According to Yogi Bhajan we all have 3 minds.  Sometimes it can feel hard enough to find peace with just one, but three?  How do we accomplish that?  And how exactly does each mind effect us?

If "I think, therefore I am" shows us anything, it's that we really attach our identities to our minds.  Our world is not actually a collection of experiences, it's actually the culmination of the thoughts and perceptions we have about said experiences.  

In the Kundalini tradition, each person has 3 minds and each mind works to serve a specific purpose.  We have the Negative Mind, the Positive Mind and the Neutral Mind. 

The negative mind focuses on protecting us.  It assesses danger in a situation.  It's the part of us that signals not to cross the street when cars are coming.  It also gives us a desire to belong, which is great, except if it's underdeveloped this can lead us to engage in destructive relationships or be overly unfluenced by others.  With trying to protect us, the negative mind is what gives us negative and fearful thoughts and worries.  

Then we have the positive mind. This mind is responsible for us seeing possibilities in all situations.  There's a level of trust and faith that comes with these thoughts.  It keeps us playful.  If it's underdeveloped though, it can lead us to almost be too trusting with outcomes and blind us to warning signals or red flags.  

Then we have the neutral mind. This mind is our most powerful tool.  It is intuitive.  It looks at the thoughts and interpretations from both the positive and negative minds and makes a decision after carefully weighing both sides.  When we're fully engaging in the neutral mind, we find a way to step outside of the mentality that we are our thoughts.  We find a place of non-attachment and stability.  This grounding comes from understanding that our identities don't fluctuate with our flowing thoughts.  Fears don't call the shots from this place.  

When it comes to our anxiety, we are living in the negative mind and letting our fears and insecurities dictate our decisions and shape our world.  When you find yourself spinning with negative chatter, try to find your neutral mind.  Take a moment to step away from these thoughts, knowing they aren't you, and look at them from a place of non-attachment.  Be a witness.  And once you start operating from the neutral mind, you'll find that worries don't hang around as much.  The neutral mind creates a balance for us.  Let the neutral mind break down your fears and offer you control over those stressful thoughts!

sat nam, b