Mental Barriers or the Inability to Unplug on Vacation

The vacations promise rest, disconnection and a lighter version of ourselves. However, there is something that never disconnects completely in our mind. We change scenery, but we do not change our thoughts. And there lies part of the problem. “As the mind always goes with us, if the mind is not well, wherever we are we will be slaves of our mind,” warns yoga master and disseminator Ramiro Calle, a pioneer in teaching this discipline in Spain and author of A Good Mind (Integral RBA).

According to Calle, considered one of the greatest European orientalists, our experience of reality is mediated by what he calls the veils of the mind or mental muslins. It is, he explains, filters that distort what we perceive and push us to react automatically, in an exaggerated or unnecessary way.

The opposite of the strategies for learning to concentrate that the writer teaches. On vacation, when we are supposed to release tensions, these veils can become even more evident.

Thinking Nonstop, the Root of the Problem

«It is in the nature of the mind to think, as in the nature of fire to burn», Calle explains. But the conflict is not thinking, but not knowing when to stop. Instead of inhabiting the moment, whether a meal by the sea or a walk in the mountains, the mind jumps to the past or the future, relives conflicts or anticipates problems. The result: we remain trapped in the same mental tangle, even if we are in paradise.

Paradoxically, free time can amplify these veils. Without the distractions of daily life, the mind has more space to daydream. Moreover, elevated expectations, the typical idea you tell yourself that you should be happy, generates more pressure, since the contrast between what is expected and what is real triggers frustration, comparison and self-criticism. It is then that the veils become more visible.

How to Remove the Veils

Ramiro Calle proposes simple yet deep tools to train the mind. The first is «perform a daily meditation, since this regular practice is fundamental», Calle asserts. It is not about keeping the mind blank, but about observing it without identifying with it. In addition, one must practice mindful attention in what one does, whether eating, walking or conversing. «When you have to live, live,» he summarizes.

We must also exercise self-watchfulness. That is, observe thoughts and reactions without judging, but with the intention to correct them. Accept both the pleasant and the uncomfortable without falling into emotional extremes and simplifying. To do this, it is necessary to reduce stimuli, expectations and demands. «The less mental noise, the more clarity», he notes. Liberating yourself from the veils does not mean eliminating thoughts or emotions, but learning to relate to them in a more conscious way, to stop being slaves to our own mind.

The 7 Veils of the Mind

Calle identifies seven main veils that condition our perception and behavior. Understanding them is the first step to deactivate them.

1. Egocentrism. This is, according to the expert, «the most active veil today». It manifests as a constant need for recognition, comparison and protagonism. On vacation, it can translate into a obsession with social networks or frustration if the experience does not meet idealized expectations. The symptoms are a need for validation and irritation if something does not go perfectly. To manage it, one must practice humility and detachment from the outcome.
2. Memory. Not all memory is useful, Calle emphasizes. And he adds that «there is no point in blaming oneself or feeling guilty about it.» The important thing is to understand that clinging to the past can sabotage your present. If you are under this veil, you will notice recurrent thoughts of guilt or nostalgia. To face it, you must learn from the past without getting stuck in it.
3. Uncontrolled imagination. This can be creative, but also destructive. Anticipating problems or recreating negative scenarios generates unnecessary anxiety. If it happens to you, you notice a constant anticipation of negative situations. To avoid it, you can direct the imagination toward creativity or well-being.
4. Automatic interpretation. We live interpreting everything: looks, silences, messages. But often we project more than what actually happens. «We do not see what is, but what we want or fear to see», Calle explains. It tends to lead to frequent misunderstandings and to make assumptions without evidence. As an antidote, one should question thoughts and seek clarity before reacting.
5. Emotional reactivity. It is the impulse to respond without reflection. On vacation, this can erupt in arguments over minor details. To manage it, focus on «attention and equanimity», the master insists. He also recommends taking a pause before reacting. And use two other tools, «calmness and lucidity».
6. Craving or attachment. Another veil most frequent in our society, according to Calle, consists in the constant desire for more, whether experiences, pleasure or validation. But beware, this impulse generates permanent dissatisfaction. «We are trapped in the closed circuit of attachment and aversion. Attachment causes dependence, addiction, clinging and enslavement. Aversion creates rejection, hatred, anger and resentment, as well as frustration», he states. Whoever feels it notes an incapacity even to enjoy what one already has. To avoid it, the most advisable is to cultivate gratitude and moderation. «One should gradually modify, through self-work, mental attitudes and exaggerated reactions», he suggests. It is also wise to practice detachment as the master teaches.
7. Aversion. The rejection of what we do not like. It may seem opposite to attachment, but both form the same emotional circuit. With aversion you feel constant irritability and a strong, generalized rejection. To exit this veil, you must accept what cannot be controlled, the uncertainty.