1. Organizing or cleaning your space, room, or home isnโt about tidiness, but being in control of a world that feels otherwise uncontrollable. Itโs about a mental state with clarity, being organized and being at peace with oneself. Psychologically, the environment we live in reflects our mental state. In a world full of everyday stress, chaos, and overwhelming uncertainties, cleaning becomes a tool, a therapy to make ourselves feel organised, meaningful and at peace. Clearly, this act can help reduce stress hormones and release endorphins, which can lift the mood.
2. Many people, even after a stressful day, have a habit of cleaning and tidying their stu๏ฌ after reaching home or their living space. Psychologically, when emotions are overwhelming and stressful, our brain tries to do things which are tangible, grounding, and clarifying, which makes us feel more in control. These actions give the brain a sense of relief and stability, an escape in an otherwise uncontrollable world.
3. In the brain, activities like reorganising the bookshelf, arranging the o๏ฌce table, cleaning and tidying the home, folding clothes in the closets, cleaning the kitchen, washing the dishes, vacuuming the floor stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, the reward system, releasing dopamine, the happy hormone. These small acts instantly feel rewarding, light and happy. A tidy living space, home, or o๏ฌce gives the subconscious mind a feeling of security, stability, and organization.
4. Psychologically, on the flip side, a disorganised, messed-up space gives the mind a sense of cluttered thoughts, incoherence, ambiguity, confusion and anxiety. In an already stressful, loud world, you feel more overwhelmed, stressed, where things and people are unpredictable, uncertain and reactive. So, for a change, cleaning, organising, and rearranging makes people feel instantly happy, stable, predictable and certain.
5. Research shows that a cluttered, anxious, stressful mind raises the cortisol hormone. On the other hand, the environment we live in reflects our mental state. So, a messy, cluttered space clearly a๏ฌects our mental state. The subconscious mind feels confused, lacks clarity, and is incoherent in a disorganised space. So, rearranging the room, furniture, things, clothes, books gives an instant emotional high, certainty and sense of control. The truth is, cleaning isnโt about habit, itโs about emotional regulation, choosing to change the emotional responses of stress, anxiety, chaos to stability, calmness and clarity.
6. Emotional regulation, by definition, is the ability to regulate our emotional responses from a state of uncontrolled, overwhelming situation by making behavioural changes with a healthy coping mechanism to a state of emotional grounding, stability and a sense of control. Examples of emotional regulation are deep breathing, going for a walk, journaling, light exercise and doing tasks like rearranging the books, furniture, cleaning the kitchen, doing the dishes and so on. Itโs the ability to change a negative situationโs impact to a more productive and fulfilling one.
7. The strategies of emotional regulation can be summed up as :
โข Recognise: Identifying the emotions like anger, anxiety, ambiguity and incoherence.
โข Respond: instead of reacting negatively, changing the situationโs impact to a more productive, controlled and tangible behaviour like going for a short walk, rearranging the books on the shelf, cleaning the mess, folding clothes in the closet, cleaning or mopping the floor or any similar activity.
โข Reappraisal, like changing the emotional response to more rewarding outcomes like stability, calmness, sense of control and certainty.
โข Reflecting on the change of behaviour and situation gives deep satisfaction and happiness.
8. Activities like cleaning a room, realigning a corner, rearranging books, furniture, cleaning a countertop or mopping the floor are not just tidying or organising acts or behaviour but something more deeper as emotional relief or emotional satisfaction. Itโs about reconnecting oneself, bringing a sense of control, stability in a world of external chaos, a stressful day or an overwhelming situation. So, for many people, organising and cleaning their home or their living space becomes a daily emotional ritual and therapeutic.
9. People who keep doing such activities, while they keep performing the acts, they also process their emotions, release the stressful thoughts, anxiety, ease the confusion, bringing more clarity and stability. In fact, by doing such activities, as the visual clutter slowly fades away by physical actions, internally, the mental clutter slowly subsides, emotions and thoughts become more under control, and thinking becomes clearer and regulated.
10. To sum it up, in a world full of uncertainties and unpredictability, organising, rearranging, and cleaning gives an instant outcome which the brain interprets as safety or being under control. When a book or a thing is placed exactly where it belongs, refolding a dress and placing it back in the closet, cleaning the otherwise dirty countertop, itโs like reconnecting with oneself, which gives the subconscious mind that instant boost or reward of comfort, safety and stability in an external world of chaos or an uncontrolled environment.
We come here with nothing. Yet, throughout our entire lifetime, we keep chasing for everything. Then, finally, we go back with nothing. This is the biggest truth.
So, itโs important to pause awhile and be in the moment. Drop the regrets of the past, worries of the future and light up the present moment freely in true spirit.
