Improving one's mental performance, effectiveness and efficiency, dealing with mental
conditions, demands and challenges before they develop into larger problems, difficulties
or crises requires daily managing the mind and mental existence. It requires making
understanding and managing the mind and mental existence, dealing with mental
difficulties, demands and challenges part of daily life, daily work and effort, routine
and practice. To be effective, efficient and successful in what one does, what one engages
in and sets out to accomplish, both in personal and professional life requires making
managing the mind and mental existence part of daily routine and practice. Being actively
engaged, being in charge, in control and taking responsibility for what takes place, what
we do and what we need to do, what we must establish, develop and maintain in the mind and
mental existence.
It requires always establishing first the necessary internal mental conditions, clarity of
mind and understanding, before acting. It involves connecting and integrating mental and
physical existence, work and effort, behaviour and actions into an interactive process.
Establishing clarity of mind and understanding about what we face and have to deal with,
conditions, details and specifics, before taking action.
It involves considering, planning and organizing ahead, plans, projects, jobs and tasks,
as well as one's time, days, weeks and months. Set out a clear agenda, plan of action and
steps, constantly reviewing, updating and correcting them. It requires keeping an open and
flexible mind, paying attention and keeping track of what one is doing and talking about,
and what is taking place around one.
Establish Necessary Mental Conditions
Establishing the necessary internal mental conditions involves establishing clarity of
mind and understanding about what we face and have to deal with, what we plan to do,
engage in, try to accomplish, and how to do it. It requires ordering and arranging what
enters the mind and awareness in experience, perceptions, sensations and feelings, issues,
thoughts and ideas. Consider and make sense of them, the conditions that lie behind them,
and how to deal with them, forming a clear and detailed picture in the mind about them.
It involves establishing mental order and stability, clarity of mind and understanding, a
sense of certainty, security and confidence. We need to establish, or reestablish them
daily, because we exist in and as part of a constantly unfolding and changing world.
Everything within us and around us, in our own mental and physical existence and
development and in the world around us constantly changes and transforms. The conditions,
demands and challenges of existence and the world around us are constantly changing.
Resulting in constantly changing experience, perceptions, sensations and feelings,
requiring continuous mental work and effort, ordering, arranging, considering and making
sense of them, the conditions that lie behind them, and how to deal with them.
Making understanding and managing the mind and mental existence part of daily practice,
improving one's mental performance, effectiveness and efficiency is a gradual,
step-by-step process of work and effort, exercise and practice. Integrating dealing with
mental problems, understanding and managing the mind, mental existence and mental
development, mental work and effort into daily life and routines is not going to come
easy. It will take time, work, effort and determination. It will be marked by errors,
mistakes, failures and short falls. It requires recognizing and acknowledging success and
progress, however small. Progress and success will need to be measured in moments,
minutes, hours and days. It may also require allowing time off to commiserate, feel sorry
for oneself and drift in the mind, if necessary daily. The objective has to be to reach a
sense of contentment at the end of each day, having challenged oneself and succeeded. With
time, continuous work and effort the process will become easier, requiring less work and
effort, focus and concentration. It will become second nature.
Establishing the necessary internal mental conditions requires taking the time and making
the effort to exercise and practice sorting out, ordering and arranging one's experiences,
perceptions, sensations and feelings, thoughts and ideas. Consider and make sense of them,
the conditions that lie behind them, and how to deal with them. It may be necessary to do
this externally, outside of the mind, on paper. To make sure one actually engages in the
process is to externalize it. One cannot trust that one engages in the process just doing
it in the mind. It requires a great deal of mental discipline to follow the necessary
steps, exercises and practices in the mind. Mental discipline may be something one has yet
to develop.
Connect Mental and Physical Existence
Improving oneself, improving one's mental performance, effectiveness and efficiency, being
more effective, efficient and successful in what one does, one engages in and sets out to
accomplish involves connecting and integrating mental and physical existence, behaviour
and action, work and effort into an integrated process. Traditionally, we disconnect and
separate mental and physical existence, behaviour and actions. Our mental behaviour and
actions we tend to defined and governed by feelings and emotions, first impressions and
instant reactions. In our physical or outward behaviour and actions, we tend to follow
externally defined guides and directions, socio-cultural beliefs, views, values and
conventions, rules and regulations. At times, mechanically going through established
routines, habits and practices without paying much attention.
To be effective, efficient and successful one needs to guide and direct one's physical
behaviour and actions by clarity of mind and understanding, which establish in the mind
through mental work and effort. To engage and deal with external conditions and the world
around us without causing problems and difficulties one needs to establish clarity of mind
and understanding about the issues, conditions, demands and challenges we face and have to
deal with. We experience and become aware of them in the mind. It is in the mind where we
must consider them and establish clarity of mind and understanding about them. Our mental
behaviour and actions, mental work and effort, what we do in the mind, how we respond and
deal with our experience need to define, guide and direct our physical behaviour and
actions. We always must establish first the necessary internal mental conditions, before
acting, before engaging and dealing with external conditions and the world around us.
