Active Alert Mind

Your mind is a wonderful gift. Its intelligence lifts you above the mental level of others. But are you using its powers to the extent that you might? Probably you are not. Few people do, but those few go far. You could be one of them! While we daily brush our teeth, polish our shoes, wash our clothes, we take our greatest asset- the mind for granted. We do little about its “maintenance”. What can you do to keep your mental powers, and make greater use of your mind? How can you keep your mind active and healthy?

Mix with people who are mentally alive

An evening of intelligent conversation with a friend quickens our wits. It acts like a mental tonic. The same is true when we join a group of people who follow some intellectual interest. Let us see that we get this mental fillip at least once a week. We might join a local dramatic society, a play-reading group, a literary circle, a discussion or debating society or a writers’ club. Alternatively, if we have a hobby or interest, let us join the local group of enthusiasts. Such gatherings expand our mental horizons, and we move forward.

Read widely

A book is the brainchild of another. What are we doing when we read a book with concentration? To all purposes we are shutting ourselves in with a fine intellect. We are listening intently to every word. We are bringing all our powers to bear upon whatever the author is saying. In effect, the great reader keeps company with the master minds of the world. Books, then, enable us to mingle with the great, and to keep our brains nimble. Library shelves wait to be ransacked by enquiring minds. Do it now.

Learn to think

Get into the habit of coming to your own decisions about various issues as they arise. Another way of developing robust thinking powers is to challenge statements that one reads or hears. Let your train of thought work backwards form the statement. Ask yourself. “What right has the author to say that? Is he in a position to know, or is he merely reproducing what others have said? And if so, who are those others? When did they live? How did they know?” These are searching questions. Pursue them and you will be surprised where they will lead you.

Adopt one of the arts

An active interest in one of the arts can open up a new world of experience, knowledge and friendship. For example, let us suppose you become interested in music. You study broadcast programmes and select musical items. You listen carefully. The names of artists, composers, and their works become familiar to you. You attend concerts and recitals. You read the biographies of the great musicians and this opens vistas of history. You join a musical appreciation class and make new friends. It is possible that you learn to play an instrument yourself. All these experiences provide mental stimulus and will help to keep your mind active.

Cultivate fresh interest

There is nothing like a fresh interest for quickening the mind. If we have reason to think that our minds are going to sleep, we should consider taking up some new study, hobby or pursuit. Fresh interest means new ideas, new activities, new surroundings, new books, and new friends. Each of these factors will prevent the mind from sinking into a state of torpor.

Accept responsibility

When we take on some responsibility, we have to do things which we would not otherwise do. For example, suppose you are invited to become secretary of your college cultural club. By accepting you may find yourself addressing meetings, acting as chairman at committee- meetings, writing letters, and visiting people. Further, you may have to arrange various functions. This way you not only quicken you mind but your confidence is increased, your personality is developed, and your leisure profitably employed.