May this festival of light, remove the darkness and spark the light of your inner self. May you merge with selfless love and blissfulness of the Divine.
Wishing all of you on this auspicious occasion of Diwali, let all your homes fill with abundance, warmth and joy and hearts filled with hope, love, peace and happiness.
To you and your loved ones, have a wonderful and blessed Diwali !
1. The gut is known as the โsecond brainโ as there is a 2 way connection between the brain and the gut via the vagus nerve. The gut microbiome produces neurotransmitters that can travel and send signals through the nervous system, a๏ฌecting our mood, behaviour, emotions, and sleep. The gut and brain also send signals through hormonal pathways and the immune system.Therefore, the gut-brain axis plays a crucial role in overall well-being, and any disruption to this axis can lead to issues such as disturbances in gut health, neurological disorders, inflammation, and sleep disturbances.
2. Through the gut-brain axis, there is a mutual continuous communication between the brain and the gut. The gut microbiome produces a considerable amount of neurotransmitters and hormones like melatonin, which influence the circadian rhythm and mood. Both the sleep cycle and gut microbiota are influenced by factors like daylight, stress and diet. Hence, if there is unhealthy gut microbiome, there will be disruption in the sleep-wake cycle, while poor sleep will lead to disturbances in the gut microbiota.
Gut microbes
3. Inflammation: Poor sleep can cause disturbances in gut health, which will lead to a pro-inflammatory state in the body. The gut microbiome composition and diversity are disrupted, creating an imbalance. Gut health issues like irritable bowel disorders, leaky gut, and hormonal issues can worsen in the body. Lack of sleep can also a๏ฌect gut permeability and lead to nutritional absorption interference. Not only gut health, but poor sleep can also a๏ฌect the metabolic pathways, immune state and neural pathways.
Gut microbiota
4. Research has shown that through the gut-brain axis, there is a bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system. Beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which increase serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid production, help in the quality and lengthening of sleep. On the other hand, lack of sleep can lead to a reduction of beneficial bacterial flora, an imbalance in the microbiota, which includes probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics.
5. Studies have revealed that sleep, a natural physiological process, is important in maintaining a healthy gut microbiota and vice versa. Poor sleep patterns, insomnia, and sleep deprivation not only influence the emotional and cognitive well-being but also cause an imbalance in gut bacteria and gut flora. Therefore, there is a direct connection between sleep disorders and gut health, and resolving gut issues has a therapeutic e๏ฌect.
6. The equilibrium of the sleep-wake cycle with the well-being of gut microbiota is very delicate and needs to be maintained by external factors. The balance can be easily disturbed by factors like stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, and poor sleep habits. Studies have shown that this reciprocal correlation shows sleep as the primary modulator between gut health issues and sleep length and quality.
7. Growing research has shown that the gut-brain axis plays a crucial role both directly and indirectly in the shift of composition of gut-microbiota with the development of sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep fragmentation, sleep deprivation and sleep apnea. Human studies have shown that 60-70% of the composition of gut microbiota depends on the oscillatory rhythm of the circadian rhythm.
8. Though Melatonin, a sleep hormone, is known to be produced by the pineal gland, it is actually the gut which is the primary source of it. This hormone is integral in modulating the sleep-wake cycle, immune-regulatory e๏ฌect and antioxidant activity. The gut microbiota produces melatonin from tryptophan. This hormone has a favourable e๏ฌect on microbial population and gut barrier functions. Therefore, any imbalance of gut microbiota directly influences melatonin production and disrupts the circadian rhythm.
9. Evidence from several studies has shown that a significant level of melatonin has been produced by bacteria in the intestinal flora, has a beneficial impact on intestinal barrier functions and a preventive e๏ฌect in the human brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimerโs disease and Parkinsonโs disease. Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been linked to the development of sleep disorders, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes, pro inflammatory responses and neurological disorders.
10. Therefore, there is enough evidence to show that consequences in digestive health have a direct impact on the sleep-wake cycle and vice versa. Research has clearly shown that sleep deprivation can directly impact digestive disorders like gastric esophageal reflux, irritable bowel disorders and many gut health issues. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule of 7-8 hours can help greatly in reducing the potential risk of many diseases as well as in maintaining a sound gut health. Not to forget that stress management is equally important for maintaining the equilibrium of gut health and sleep patterns. So, an early fiber rich dinner, less screen time, routine exercise, meditation and early sleep habits are essential components to maintain this balance.
Emotions are subjective yet universal among all humans. They significantly influence our daily lives, decision-making, behavior, relationships, psychological states, and physical health.
