Breaking Free from the Mind's Hold

A Personal Reflection

Lately, I’ve been exploring a deep-seated addiction—one that may sound surprising. It’s not to anything external but to my own mind. I think this might be the most pervasive addiction; there is the habit of identifying so completely with the voices in our heads that we forget who we really are. The irony is, most of us go through life completely unaware of this attachment, unconsciously pulled by it in every decision and interaction.

Dr. Gabor Maté discusses how we’re often drawn to external things—food, substances, relationships—thinking they’ll fill an inner emptiness. But none of these really satisfy us because they aren’t what we’re truly seeking. When we turn the spotlight inward, it becomes clear that perhaps the deepest addiction we carry is to our personal mind—the ego we’ve spent a lifetime crafting and nurturing.

It’s tricky, though. These thoughts in my head feel so personal. They say things like, “You need more success, a better routine, a fitter body,” or whatever today’s concern might be. But I know these voices aren’t the true me; they’re echoes of experiences, ideas, and impressions I’ve gathered over time. And we’ve all gathered plenty! Identifying so deeply with these voices means letting them control our perceptions, even fooling us into thinking the world has to bend to our preferences to be “okay.” Yet, if we’re honest, the world is; it unfolds without needing our input. To demand it aligns with our fleeting moods is almost laughable—and a sure sign of the addictive mind at work.

Practicing Presence

It’s taken consistent practice to notice when the mind’s demands hook me. I try to live in witness consciousness, observing my thoughts instead of immediately identifying. This practice of “witnessing” is intense; the mind is powerful, and it’s easy to slip back into its web. But I’m learning that real freedom lies in seeing myself not as my thoughts, but as the awareness that observes them.

For me, simple daily practices help anchor this awareness. Passing through a doorway, I take a second to reset. Each door is like a small portal—a reminder that I’m here, in this moment, not in the mind’s endless chatter. Every doorway is a chance to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the awareness that is my true self.

Returning to What Matters

This isn’t a quick fix. It’s a daily practice, sometimes a moment-by-moment effort. As Osho beautifully put it, “Surrendering transforms you. It is putting your ego aside, unburdening yourself, living for the first time not out of the past but moving into the present, fresh and young, unburdened.” There’s something liberating about remembering that we’re not chained to the mind’s narratives or demands.

Every day, I’m a bit newer, a bit more aware than yesterday. I still feel the pull of old patterns, but I’m learning to watch them, knowing I am more than this personal mind. When I remember this, I feel lighter and more at ease. It’s a practice of allowing life to unfold, not needing it to be any particular way, and I’ve found that this simple act of letting go brings more peace than the mind ever promised.

Thanks for reading and being on this journey with me. Here’s to staying present and witnessing ourselves in every unfolding moment.