I’ve got a confession to make, when I get a new appliance - like my new espresso machine last week – I immediately tear the box open, fit the pieces together, plug it in and get going. Two days in, when I can’t find how to make it produce hot water I find myself stuck! I've puzzled, poked and tried every button I can think of - but still no hot water. Here’s where I (somewhat reluctantly) turn to the manual to find out how it actually works.

I’ve found it pretty useful in life to similarly have a manual to reach for when I'm stuck in my own head.

When I’m caught up, stuck or my thoughts are spiralling out of control, it's hugely valuable to have a 'manual for the mind' to bring me back to earth. We aren't issued with a manual for ourselves at birth, but we have realised that we can attempt to describe how the mind works in order to create a simple user guide.

And, unlike many user guides, this one is simple, easy to 'read' and transformative to have on hand. We've seen that its helpful to revisit it from time to time to remind yourself and spot any unhelpful habits you've developed.

One way of summarising the basics is 3 simple foundations that are true for everyone.

1. Every human has an intelligence built in to the system that enables us to handle anything that happens in life. For example, there always has been and will be a next step that occurs to us to take to move us forward.

2. The mind only works one way: Inside-->out. This is true all of the time, but doesn't look like it. For example, we can only experience the past and the future by thinking about them. And our thinking isn't necessarily a reflection of reality.

3. Everyone has the superpower to realise. To have a fresh thought, at any time, that transforms how we see the world. For example, if we look for an insight, rather than thinking harder, we are more likely to get unstuck and be able to move on more easily.

4. *Extra* almost everything works better if you switch it off and on again. This is true for the coffee machine, and you.

If we understand these basics, we tend to be able to use our minds with more ease and less struggle.

Reflection

Having a manual for the mind is a way out of confusion. It's a direction to look in when we don't know what to do. It takes the responsibility off of us and helps us use all of the facets and capabilities of our amazing equipment (in this instance our minds) - which in my experience solves 99.9% of the issues we think we are up against.

If you haven't looked in the manual for a while, you might notice something you hadn't before - we always do!