How is Your Psyche Similar to a Snail? What is on the Mind, Help for the Mind, Body and Soul

The Snail's Sixth Sense

Have you ever tried touching a snail? Did you notice how it instantly curls up within itself, and stuffs itself into its shell? That's because a snail is extremely sensitive. So sensitive that it builds a shell that's sometimes heavier than its own body, and lugs it around its entire life just so it can have its shell handy when it thinks it needs to hide. It's a survival instinct. In this article, I'll talk about how and why humans build similar shells around themselves, how we can learn to shed them, and how we can all learn to become a little bit closer to becoming a Sthithaprajna. A Sthithaprajna, in the Bhagavad Gita, is described as a person who has the emotional stability not shaken by adversity, situational stability of steady wisdom, perfect self-control over turbulent senses, a tranquility free from attachments, and a oneness with the universe.

The Human Survival Instinct

Before we get to becoming a Sthithaprajna, we need to understand how we developed our survival instincts. Thousands of years ago, humans had to survive against all elements just as animals did. However, over the past few centuries we have evolved into highly civilized beings who don't have to defend ourselves against predators any longer. So our protective instincts have adapted to defend psychological threats, rather than physiological threats. In our day to day lives now, we defend ourselves against perceived threats to our psyche. When someone makes a snide comment, or when we get bypassed during this year's promotions, we're not really in any danger, but our heart reacts the same way as a snail reacts to a finger touching it; it closes up.

How to Shed our Shells

Living with our shells leaves us no room for sponteneity, joy, or inspiration. If we want to spiritually evolve we should be willing to expose ourselves to sunshine and rain, calm and storm, happiness and hurt. The way you shed your shell is to look at each experience as an opportunity - not to hide, but to open up. For example, on your weekly call to your mom, when she brings up the same grievances as always, rather than let your mind go off on its thought-spree of resentment, anger, and helplessness, take a step back and watch with your awareness. Don't identify with the mind - simply watch it. The more detached you become from your mind, the stronger your awareness becomes. The more you develop this awareness, the more of a Sthithaprajna you become - one who is unafraid, who can let anything roll off her back, even without a shell!