Burn out is a word used by all of us. Many of us have been burnt out. It is a very frightening word as burnt down means destroyed, wrecked. It is used much more now than in the 20th century. Have we paused to consider why this is happening to us, and why we are not able to prevent it? Is it not our thoughts which have occupied the centre stage of our mind? Our fears, anxieties, frustrations, and miseries have become the actors. They are getting better and better and are ready for an Oscar. The question is what can we do? How should we recognize them and be rid of them?
According to Swamiji, the first question is to ask yourself daily “Am I unhappy?” Do not be in a state of denial. If you are unhappy, accept it, if you are happy, say it proudly. Now how do you know that you are happy or unhappy. A person who complains can never be happy. He may say that he is happy but complaints are equal to dissatisfaction and discontentment, which are the symptoms of unhappiness. If you think that you are unhappy, and want to find an answer, find out the source of your unhappiness. Is it your attitude about your environment and society? Are you misunderstanding yourself? Too much humility, too much arrogance, obstinacy, unbending in your nature. You have to understand your nature.
External and internal awareness
To understand yourself, you have to listen to your inner voice. The inner voice is drowned by the noise of your thoughts, feelings and emotions. Sit quietly, close your eyes, and listen to the sounds. Do not identify who or what is making the sound. The softest sounds and the loudest sounds. This is external awareness. Sit straight, be comfortable. You will be surprised at the number of different sounds you will hear. Now shift your awareness to the sound of your breath. Hear your inhalation and your exhalation. Again shift to external awareness. Go back and forth between external and internal awareness. Do this for twenty minutes, daily.
After a week, resume the practice, with a new step added. External awareness, internal awareness for ten minutes. Now look at the thoughts which come in the eyebrow centre. Do not engage with them. Let them come and go. Practice for twenty minutes. This practice is called Inner Silence, Antar Mouna. It will quieten your thoughts and reduce your restlessness. It will also enable you to handle yourself with love and respect. The proof of the pudding is in the eating of it. Goodbye Burn out, hello wellbeing.
Aim Hrim Klim