Consider, Plan and Organize Ahead
To be effective, efficient and successful in what one does and engages in, to establish
and maintain the necessary internal mental conditions, establish clarity of mind and
understanding before acting one must consider, plan and organize ahead. Consider, plan and
organize ahead as well one's time, days, weeks and months. Establish clarity of mind and
understanding about what is coming up, what lies ahead, what one is confronted with, what
one needs to do, what one is going to engage in or is trying to accomplish. Prepare and
set the stage to make sure one acts on the clarity of one's mind and understanding, and
not find oneself in a position of having to operate beyond, or without clarity of one's
mind and understanding.
To be effective, efficient and successful requires being aware and deliberate in one's
behaviour and actions, in what one does and engages in. Always knowing, understanding and
being aware of what one does, why one does it, and what one is trying to accomplish.
Considering, planning and organizing ahead to make sure one is aware and deliberate, one
focuses and concentrates on one's behaviour and actions, on what one does and what one is
engaged in.
It requires not allowing oneself to go mechanically through motions, doing things and
engaging in physical actions, while mentally being engaged in something else. Always
keeping the mind and attention, focus and concentration on what one is doing and is
engaged in, being clear about the steps, and keeping in mind the purpose and objectives.
Be clear about the why, the aims, goals and objectives before acting. Establish clarity of
mind and understanding about the what, how and why of what one plans to do and engage in
before acting.
Considering, planning and organizing ahead issues, jobs, tasks, projects or plans involves
considering them at some length, in depth and detail to establish clarity of mind and
understanding about them, the details and specifics. Going over them more than once,
systematically, step-by-step, identifying and considering open questions, uncertainties,
doubt or confusion that arise or persist in the mind about them. Setting up a separate
file for each issue, job, task, project or plan. Starting with putting down the given, the
self-evident and obvious. Each time when going over the file and considering the issue at
hand filling in more details and specifics. Dividing the issue, job or task into
manageable parts and steps that can be accomplished in a day, week or month, and setting
out clear and detailed plan of action and steps of managing them. Continuing this process
until at least the start and first few steps are clear, one has established clarity of
mind and understanding about them.
Keeping track of issues, jobs, tasks, projects and plans, what has been done, what is left
to do, and what is to be done next. Keeping a separate file for each job, task, project or
plan that takes more than just a day or two to accomplish, particularly long-term jobs,
setting out the plan of action and all the steps. Each time when working on an issue, job,
task or project, review the file to refresh and set the mind, to re-establish clarity of
mind and understanding about it, the nature, purpose and requirements, plan of action and
steps. Reviewing what has already been done, what is left to do, and the next step. When
finished for the day, update the file. Record what has been done and what is next. In this
way, it will always be easy to pick up where one left off, quickly reestablishing clarity
of mind and understanding, regardless of how much time has elapsed since last dealing with
the issue or job.
In addition, one needs to consider, plan and organize ahead one's time, days, weeks and
months. Consider, plan and organize ahead the next day, week and month, what is coming up,
what needs to be done and what must be accomplished. Set out a clear and detailed plan of
action and steps for the day, week and month. It involves making lists of things to do
daily, weekly and monthly. Lists, for example, for shopping, lists of what is required on
food, household items, etc. Set out on paper plans of action and steps of how to do
things.
Making lists of things to do, setting out on paper plans of action and steps externalizes
issues and frees up the mind to focus and concentrate the mind and attention on what one
does, what one is engaged in at the moment. It reduces demand on the mind and attention.
Everything one puts down on paper one does not have to juggle and keep track of in the
mind. One reduces the load and demand on the mind, creating order and stability in the
mind, establishing clarity of mind and understanding, and creating a sense of certainty,
security and confidence. It reduces worries, fear, stress, anxiety, frustration and
depression. One prevents problems of the mind from developing, freeing up the mind to
focus and concentrate on what one does and is engaged in.
There are limits, natural limits to our mental capacity, to what we are able to do in the
mind at the same time. There are limits to what we can keep track of, focus and
concentrate on in the mind. There are limits to what we can juggle, sort out and clarify
in the mind. There are even greater limits to what we can do in the mind without
developing, exercising and practicing our natural mental potential, our natural mental
powers and abilities, the necessary mental skills and practices, and the required mental
work and effort.
Planning and organizing ahead involves integrating the steps of different jobs, tasks,
projects and plans into the agenda and plan of action of the day, the week or month ahead.
Planning and organizing ahead which steps, of what job, task or project are to be taken on
what day, in week or month.
Within this context, one needs to plan and organize to work on a number of different jobs,
tasks or issues each day. One does not always succeed in what one sets out to do or
accomplish. Planning to work on a number of different jobs or tasks one makes sure, while
one may not succeed in everything one sets out to do, one succeeds in some of them. This
is important to achieve a sense of contentment at the end of the day, a sense of having
succeeded, having accomplished some of what one set out to do, rather than having failed
in one's day.
