Mindset Matters!

by Shareeza SS Faruqui

If you have attended one of Datin Sue’s yoga classes at Maya Yoga Samudraa, there would be a big chance that you would have been the recipient of a lecture on the mind and its powers! Datin Sue firmly stresses to one and all the importance of positivism and having the correct mindset. There is truth in the adage “Where the mind has gone the body shall follow!”

We’ve all heard of the term “mind over matter”, and I’m sure many of us have read the book “The Power of the Subconscious Mind”. Both speak of the powerful tool that the mind is. However, I’m not going to go into definitions and scientific terminology here. If definitions are required, that’s what Google is for! This article would be more of a personal account stemming from observations and personal experiences pertaining to the power of the mind.

I have been for a number of years trying to live on a more positive plane. The ride has been bumpy at best, but tolerable. It was only in 2009 when given the opportunity to put all this positivism and correct mindset to the test. Yes, I always seem to be putting all that I’ve learnt to the test! But then again if I don’t, how do I know that what I learnt is correct! Anyway, let’s get back to the subject of this article. After several personal experiences, I have come to firmly believe in the power of positivism and the correct mindset. Let me relate these experiences to you.

Experience #1:

In June 2009, much to my joy, I found out that I was pregnant after YEARS of trying. After the excitement, my thoughts immediately went to the birthing process. In delivering my first child, I was in labour for 6 hours and received 3 painkiller injections, once during the 1st stage of labour and twice during the 3rd stage of labour. I always thought that 3 painkiller shots were one too many. For this pregnancy, I wanted 2 things. First, I wanted to reduce my dependency on painkillers and secondly, I wanted to cut my labour by half! I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking I’m probably mental to want to control my delivery. On a different day, I would have agreed with you, but I was eager to see if all this positivism and correct mindset mumbo-jumbo works!

From day one of my pregnancy I kept this mantra in my head and repeated it over and over. The 1st was “I will have a quick labour” and the 2nd was “I will have a pain-free delivery”. It was decided that my second pregnancy will also be induced because of the reducing amount of amniotic fluid. I insisted on having a natural birth.

On the delivery day, I woke up bright and early, sent my elder son to school and it was off to the hospital to have my second baby. By 8am they had completed all the induction procedures and I was good to go. I felt the 1st contraction 15 minutes later at 8.15am. As time went by, the contractions got stronger and stronger. However, I was comfortable experiencing each contraction. I remember the nurses would come into the delivery suite and ask me if I’m ok and if I needed any painkillers. I turned them down. After a while, they kept coming in every 15 mins to check on me, each time asking if I wanted a painkiller shot. One nurse even looked at my husband for confirmation! By 10.30am I felt the pushing contraction. At this point I called for the nurse to tell her I felt the need to push. Here, I requested for a painkiller shot, not so much to numb the pain but to let me be able to conserve energy for the work that was too come. And it was hard work. I was in the final stage of labour for 30 mins. According to the nurses, my baby had a big head and wasn’t getting past the bone. I remember at this point I was very frustrated and tired. However, once the head was out, it was a breeze!

Wow! Writing about this is really taking me back to the day. Although, the last stage of labour was more difficult than that of my first child. This labour was a breeze. I actually achieved what I had set in my mind for this delivery. The labour was relatively pain-free. It was very tolerable. I took only 1 painkiller shot and I was done in 3 hours.

Experience #2

My older boy, Mirza sat for his public exams on 21 Sept 2010. A month prior to his exams, he had gone to see his Amama (Grand Ma), Datin Sue and asked her to help him with some breathing exercises for his exam. He asked her to help teach him some yogic techniques that would help him in his concentration and focus for the coming exams.

Amama readily taught him several yogic techniques to help him prepare for his exams. All I know is that these techniques involves some meditation, positivism and having the correct mindset. I’m sorry, even I’m not privy to the specifics of these techniques.
After 1 week of practise, Mirza comes home thrilled! He was in the middle of his UPSR (that’s the public exam he’s sitting for) trial exams. He shows me his Science Paper and his grade had improved by 25 marks, effectively giving him an A for the paper.

On the day of his exams, I was amazed at how calm and collected he was. On the way to school he told me “Mama, I’m going to kick this exam in it’s a%$!” I was more of a basket-case than he was! His exams are over and all we have to do is to wait and see how he did in his exams. I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

Having the correct mindset is so important in everyday life. Even when I’m doing yoga to lose weight, Datin Sue tells me to have the correct mindset. She says “Tell yourself you’re going to burn that fat”. Having the correct mindset is also about being aware of what you do. It is this awareness that makes a difference. When you do something with awareness, the results manifest themselves quicker and last longer.

In conclusion, having the correct mindset and positive attitude is crucial. It gives you wings and lets you fly!