29th October 2018
I am reading a book called “Man’s search for meaning” by Victor Frankl. He recounts his experiences as a Jew surviving the traumas of a concentration camp. The fundamental truism his experience taught him is how we cannot control what happens in our lives, but we can control our reactions.
While, thank goodness, most of us do not experience such extremes of life as Mr Frankl, one’s mind does not seem to calibrate suffering in a rational way. The mind can click into a negative mindset and then re-choose a positive mindset independent of events outside of it.
Our mind can be our greatest enemy, or our best friend. It depends upon how we manage it and use it.
My experience of my mind is that it tends to be like a crystal in the way they take on the colour of their environment.
In the same way my mind is calmer, sharper and more perceptive when I pay attention and regulate what I eat, speak about, read, listen to and exercise.
For example, my mind is far happier when I spend time and discuss matters with people who have a positive and generous outlook than others who are always criticising and seeing faults.
We are very much creatures of the environment we help shape.
Abraham Goldberg
