it is all in the mind pt4

Everything we have done, thought, good, bad and/or indifferent is logged away some where in the mind.

Freud the cocaine addicted psychologist put the mind (for want of a better term) into three parts.

The Ego
The Super Ego
And the Unconscious.

The idea (I believe) for therapists of the psycho type is to unravel the so-called unconscious mind. It is believed by them and others that the unconscious or unacknowledged part of ourselves can influence our behaviour beyond our conscious control. It is as if we have disowned a part of ourselves and that part of ourselves we have disowned is not letting go, it keeps influencing us from beyond our (conscious) awareness.

We may then begin to use certain behaviours and habits to keep this unowned part of ourselves at bay, e.g, smoking, drinking, compulsive overworking, gambling, over eating, etc.

Okay so that's it more or less. Yes, I know there;s more to it than that! But we need to get to the point.

As we begin to 'do' asana practice we are starting to influence the 'shape' we have molded ourselves into. We are in good or bad shape according to all sorts of dynamics. We are fit, but not fit, we are uptight and inflexible, we are chilled out and over flexible and or flabby and ungrounded.

It's not a question of right or wrong 'it is just the way we are.' How many times do we hear people say, 'It is just the way I am made'.

Really what people are saying when they say that is, 'It is the way I have been conditioned to be.'

Then the process, if that's the right term, begins. We begin to de-condition ourselves with Asana practice. For a start we may stand taller and we may breathe better  and deeper. Just these two influences can do a great deal for one's self image, self esteem programmes.

The rest as they say is history, we continue until we either give up or die, whatever comes first.

As we continue through the practicing we will certainly hit very difficult places in ourselves. But the longer you continue the more you realise that these places are conditioned to appear real. But are not!!

They are all in the mind!