Most of you use computers now. The computer uses a hard disk which function as the memory bank. Hard disks comes in various limited capacities. Over the time we keep on adding data to to it in form of softwares, pictures, videos, documents and databases. The hard disk needs to have ample space to function properly as it processes data in form of cache. A computer has many input devices like keyboard, mouse and other data transfer devices like LAN, USB, internet connectivity etc.
If a hard disk becomes full, the computer is not able to process or store new data and gives errors. Excessive use with errors may even make the hard disk crash. So to keep the hard disk in a healthy state you will need to delete the old obsolete data, run cleaning and run de fragmentation process. In a way you keep only data which you need and scrap the useless data. If you don't do that a time comes when hard disk is full and stops working. A computer hard disk needs constant maintenance to function properly.
Human mind is the the greatest computer with brain controlling the functions. The human input devices are in form of our senses. Eyes that see, touch that feels, ears that hear, nose that smells, mouth that tastes and multiple neurons which provide us sense of pleasure or pain. All ultimately controlled by human mind which is far more superior than any known super computer.
The point is do we ever try to do maintenance of our biological hard disk in brain? Are wrong thoughts or noise make you restless? Do you feel tired? Are you getting angry or irritated easily? These could be signs that your mind hard disks needs maintenance. How to do that?
The data transfer from our senses gets recorded in the brain as memories. It is an automatic biological process. Some memories are short term and some are deep rooted. Your experiences in life through the senses are being constantly being recorded in the mind, even without our knowing. When we try to recall things, the memories crops up from our inner hard disk at our command. Even with closed eyes by recalling a memory you will be able to see vibrant colours of the past experiences.
Then another part of our mind is engaged in imagination and visualizing a future. That's the creative process of mind unique to we human beings. Between experiences and imagination lies the learning. This learning is very important as it decides what has to become our deep rooted memory.
The learning process is outcome of constantly experiencing and thinking about the same thing. Now if you think about good things then the memories stored are good and provides you with pleasure on recall. However, if you think about negative or painful thoughts the mind will recall the painful memories making you sad. Positive memories will give you a positive imagination useful for future and happiness. Negative memories will make you dull and pessimistic.
So like a computer hard disk, you need to constantly de fragment your memories and keep on deleting the clutter. Therefore practice and focus only on thoughts which makes you happy. The best way of doing that is to see and feel situations in a happy manner. Avoid toxic people and places, stop thinking about things which makes you unhappy. Just keep the lesson learnt part of it from a bad incident for future cautions. Forgetting and forgiving are the best ways of deleting the painful memories. If you do not do that, your mind becomes full of useless memories which can make you going in error mode or seriously ill.
Never try too hard to remember the bad situations. Let it go so that the memories of bad times do not become deep rooted. The negative memories generate bad feelings and affect our future actions. These negative feelings can also make us loose our self confidence serious health issues as the mind also controls our biological organic functions.
They say "Let your mind be free". What is means? It means that you have to free up the space in your mind by doing away with negative memories and have free spare capacity where you can easily imagine a new future, create happy present and only the blissful memories of past. A free and less cluttered mind is able to take the new situations and tackle the problems faster.
So de clutter your hard disk of mind. Keep only what is important and delete away the rest. Make more free space in your mind and that's the way to happiness.
Ar. Satyakam Garg