Page 36 - JulAug2019_BarJournal

COLUMN MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

THE MISTAKE

OF THE INTELLECT

AN AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE

Julie Konrad

he intellect is a unique human simply unhappy. Before we know it, there is a Focusing on observing your inner dialogue
quality. Human intellect refers justification to continue our occasional guilty and refining the five senses is a great starting
to the ability of the mind to pleasure to self-sooth like a late-night binge point for making bigger changes over time.
come to conclusions, problem watching Netflix, having a cocktail, smoking, Reversing unhealthy habits is not easy, or
Tsolve, adapt, and learn from our or indulging in junk food. Lack of restraint fast. Try starting with these suggestions and
mistakes. It can save our lives. But the intellect and regulation of those splurges then turn into see what happens for you.
can also make mistakes, some of which can “bad” habits, that eventually turn into disease
become detrimental to our health and well- in the body like fear, anxiety, and weight gain. Reversing the Mistakes of the Intellect
being. Ayurveda, the oldest continuously Finally, those habits manifest as symptoms: • Observe the unhealthy behavior(s) without
practiced health system in the world which headaches, sleep issues, auto-immune flares judgment.
originated in India, believes mistakes of the and various other distresses. If ignored, • Become truthful and curious about what is
intellect are the fundamental root cause of symptoms can turn into full-blown diseases happening in your life.
all disease. like heart disease, alcoholism and diabetes. • Listen to your inner dialogue: Is it true?
A mistake of the intellect (prajna-aparadha) There is so much pressure to be on top in Was it true in the past, but not anymore?
happens when the intellect gets confused by the our careers. It’s no wonder we might swerve Is it judgmental?
overuse, misuse and abuse of the five senses, a bit while our pedal is pressed to the metal.
use of time, and by our habitual unhealthy Our constant drive to achieve, and stay on top, After Self-Examination
actions (mental, physical and verbal). Much is part of our culture. When well-regulated, • Identify how many of your senses are
like a computer that has too many open drive can be admirable, but when the need to overloaded or “polluted” in your day-to-
windows, information can get lost, crossed, or achieve, and “win” at life becomes excessive, day experience. Our perception of the
the system can shut down altogether. Take our a mistake of the intellect is to blame. The world is determined by how we take it in
unhealthy habits, for example. Why do we do mistake of the intellect supports operating in through the five senses; hearing, sight,
things we know aren’t good for us? Why do we overdrive and eventually, pushes us over the smell, taste and touch. How can you purify
push ourselves past our limits? Why do we stay edge into illness. your senses?
up too late, skip meals, drink, smoke or do any Thinking that our unhealthy habits are not • Pick one sense organ to nourish throughout
number of unhealthy behaviors? harmful to our overall health is dangerous. the week. Rest your eyes, drive in silence,
Ayurvedic educator Gary Gran Daily headlines report staggering statistics of really taste your food. Focus on that sense
explains, “The intellect ... is often afflicted the health decline of Americans due to stress for as long as it takes to feel a difference.
or overwhelmed by a fundamental and anxiety. According to Time Magazine • Spend time alone in nature. Being outside
misunderstanding, a cloudy memory, or in 2018, the reported general anxiety in nourishes all the senses.
subconscious impressions and desires this country rose dramatically with 40% The practices of Ayurveda are over 5,000
triggered by our self-image.” These false ideas of Americans reporting they were more years old and have stood the test of time.
about ourselves create a disconnect to our anxious than they were at the same time the Strengthening your natural intellect is the
true nature. He adds, “This primal ignorance previous year. Chronic anxiety is disease in way to health. Pay attention, take action, and
comes from our seemingly endless fascination the body. We will, by nature, look towards enjoy a healthier life.
with the objects of the world….This feeling of some way to cope with our uneasiness.
lacking drives our desire for fulfillment in the When our coping skills become unhealthy,
world, but the world is full of change and will disease will follow. We have an opportunity Julie Konrad is a certified Ayurvedic Health
ultimately let us down.” Unregulated desires to reverse detrimental abuse to our health by Counselor, health and wellness speaker,
become a catalyst for a shift in ourselves. paying attention to what we’re actually doing and writer living in Shaker Heights. www.
We become restless, anxious, depressed, or habitually to promote disease. clevelandayurveda.com.
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