Positive Feedback Loop
Our minds are complex. Beautiful and built as super intelligent machines to survive in this world. As intricate as they are, our minds are also quite simple in the way they work. Once we can understand the nature of the mind, and the sub-conscious and conscious reactions, we are empowered with the choices to live and think in ways which create positivity and peace.
What is the feedback loop?
Positive Feedback example
In a very simple explanation, imagine you have a knot in your back which has troubled you for a long time. Then one day you accidentally discover a way to crack and relieve the tension which brings a feeling of relaxation. Instinctively you will store this experience as a strong memory, and in the future if the knot returns, you will try to remedy it by performing that same movement which cracked your back previously.
These rewards are addictive and are so strong that we will perform the actions to attain the rewards repeatedly. We identify one issue with a solution which has worked, and over time this once before conscious action will slowly become rote behavior.
The cracking of the back was just a very raw example of our human nature. We can however use this understanding to implement positive actions and reactions into our lives which can create peace, joy, and expansion of our human system.
Meditation and the Positive Feedback Loop
Meditation brings clarity, peace and tranquility.
Meditation needs time, dedication and discipline.
We must learn to have no expectations of results.
Results are bound to arise when the timing is perfect.
You cannot rush the ripeness of fruit.
~ There is an important note to understand. If we meditate purely for the sake of receiving some peace, some pleasure and nice feeling, expecting results which will bring us immediate joy, then we will discover a world of disappointment.
While the positive feedback will bring into gear the energy to push the boulder down the mountain, a critical ingredient is having no expectations. It is important to release expectations of our actions, and to perform our actions for the sake of the action itself. Its rewards will arrive naturally.
An example
Physical Exercise. When we start exercising and training we know that one day our efforts will reward us with strong and healthy bodies based on our efforts.
It would be irrational to expect by training for 1 week we can run a marathon, bench press 200kg and do 200 pushups.
The same is with meditation. Yes, with arduous practice there will be results one day. However, it is essential to focus on the action itself, not romanticize about how peaceful we will become. If we do this we lose sight of the journey.
The destination of life is the same for everyone. It is the journey which matters.
