Mindful living holds immense power in solving modern-day mental health problems and driving us towards living a satisfied life. Despite having an understanding of the principles of such a lifestyle, it is always challenging to adopt. Changing the patterns of mind is a difficult task and requires disciplined practice. Some cues or supporting mechanisms are often helpful in incorporating the principles of mindfulness into our daily lives. An analytic mindset, which is common in the present times, can utilize Mindfulness economics to develop this positive lifestyle effectively.
An Analytical Mindset
A majority of the present-age population has imbibed a strictly analytical mindset. This is a result of the systematic approach of modern education heavily centered around materialistic values. The Industrial Revolution era demanded the system produce more analytical and productive labor, and the trend has been growing in that trajectory since then.
Such a mindset is extremely helpful in navigating through a competitive environment. It keeps you ahead in the game or at least it gives you that impression. Assessing every situation logically and finding the root cause takes away a great deal of anxiety. Doesn’t it? Owing to this mindset you are always on your tip-toe with a problem-solving mentality and a can-do attitude.
Almost all situations in life have been reduced to evaluation in terms of profit and loss; investment and return on investment. Time and effort in business, relationships, social transactions, and personal development are all measured in these terms.
Although an analytical mindset is quite helpful in the materialistic realms, it ignores the subtle aspects of life like intuition, faith, surrender, etc. But it is what it is! You have to accept the present situation and improve from there. Embarking on this mindset, an assessment of our habitual choices and decisions from a holistic economic perspective can welcome transformation in life.
The Myopic Mind
By default, the mind has a myopic view centered around what it considers its own. It establishes the body, all its sensations, and the feelings of the mind as its own and limits itself within that. All its relationships with sentient beings, materials, society, money, etc. are viewed from the lens of their effects within this myopic range.
With education and subsequent development of intelligence, analytical capabilities may improve but this myopic range doesn’t expand. All analytical abilities are harnessed to improve what the mind has associated itself with so far. If you closely analyze your thoughts and actions, you can trace most of them rooted in the only desire to make that narrow bounded self(I) more pleasurable, comfortable, and proud.
The narrow bounded self-called “I”, needs to feel gratified and satisfied immediately in the present moment and within the space it reckons as its own. To facilitate this, the mind uses its learned skills of cost-benefit analysis. For example, you crave ice cream after your full meal. Your mind runs an analysis of the costs involved in taking the time, driving to the store, etc. But all of these costs are probably lower than the benefit that it anticipates from getting gratified immediately.
Similarly, when you encounter your partner not acting according to what you expect her to do, your mind scrutinizes the benefits of letting your anger out to establish its authority right now over the costs of hurting her sentiments afterward.
The expansive self & Mindfulness Economics
When you expand your ego and break down the limited boundaries, this analytical behavior can take you to an immense fulfilled life. The Mindfulness economics breaks you from the shackles of anxiety, sadness, and depression. It liberates you from the stronghold of selfishness toward a selfless blissful life.
Contemplation and self-analysis would reveal to you that indeed your mind had been myopic all this while. This realization itself would arouse a desire to expand its horizon. Your analytical abilities to assess the situations from the view of cost and benefit no more is concerned within that limited bounded self. It now learns to perform a more holistic assessment by including other beings, different times, and different spaces into the equation.
Let’s take the example of craving ice cream again. When you have transcended your narrow boundaries of immediate space, time, and limited body, you can now include the future costs involved in intaking unnecessary calories in the form of unwarranted diseases, medical bills, etc. You become mindful to incorporate the pollution costs involved in driving to the store. This awakens a new personality that can now think of an opportunity cost of sharing that amount with others in need. In the light of an expansive self, the benefits of attending to this craving are no more lucrative.
Again, evaluating the second scenario of getting angry with your partner from this renewed vision, you are able to take in the costs of restlessness and the sufferings associated with it from an outsider’s perspective. Not only that but now you can weigh the benefits of collective existence and mutual happiness. Your mind is no longer restricted to being satisfied only with the outcomes that it had preconceived to be satisfactory. It has now learned to encompass the huge benefits of selflessly acting for others. Venting your anger out is now an action of great loss.
The Beginning of Transformation
Transformation begins with a self-desire to bring change within. Without an acknowledgment of the need for change, there can’t be any change. If you are not satisfied or fulfilled with the quality of life and tired of instant gratifications, seek a change. Slowly all the necessary tools will be presented in front of you.
Beware of getting into the trap of instant transformation because your mind is already habituated to that. Transformation requires patience, time, and effort. Discipline is the key to controlling your mind and liberating it from its self-imposed chains. You can read more about spiritual discipline here. So, align yourself with those things or practices that build the elements of discipline, patience, and dedication.
With your vigor to bring changes in your life, contemplate and analyze yourself more by spending some time in solitude. Mindful Economics is an additive tool that enables snowball effects in transforming your limited self into an expansive limitless existence that transcends selfish boundaries and finds immense blissfulness in a collective interbeing.
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