Summary

The web content describes a personal journey of self-discovery and mental wellness, encapsulated in the RIG method, which stands for Refrain, Introspect, and Gratitude, learned during a sabbatical in a remote Indian village.

Abstract

The article titled "Three steps to get perspective.." details the author's experience during a sabbatical in a remote Indian village, starkly different from life in New York City. Despite initial challenges, the author found peace and inspiration through a quote by Radhanath Swami on gratitude as a state of mind. This led to the development of the RIG method, a three-step approach to mental clarity and peace: Refrain from sharing irritations to avoid reinforcing negative experiences and adopting a victim mentality, Introspect by focusing inward rather than blaming external circumstances, and practice Gratitude by acknowledging and appreciating the small, positive moments in each day. The author emphasizes the transformative impact of this method, especially in moments of emotional turbulence.

Opinions

The author believes that sharing negative experiences can perpetuate suffering and reinforce a victim mentality.
There is a strong emphasis on the importance of inner reflection and taking ownership of one's mind to overcome challenges.
The author advocates for the conscious acknowledgment of positive experiences, no matter how small, as a means to cultivate gratitude.
The RIG method is presented as a powerful tool for maintaining mental wellness, particularly when faced with discomfort or resistance to the present moment.
The author suggests that while it is difficult to remember to apply the RIG method during emotionally charged moments, doing so is crucial for personal growth and emotional regulation.

Three steps to get perspective..

In the beginning of January, I went on a sabbatical, during which I volunteered in a remote Indian village. As expected, life in New York City is very different from life in a remote village.

Picture of Buddhist prayer flags in Sikkim, India

I went into it with my eyes open and so far, I love that I made this decision. Having said that, initially there were some hiccups which led me to momentarily lose my peace of mind.

It was not something you expect to feel while sitting on a sabbatical in the midst of the lofty and majestic Himalayas.

During this time, I read a quote by Radhanath Swami —

“Gratitude is a state of mind”.

The quote is obvious, and I have probably heard it a million times in different form, yet this time it was different. Probably the difference was in my readiness to really imbibe the meaning.

My consciousness signaled me to take ownership of my mind. I did this through what I would like to call is the RIG method

Refrain….

Resist the urge to share irritation and mishaps with other people. Sharing the pain does not always alleviate it. Sometimes it makes us relive a circumstance we perceive as negative. Furthermore, sharing a pain can often push us into a victim mentality where our ego wants to be acknowledged for its ‘suffering’.

Pause and understand your intention for sharing pain with others. Stop identifying with the pain — it is not you.

This has been hard for me to practice because of the self-oriented culture we live in, but this has also been the most impactful when I have practiced it.

Introspect……

Often when challenges arise or things do not go our way, our attention is naturally pulled to the external world. The external world can be the trigger for our mood, thoughts swirling in our mind out of our control.

Eckhart Tolle says,

you can either be at war with the present moment or accept it. Being at war with the present moment is futile because the moment is already happening.

One of the ways I adapted Eckhart’s teaching is by consciously learning to sit through uncomfortable emotions. When I feel the resistance to the present moment rising in me, I just observe my feelings and let them pass. Eventually the thoughts pass and I am left with acceptance of the present moment.

With acceptance, I have more space in my mind and attitude to find a solution for things under my control.

Gratitude….

When ready, focus on the things you are grateful for. It works best when you think of your day from the moment you opened your eyes and identify the smallest of moments that provided comfort and peace.

I do this by making a gratitude list, but you can choose any method that helps you remember the things that have gone well in your day. My list often includes the smallest moments I can remember. For example, a stranger’s smile on the road, getting quality sleep at night, tasting flavors of my favorite dish, etc.

We have heard of gratitude for a while now, but still many people struggle to reach this vibration in a moment of tension, conflict or challenge. The trick is to consciously invoke this vibration and training your mind to focus on things that might have gone well in the day for you.

The hardest thing is to remember to practice RIG in the moment. We are often so overwhelmed by emotions when we are triggered that following a method is the last thing on our minds. However, it is exactly during such all-consuming moments that we need to consciously apply a new tool.