Can You Really Control the Mind? Wisdom and Breath Guidance

Your own mind can be your biggest troublemaker.

The article says nothing can bother you as much as the thoughts inside your head.

Five things affect your mind: the food you eat, the time of day, the people you spend time with, the place you are in, and what you know.

When your mind feels negative, three things can help: wisdom, dispassion and meditation.

Wisdom means remembering that everything in life is temporary.

Dispassion means letting go of things you are worried about losing.

Meditation brings the mind back to a calm, natural state.

Chanting and singing can also steady the mind, and research shows chanting is good for the brain.

You cannot force the mind to calm down.

But if you breathe in a slow, controlled way, like in a practice called Sudarshan Kriya, your mind settles and you feel relaxed and happy.