Agitation is disturbance in the mind. The mind getting agitated is normal. The problem is not that. The problem is we struggle when we are agitated. To manage our agitations, we need to understand why we get agitated. Just accepting that it’s the nature of the mind is not good enough.

When we see a car accident, we see it as an event and drive past without getting agitated. In fact we hope no one was hurt. But the owner of the car is agitated. The same accident agitates one person and not another. So it is not the car that has the power to agitate, it is our mental association with it that causes our agitation.

And not only do we associate with people and things, we start developing an expectation that they must behave in a particular manner. Our expectations cause agitation.

Over time we draw our security from people and things. And on losing them we get upset. Our attachments cause agitation.

We expect much from ourselves. Our reputation is very dear to us. When we are criticised, opposed or fail to achieve, we get agitated. It is not that the criticism or opposition was unjustified. Our ego was hurt. Our ego causes agitation.

 Managing our mental associations, expectations, attachments and ego is work in progress. Does it mean we must suffer the agitations that keep disturbing us time and again. The agitations will not go away but the suffering can.

When we learn to “see” the agitation rise in our mind but we don’t “become” agitated, our suffering goes away. This self-awareness that we can distance ourselves from our agitations, and view it objectively, empowers us and blunts the agitating power.

And in this self awareness we must do two things. Firstly we must give the problem a perspective. Ask the question ‘So what ?’. Understand the worst case, allow the mind to process it and accept the situation. And then ask the question ‘Now what ?’, putting the mind on a positive track.

In doing so, we don’t realise it, but we are using the agitation to our advantage. The mental disturbance generates negative energy. Through self awareness, we are using the same energy, making it positive to work for us, and in finding solutions, we tap into our creativity and innovation.

A stone thrown in the lake can cause ripples but doesn’t change the lake. The lake sparkles, reflecting the sunlight even through the ripples. Agitations in our life are but ripples. Let them never stop us reflecting the Love, Knowledge and Joy that we truly are.