At the start of each day, or the evening before, one needs to review the day's agenda,
plan of action and steps to set the mind, establish clarity of mind and understanding
about what is coming up and what needs to be done. At the end of the day, again one needs
to review the agenda, the plan of action and steps of the day. Assess and evaluate what
has been done and accomplished, where one failed or fell short, and what needs to be
carried over to agenda and plan of action of the next day. Consider, assess and evaluate
success, errors, mistakes or failures, how well the agenda, plan of action and steps had
been set out and how closely they were followed, where and why one failed. Consider what
needs to be changed, improved or corrected in setting out and following the agenda, plan
of action and steps in order not to repeat the same errors, mistakes and failures.
Similarly, at the start of each week review the plan of action and steps for the coming
week. At the end of the week review, assess and evaluate the plan of action and steps of
the week, what has been accomplished, what was not accomplished and needs to be carried
over to the next week, success, errors, mistakes and failures, what to do in order not to
repeat the same mistakes. The same review, assessment and evaluation should be done with
the plan of action and steps for each month. If necessary the agenda, plan of action and
steps for the day, week and month should be briefly reviewed and reconsidered whenever on
is in danger of loosing focus and direction, when one no longer has a clear view of the
road ahead.
Exercise Mental Discipline and Flexibility
Making understanding and managing the mind and mental existence part of daily life
requires exercising mental discipline and mental flexibility. Exercise mental discipline
not to act on raw, unprocessed experience, feelings and emotions, first impressions and
instant reactions. Not to react and respond instantly, getting ahead of oneself, acting
without clarity of mind and understanding. Exercise mental discipline and not act out
disorder, instability, doubt, confusion, uncertainty and insecurity, feelings of worry,
fear, stress, anxiety, frustration or depression. When discussing feelings and emotions
only discuss them within the context of dealing with them and addressing the conditions
that lie behind them, not to draw the attention or sympathies of others.
One needs to exercise mental discipline not to drift through the mind, getting lost in
dreams, fantasies, speculations or abstractions. Not allow oneself to follow experiences,
perceptions, sensations, feelings, thoughts and ideas that enter the mind, to wherever
they may take us. One needs to exercise mental discipline and be actively engaged in the
mind.
It requires exercising mental discipline and not allow oneself to just follow external
instructions, guides, rules and regulations. Instead, establishing clarity of mind and
understanding about what one faces and has to deal with, what one plans to do or is
engaged in, jobs, tasks or projects. Visualize what one plans to do, the work and steps
ahead. One needs to exercise mental discipline and not allow oneself to be driven and
blindly follow in one's behaviour and actions, in how one deals with, relates and
interacts with others and the world around oneself, by established routines, habits and
practices, by externally define instructions, guides and directions, established
socio-cultural beliefs, views, values, conventions and practices.
It involves exercising mental discipline not to allow oneself to get ahead of oneself, not
act beyond the clarity of one's mind and understanding, not get ahead of one's mental work
and effort. It requires not allowing oneself to head off on unrelated tangents or jump to
conclusions. Not allowing oneself to go mechanically through physical motions while
mentally focusing and concentrating on something other than what physically one is engaged
in. Allowing oneself to go through physical motions, not focusing and concentrating the
mind and attention on what one does and is engaged in leads to making errors and mistakes,
causing problems and difficulties.
One needs to exercise mental discipline and not allow oneself to look for causes, answers
and solutions to one's own mental problems and difficulties externally, beyond the mind
and mental existence, with others or the world around us. One must look for them in the
mind, in one's own mental behaviour and actions, in what takes place and what one does in
the mind. We are not in charge and in control of external conditions, others or the world
around us. We are in charge and in control only where consciously we exist and act, in the
mind and mental existence. Whatever enters our mind and awareness, it is for us
individually to consider, understand, deal with, respond and adjust to it. We exist
individually independent in our mind, we are the only one existing and acting in our mind.
It is for us individually to consider, understand and deal with what enters the mind, it
is our role and responsibility. Problems and difficulties doing so are for us to address
and resolve.
Keep an Open and Flexible Mind
Moreover, improving oneself, daily managing the mind and mental existence requires keeping
an open and flexible mind. Informing oneself and keeping track of what is taking place in
the world around you. Not closing the mind to reality, inventing things in the mind about
the conditions, what is happening and taking place around us. We exist in and are part of,
and we must deal with, respond and adjust to reality, a constantly unfolding, changing and
transforming world. Failing to do so, living in idealized images of reality will cause
mental problems and difficulties.
It also requires connecting, communicating and cooperating with others, those with whom we
interacting. Establish common ground, in views and understanding, choices and decisions,
in goals and objectives, in behaviour and actions. Interact and cooperate on common
ground, identifying points of difference, considering and discussing the reasons and
causes behind differences. Be prepared to explain one's views and understanding, one's
thoughts and ideas, the clarity of one's mind and understanding, as well as their limits.
Be prepared to explain one's choices and decisions, and how one made them, one's aims,
goals and objectives, and how one defined them, one's behaviour and actions, and how one
plans, organizes and manages them. In turn, it requires informing oneself about the views
and understanding of others, their thoughts and ideas, choices and decisions, aims, goals
and objectives, and their way of doing things.