#1 Psychological Immune System

A healthy psychological immune system is like a physical immune system. Bacteria already exist within but is harmless while the immune system functions as intended. It's a better idea to improve one's immune system rather than eliminating all bacteria.

This isn't a new concept, it's something I heard from George Pransky in his book The Secret to Mental Health.

What's interesting is the dichotomy between what you understand on an intellectual level, and what you truly understand as an insight.

When the insight struck me, it went from a good concept to a revelatory matter of fact of our functioning, and I've written it out the best way I could explain it trying to put words to that deep feeling.

It seems thoughts are to the mind, what the breath is to the body.

Everyday there's a constant barrage of information, gossip, puns (maybe that's just my mind!) and drivel.

It's not a stretch to claim that 95% of the thoughts generated, one could happily do without.

Yet it seems that for some minds, certain thoughts will have a larger influence on the person than others.

Similarly to two people exposed to the same bacteria, only one of them might get sick.

While bacteria has a form, can be studied and understood to varying degrees, thoughts are formless and intangible.

That doesn't keep them from wrecking havoc, turning transitional formless creations of the mind into hormonal releases in the body.

Most people will dismiss the majority of thoughts instinctively and with ease, but some seem to get generated with an anchor.

The thoughts weighing the most on our minds are the thoughts that seem most proficient at moving from formless into mess.

It's not like we're unaware of this in our lives–usually it's the very thing that makes up our daily existance.

We call it anxiety, depression, worry, sadness, anger, confusion etc.

A beloved child has many names, as we say in Sweden.

Modern Remedies

The natural ups and downs we experience based on percieved thoughts has always been the apparent bane of being human.

To have more of the first and less of the latter, we meditate, medicate, work out and maybe most harmful of all–indulge.

Not indulge as in spoling ourselves with sweets (though that certainly happens, or maybe I'm just projecting again?), but rather we participate in these formless problem-appearing phenomena as if it were real, as if it was already in form.

It isn't, but acting upon it takes it from formless to form.

The mind uses thoughts to generate problems, and the next second generates potential solutions.

When we get stuck in this cycle, we enter a stage of almost constant stress.

Like any good storytelling, it's certainly entertaining and at times even exciting–but having this cat and mouse chase unrealized for what it is, is also painful.

The problem-creating and problem-solving capacity of the mind is the equivalent of an infinity scroll.

It's only bad if we expect there to be an end to it.

Functions of the Immune System

Just like a physical immune system makes us resilient towards bacteria, a well-functioning psychological immune system makes us resilient against thoughts.

A well-functioning psychological immune system is nothing but a deep insight into the role that Thought plays in our life.

Once we see if for what it is, not intellectually, but realized, our immune system can work all by itself.

As intended.

No longer will long meditation sessions, retreats or mindfulness be the required hard work and dedication needed for a peaceful mind, instead they'll be realized as the cat in this cat-mouse game.

It's not that meditation, retreats or mindfulness are in any way bad–they come with a massive list of enjoyable and proven benefits.

Especially if you're looking to rawdog long flights.

It's just that that they don't give us the endgame most of us are looking for.

Peace of mind.

Differentiating Thoughts

Once we see the anchor that seemed attached to those heavy thoughts as just formless as well, they become just as light and easy to dismiss as the rest.

If it's true that we have 12,000 - 60,000 thoughts everyday (I doubt it but it drives home the point), we're clearly already champs at dismissing thoughts–we've just mistaken some as more important than others.

Whether physical or psychological–immune systems have their ups and downs as well.

But it sure beats ticking off each and every bacteria.

That's been my experience.