative. I can’t believe that people are happy and enjoying life and winning. I always go to the negative, and that makes me suffer a lot more than I should.
@thoughtfulmomma
I hear you! Our minds do what they have been taught. Retraining them to think in a more positive way might not be easy, however, with consistent mindfulness practice it is possible.