Our emotional thoughts arise from emotional reasoning in response to situations, people around us, events, and past experiences. Emotional responses trigger our thoughts, feelings, actions and behaviors in reaction to external events, situations, or circumstances. Thus, emotions play a crucial role in our everyday lives and the decisions, we make.
Research states that all things in the Universe are made of energy which has a vibrational frequency. Emotions too, have amplitude and frequencies. Positive emotions like peace, love, and joy are found to have higher frequencies as compared to negative emotions like anger, fear, guilt, and sadness. According to the frequency chart, emotions like guilt, and shame have as low a frequency of 30-20 Hz to emotions like love, peace have as high as 500-600 Hz. Studies often link low frequency to disease state, depression and stress. Negative thoughts and feelings can often create a low vibrational frequency state which can create anxiety, and stress and affect our physical health.
Studies have consistently shown that negative emotional thoughts and feelings can significantly affect our physical health and overall well-being. The importance of the mind-body connection and the gut-brain connection highlights how our physical body responds to our thoughts, feelings, and mental state.
While unwanted changes, negative experiences, and challenging situations are a part of life, learning to manage our emotional state and well-being is a significant challengeโbut it is certainly not impossible. Events such as:
Death of a loved one
Suffering from an illness
Getting laid off from a job
Divorced
Getting married, having a baby
Financial issues
Dealing with a pandemic or war-like situations
Cheating partners
Domestic violence
Physical health often suffers when emotional health is struggling. During times of emotional crisis, many individuals may seek an escape through unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol abuse, drug abuse, or binge eating, attempting to suppress their emotional turmoil. Unfortunately, this approach does not lead to healing and can result in disastrous consequences. The list of physical impacts and symptoms experienced in a state of emotional stress is extensive.
Physical symtoms frequently seen as:
Palpitation
Chest pain
Back pain, neck stiffness
Fatigue , tiredness
Poor sleep, insomnia
High blood pressure
weight loss / obesity
Stomach upset like bloating, acidity
Physical signs of our mental state can often be quite apparent. Additionally, there are mental symptoms that we or those around us may observe, even if we attempt to deny them. Here are several such signs:
*Resisting to acknowledge the thoughts instead of accepting
*Not self-realising and accepting the present situation
*Trying to control the situation or the people around
*Suppressing emotional thoughts and feelings instead of expressing
*Living in blame
*Focussing on lacks
*Forgetting gratitude
Dealing with emotional thoughts is not easy. It’s important to remember that while I cannot control external events or situations, I can influence my own mental state to cope and adapt positively. Here are five simple tools that can help bring about a positive shift in the mental state:
1.Self-Responsibility: Recognizing and taking responsibility for our mental state is crucial. Often, we create more pain and hurt from emotional thoughts and feelings by overthinking and getting caught in repetitive loops, rather than addressing the actual situation. It’s important to remember that 95 to 98 percent of our worries are self-created rather than based on reality. Only about 2 to 3 percent of our concerns are truly justified. Therefore, it’s essential to become aware of and take responsibility for our mental state, as this is the first step towards creating positive change.
2. Let go of control: We have to understand that we cannot control everything that happens in our lives. We have to let go and trust the Divine and timings of life. Letting go is important to heal and restore balance.
3.Journaling and practicing gratitude: Daily journaling can release deep thoughts that might otherwise feel heavy and hurtful. Practicing gratitude and maintaining a thankful mindset can elevate our vibrational frequency and promote healing.
4. Healing the Sacral Plexus Chakra: According to Yogic science, the sacral chakra is responsible for maintaining emotional balance, creativity, and a sense of vitality. To heal this chakra, engaging in yoga and physical activities such as dancing, swimming, and savoring life’s simple pleasuresโ like playing with a child, listening to birds chirping, or enjoying the sound of flowing waterโcan help release blockages.
5. Daily Affirmations: Choosing words and phrases that align with your life goals, such as mantras or sacred verses, can significantly enhance your positivity and resilience. Reciting these affirmations each morning can set a positive tone for the day. Some powerful examples include: โI trust the Universe,โ โI am strong and powerful,โ and โI let goโ โMy food nourishes my body and mindโ.
Every day, we experience a wide range of emotions based on external events, past memories, current situations, and various circumstances. It is essential for us to recognize our emotional limitations and boundaries in order to protect our mental well-being. One of the most important things we can do is to let go and trust the Supreme, the Divine, as not everything is within our control.
Self-reflection is crucial for restoring our emotional balance. Engaging in daily activities such as meditation, yoga, chanting, and appreciating the small joys in life holds great significance in achieving mental equilibrium. Finally, staying grateful and expressing our thankfulness for this journey of life is truly fulfilling.
3H:health,happiness,healing 