What is a naked mind?

Sorry to use the word. But when you go through several episodes of mental and emotional processing and reflecting, you find your mind to be naked. What we mean by that? It is the realization of many thoughts and ideas that were handed over to you packaged with attractive and fake colours. It is the conditioning that the mind was made to believe throughout the years of your life time.

When you reach a stage in your life and suddenly you start questioning and asking deeper questions, you find your mind naked, shocked, surprised and not expecting at all. Then what happens? Then the mind is just so blank, empty and struggling to want to attach to something again. That is what we call: the search for meaning again.

We are creatures wired for connection. It is our human nature to connect, to open up, to relate and attach. When the previous thoughts, ideas and beliefs were brainwashed to you and you would rather create your own life philosophies and ideas, that is a difficult transition that takes time and patience to cross and go to the other side.

Let me give you an example to illustrate the naked mind. For example you have been working so hard. You beleived that working hard would give you the status, the respect and the personal reputation. You also beleived in entitlement. You thought that if you work hard, you should get back the safety and security from your job, company and the government. Then later in life when you cross through life events, you learned that is not the case. When you faced a trouble, whether it is being fired from a job, or a financial problem, or struggling to get hired, you realize you are totally alone in the field. No body there to rescue you. That entitlement mindset doesn’t work anymore. Then you go deep yourself, your thoughts, values and beliefs. And you realize the shift you need to make inside yourself. That is the time you see your mind naked, empty, ignorant and so short term in thinking and focus.

So you may ask now, what do I do if I face such a scenario? Well it is not an easy question but the answer is simple. Sit with your mind and be patient and still. There is no need to rush and jump to any quick fix solutions. The mental and emotional processing takes time and patience. The mind can stick so hard to old life philosophies and values and it is not that straightforward to change or shift.

Continuous sessions of meditations can really help whether 5, 10 or 20 minutes sessions daily. You may choose whatever meditation type that suits your personal preference and taste. It can be sitting outside and sinking in nature. Or using your breathing to ground you. Or adopting a meditative lifestyle and sinking into each and every daily step you take. I know people who practice meditation when they are walking and chatting as well.

When you start doing it, you would notice several transformative stages your mind go through. The results would be hardly noticeable because they are so small and intangible. But then later with continuous practice daily, you would eventually realize peace, freedom, stillness and quietness you get to experience when passing through your life events.