Hello to the reader,

I am a traveller. Just like you. I experience hardships, let-downs, heartbreaks, joy, magic and spirituality each day. Just like you. The purpose of my articles is not to be a spiritual trainer or guide. The sole purpose is to give words to my demons and experiences. I am a firm believer of inspirations that help others.

 However, when one comprehends about his life, their are many multifarious experiences and sometimes it really helps someone to know they are not alone.The one addressed in this article is what most of us face each day unfailingly.

MENTAL BLOCKS(The condition which keeps you away from facing dreaded situations)

Mental Blocks are, simplistically put, feelings of being safe in not going for the asked action. Want to dance? No i look fat. Want to sing? No, the girl before me sang better. Want to speak? I might make a fool of myself. Want to open a bank account? I have not attempted that before (I am scared, please keep me safe). In other words, human beings have a negative bias, and mental blocks, broadly speaking, arise from the imagination of performing the aforesaid action and its negative after effects. There will always arise a reason to keep one busy from doing the undesired action which feeds the mental block. We have to watch TV, finish a book or even help our mothers in the kitchen for a change to avoid going to the gym,bank,post office etc. Is it so difficult?

      Each one of us has faced a time when trying something new gave us a new breath, a new thrill in life. Be it going for unplanned trips, scaling a slippery straight mountain, or riding bikes around the city at night. Why did we willingly opt for those actions? Memories for a lifetime and the adventure. The feeling of 'never tried it before'. Mental Blocks affect more because they trigger a weakness we carry. Could be our looks, our speech, our disabilities, phobias, simple emotions and inhibitions. Moreover, there exists a ferocious 'What if' condition which is waiting to pounce on you, the moment you want to try the fearful task.

In my bid to overcome it, I tried the following two ways:

1. Pause and Think*

2. Don't Pause, jump!*

*Optimistic nature and positive thinking helps. I shall address this topic in a subsequent post. Please check it out :)

          In the former strategy, ADDRESS the problem at hand. If, for instance, you fear going on stage, sit with your problem and take an imaginary walk in your mind. Imagination to the rescue! Imagine the worst possible case that might happen (which you actually fear. Many might oppose this idea, saying it breeds negativity. But the negativity already persists in your mind in the form of doubt, doesn't it? Moreover you're trying to solve it.) and find out the solution to prevent it from happening. For the above example, if you fear stuttering, forgetting, thinking how others might think of you TRY VERY HARD to swing your mind over to the other side. Try and think what you will look like and imagine the impact of you speaking flawlessly. Revel in it, it should give you a necessary push. Take as much time you want. Prepare, Practice, Ask, Watch, Pray or even Predict. Likewise for any other situation in life that holds you back probably because you are not ready for the outcome or simply fear failure. 

You never really fail in life, you only become stronger and learn.( Try an apply this to all your previous failures, you will  be surprised :) ).

If your mind asks you to prevent taking part in a competition, or refuse to make a huge investment because you doubt or fear your abilities to handle it, please take a while and think. As XYZ, you just have this life, this moment, this decision. Do not positively let a small fear take control of your greatness. The first strategy is involuntarily adopted by many, including me. However, its too stressful and is anyways going to consume your brain cells.That's where the latter option comes in handy! Jump.

Yes, jump. Think less, jump harder. Imagine the time when your mind is so stuffed to the brim with to do or not to do choices that you give up and go for one. That is what I am talking about. When you know its right, and you doubt pursuing it because of mental blocks, the better option is to jump. Pause your thought. For instance, "I flopped last time. I might stammer. I don't want to look in-confident. I don't look presentable". PAUSE the thought. Pause it (not erase, as it is certainly going to linger) and do it anyway. In my experience, it turns out to be wonderful. If not flawless, you will discover an impromptu fighter in yourself. Once you get through the situation without anybody noticing you were terrified, you'll have created a fighter out of the scary ashes that you were. In some odd situations, you might reason with yourself, thanking god that you got through that, and might never try it again. If it is important for your growth, you gotta. Be in the same fearful situation 3,4,5,6 times. 10th time, you'd realize, you have surprisingly mastered the art and people have started asking you for tips. Try it. It works :)

On a philosophical front, always remember, the greatest people weren't believed in at the onset of their findings and proposals. Later, they ridiculed everyone. At one point of time, they were just like you and me. Scared, terrified and unsure. Beaten again and again, made them lose their calm and suitably say "Fuck off! " to the world. Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, Eminem, Lady GaGa (and thousands more).......all of them fought their inhibitions, their diseases, fears and inabilities.

There is a thing about fear. Let it scare you so many times, that you no more fear fear. 

It is not easy, but not impossible. A simple logic, If that mind can make you a fearful mess, you think you cannot turn it over? Think about it. 

I did. So can you.