How to and how much to utilize the mind

This is not a blog about improving your memory, concentration, reasoning powers, or analytical skills. It is not about improving the functionality of the mind per se, but it is about utilizing it. The difference between improving functionality and utilization can be illustrated by the example of the scene in the movie '3 idiots', where a student rushes his friend's father to a hospital in a 2-wheeler instead of waiting for an ambulance. The ambulance is probably a machine that is better suited for hosting a patient, but in a situation where speed and time was critical, the 2-wheeler was readily available and was quicker in manoeuvring past traffic. The doctor confirms by saying that if there was even a slight delay, the patient's condition would have been critical. In that movie, the student whose role is portrayed by Aamir Khan talks about using intelligence, knowledge and education for serving the needs of society, and not just for the sake of accumulating textbook knowledge by mugging, scoring good marks in exams, and securing lucrative jobs in banks or MNCs out of campus.


Now coming back to the question of how to utilize the mind, the mind is utilized best when it is utilized sufficiently to keep it occupied, but not overburdened or stressed so that it makes errors. The right amount of utilization is important. A mind that is underutilized is prone to becoming a 'devil's workshop' and a mind that is hyperactive is prone to make mistakes or overdo its part.

The mind functions best when it is utilized in a current task or activity that is relevant to the present context. The mind can be counter productive when engaged in contemplating the future or reliving the past, because this leads to stress, worry, and a feeling of helplessness. The mind can be used to evaluate the future, predict possibilities, and also determine what is likely to happen. It can also be used to internalize learnings from the past and to avoid repetition of past mistakes in the future. However, one must remember that the mind has a limited influence on the past and future whereas it is much more productive when focused on the present, which is within its control.


Coming back to Aamir Khan and the movie '3 idiots', the movie highlights the point about following excellence, and following one's passion, and success follows. Aamir Khan's character is shown to be very spontaneous in his decision making and actions. He takes decisions based on the present situation and acts upon them promptly, whether they are in relation to his behaviour in class, with friends, or in his love life. He does not overcontemplate and overanalyze. He is intelligent, but not bookish.

In the course of taking decisions by focusing on the present, we may take some sub-optimal decisions from the future point of view. However, we should then be ready to accept the consequences of our choices and decisions and take full responsibility for them. When we do this, the learnings from this process will be internalize fully, and our ability to make better decisions spontaneously will also improve over time. If we are consistent in applying our minds with focus in the present context and then accepting the consequences of our decisions fully later, our mind will start functioning in a manner that will be optimum not just for the present, but also for the future. The mind is suited for evolution and adaptation, so this will happen over time. We need not worry about our mind capacity to factor in not only the present but also the future will happen in the future. Utilize the mind for the present and focus.