In our modern world, many of us are conditioned to think in binary terms: black and white, yes or no, true or false, right or wrong.
These polarizing thoughts can manifest in various aspects of life: pass or fail, win or lose, work hard or be lazy, deserving or undeserving.
These patterns, ingrained through fear, limit our perspective and potential.
The Roots of Binary Thinking in Fear
Binary thinking is often rooted in fear.
Fear clouds our ability to embrace uncertainty and new experiences, pushing us to rely on what we already know or have been taught.
Our brains are wired to base decisions on past experiences, which limits our ability to see beyond those limitations.
Take cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), for example.
It encourages individuals to “reframe” their thoughts, providing new perspectives on their experiences.
In life coaching, there’s a similar principle: “just do it.”
Through action, even small steps, we gain clarity.
It’s through these experiences that we learn and grow, breaking free from the constraints of fear based thinking.
Overcoming Fear: The Power of Mindfulness
One of the key factors in overcoming fear is mindfulness.
The amygdala, responsible for managing the fight or flight response, often becomes overactive in people who have experienced trauma.
This heightened state of fear keeps them trapped in reactive thinking.
However, studies show that mindfulness practices can help reduce the size of the amygdala, restoring balance to the brain.
Holistic approaches, like mindfulness, create an environment for the brain and body to heal.
As we shift our thinking, we realize that the odds aren’t always against us.
By challenging fear and taking small, conscious actions, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities and solutions that can’t be found in books or from external sources.
These answers lie within ourselves… our inner mind and body connection.
The Unique Human Ability to Shape Reality
Unlike other beings, humans have the unique ability to consciously effect change in their environment, both externally and internally.
This power gives us the freedom to create our own reality, shaping our experiences and responses in ways that align with our true selves.
Asteya: The Practice of Non Stealing
One way to foster this inner balance is through the practice of Asteya, the yogic principle of non stealing.
This doesn’t just apply to material possessions; it also speaks to greed, desire, and the insatiable cravings that steal our peace of mind.
Greed, often rooted in childhood trauma, robs us of contentment and joy.
It prevents us from being present, steals away our gratitude, and creates a constant feeling of emptiness.
By practicing non greed, we regain our sense of balance, abundance, and harmony.
We begin to walk the middle path, free from the need to grasp or hold onto things out of fear or scarcity.
The Problem With No Name
Asteya also touches on a deeper societal issue, one early feminists called “the problem with no name.”
This is the separation of the mind from the body, a disconnect from our wholeness.
This nameless void drives people to seek escape, yet they don’t know what they’re running from.
In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self actualization represents the ultimate state of being.
It’s the ability to survive, build healthy relationships, and live in a state of flow.
Asteya is about living with uncertainty, understanding that names, people, and places are ever changing.
Through experience, we learn that the flow of life is always present.
There’s no need to grab on too tightly to avoid fear and greed.
Ayurveda and the Doshas: Achieving Energetic Balance
Eastern Ayurvedic medicine offers a similar understanding of balance through the concept of the three Doshas, the energies that govern our physical and mental constitution.
These energies, much like Maslow’s hierarchy, reflect the levels of balance in our lives.
When a person is stuck in a low frequency state, constantly angry or unable to distinguish fear from reality, they remain in a stagnant trajectory.
However, those who seek to raise their frequency practice principles such as Ahimsa (non violence), Satya (truthfulness), and Asteya (non stealing).
These practices guide individuals towards greater balance, clarity, and inner peace.
By embracing these principles and releasing the fear based, binary thinking that constrains us, we open ourselves to a life of balance, harmony, and personal growth.
The path is not always easy, but with mindful practice, we can break free from the patterns of the past and step into a future filled with endless possibilities.
