In this blog ,I will share three insights from Bhagavad Gita that can get you out of the habit of overthinking!

Yes ! cases of overthinking are increasing everyday all over the world, specially in the youth who are trapped under the responsibilities. Bhagavad Gita is not only a religious book but also the solution of every answer and best text for the human mind. It is considered very sacred in Indian religion. Let us extract some solutions for overthinking from this masterpiece.

1. Focus

Our mind starts thinking too much or chattering when things don't go our way. Uncertainty of the future and getting hurt by someone can also lead to overthinking. But did you ever think, does it help?

Not really! Rather it weakens you . You can understand it by the example of walking with shoes filled with pebbles. Overthinking creates negative thoughts and self doubts which slows you down.

The solution of these problems lies in chapter 2 verse 47 of Bhagavad Gita.

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन |
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ||

Here Lord Krishna says that you only have control on your actions. How true is it?

Let me explain with an example, If you are going to have your exams after 1 week and you have not studied anything yet. This time if you use the rest time properly instead of thinking about the wasted past, You will perform better.

In the same verse, Shri Krishna says that one should never think about the results. It can seem confusing to many people, like how to be motivated if we do not think about the result?

But it impacts your performance unknowingly. Let us consider two cases.

1. One is preparing for a presentation and also thinking will it get passed? or what will be the result?

2. One is just focusing on preparing the presentation instead of thinking about the result.

Who will gain better performance? Obviously the one who is just focusing over his work instead of diverting his mind into something else. Diverting the mind side by side in thinking about the results leads to low performance unnoticeably. That's what Shri Krishna means by saying do not focus on the results.

It encourages you to take action instead of thinking about results. If you are hungry, Do you just think about it or take action? While eating, Do you think about the results?

Same way if you are willing to achieve something, take action.

Sometimes it happens that we do everything that is needed but still do not get favourable results, in this case always remember "everything happens for a good reason", muscles fibres break to become bigger and stronger. Our life problems are the test of how well we handle these problems and how we take more actions and boost our performance.

In chapter 2 verse 14 of Bhagavad Gita , Lord Krishna says that good and bad times keep coming and going like the seasons.

मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदु: खदा: |
आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ||

It explains that all feelings are temporary and one should keep remember this rule of impermanence. It advises you to keep tolerating both times with equanimity. Note that I used "both times" here. Even if you are happy, remember that this time is also temporary. In conclusion we must not think about the past or present, all we have is present to improve.

2. Detach

Verse 62 chapter 2-

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंस: सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते |
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते काम: कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते ||

This verse can be the game changer for an overthinker. In this verse Lord Krishna says that when a person dwells on objects, there arises an attachment which leads to expectations and desires. When these desires and expectations get fulfilled, you are happy and if not, you get aggressive and hurt.

Let it be understood by an example. Assume that there is a budding youtuber who is working on his first video. Let's say he aims for 10,000 views . By doing this he has already bondage in his heart. No doubt, he is working hard to give his 100% to make the video but if he does not achieve the goal of 10,000 views, he won't be satisfied. Even after getting appreciated by many people, all he is looking for is views because his mind is attached with his expectation. It can lead him to get into self doubt and close his account.

On the other hand if he does not set any goal and just works consistently, in the long term, he will succeed.

If you get your watch broken, you feel sad but if your friend's watch gets broken, you do not feel that bad. If your friend had a tough breakup , you might give a lecture but if you had a tough breakup, you can not move on. What does it show?

It shows our attachment from our goals, people and things that hold us in the bondage.

अनाश्रित: कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति य: |
स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रिय: ||

This is verse 1 of chapter 6 of Bhagavad Gita which advises to detach from situations so that you do not get into the dark bed of overthinking.

3. The mind

Since your mind is the most powerful, if it's not in your control, it can be your worst enemy. Think about a drug addicted or an overeater . Also think about your health plan that you broke with eating junk. These things show that your mind is controlling you. The most dangerous thing about sensory pleasures is that , the more you do them, the more your mind craves for it. It is exactly like the itch , once you scratch , you think the urge is satisfied but instead you are adding fuel to fire.

Our mind is like a lion , hard to train but once you win it, it becomes your biggest strength. How to do it? Well chapter 3 verse42 of Bhagavad Gita suggests its solution.

इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्य: परं मन: |
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धे: परतस्तु स: ||

This verse says to master the mind and you will master your senses. Just as you can not expect mangoes from lemon seeds, you can not get positive impacts by filling your mind with negative thoughts. That is because as you sow, so shall you reap, this is the law of nature. If you take charge of what information you impulse your mind with , your thought pattern will begin to change. It is similar to a glass full of dirty water, if you start pouring clean water in it , it will start getting clean.

Fundamentally, your mind is like a distracted driver. It can be distracted by various temptations but you are the boss to give it the right direction.

Summing up with the important notes -

How to stop overthinking?

1. In every situation, know what action you can control and focus on it totally. Take the right action and move on immediately.

2. Remember that everything happens for a reason. Accept it and keep looking forward.

3. Rather than being controlled by mind, master it and make it your biggest strength.

4. To master the mind, master your 5 senses, basically you get charge of what impulse you give to your brain. Feed your brain with the right charges so that it can change your actions accordingly.

5. One should consistently work without getting attached with goals or expectations.

Bhagavad Gita is the book, if you start reading it , you will get your mind automatically springing the solutions of tuff problems. Just follow the steps and get rid of overthinking permanently.