When Your Thoughts Feel Like a Battle, The Gita Explains How to Find Peace Within
Riya Kumari | May 20, 2025, 23:59 IST
So there I was—sitting on the bathroom floor in my “emotionally stable” hoodie, rethinking every life decision since 2016, wondering if I should quit everything and move to the mountains. Again. You know, classic Tuesday. My brain was doing that thing where it takes a minor inconvenience (read: unanswered text) and spirals it into a full-blown existential crisis.
Let’s be honest—most of us don’t need a grand spiritual awakening. We just want to stop overthinking everything.
To go to bed without replaying every conversation. To sit in silence without being attacked by our own mind. To feel calm when things are uncertain. To just… breathe without bracing for impact. And in those moments, we’re not looking for complicated philosophies. We’re looking for something that actually helps. That speaks to the everyday chaos inside our heads, and tells us—not in a loud voice, but a steady one—“You’re not crazy. You’re just human. And there’s a way through this.”
1. The Mind Is Loud. But You Are Not the Noise
“One who is not disturbed by happiness and distress, and is steady in both, becomes eligible for liberation.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.15
You know that feeling when everything looks fine on the outside—you're at work, talking to people, smiling even—but inside, it’s chaos? That’s not weakness. That’s what the Gita calls the restless mind—constantly swinging between past regrets and future worries. But here’s what it teaches: you are not your thoughts. You are the one watching them.
You’re not the storm. You’re the sky. And when you remember that, even for a moment, you create space. Space between you and the panic. You don’t have to fight the thoughts—you just stop clinging to them. Next time your mind spirals, ask: “Is this thought helping me or hurting me?” Then, don’t argue with it. Let it pass. Like clouds. You’re still the sky.
2. Do What You Can. Let Go of What You Can’t
“You have the right to perform your actions, but not the fruits thereof.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.47We’re obsessed with outcomes. We want control. Guarantees. Closure. But the truth? We’re not in charge of how everything turns out. The Gita tells us: focus on the action, not the result. Not because results don’t matter. But because chasing them steals your peace. Do your best, with honesty and attention—and then let it go.
That’s not passivity. That’s wisdom. You’re not a machine. You’re a human. You’re not here to be perfect. You’re here to be present. Replace “What if this fails?” with “What’s the next best step I can take today?” That’s how real progress (and peace) happens—one grounded step at a time.
3. You’re Not Failing. You’re Just Learning What Doesn’t Work
“Even a little effort on this path protects one from great fear.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.40
Maybe you tried meditating, and gave up after two minutes. Maybe you tried therapy, journaling, quitting a habit—and you slipped back. That’s okay. The Gita doesn’t promise perfection. It promises progress. Even a small step taken sincerely, even one moment of clarity, counts.
Because this path—the path to inner peace—is not a race. It’s not about speed. It’s about sincerity. And every time you choose awareness over reaction, you’re winning—even if nobody claps for you. Don’t aim for a perfect life. Aim for a little more self-awareness every day. That’s real growth.
4. Pain Is Inevitable. Suffering Is Optional
“The wise do not grieve for the living or the dead.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.11
We’re all going to lose things—relationships, health, opportunities, people we love. Life doesn’t spare anyone. But suffering—the mental resistance to what’s already happened—is where we get stuck. We ask: Why me? The Gita gently replies: Why not you? Everyone goes through pain. The question is—will you let it define you?
Acceptance isn’t giving up. It’s stopping the fight against reality, so you can finally breathe again. Ask yourself: “What am I clinging to that’s already gone?” Then, say goodbye. Even silently. That’s how healing starts.
5. Your Peace Doesn’t Depend on Other People
“A person whose happiness is within, who is active within, and who rejoices within... such a person is truly free.”
— Bhagavad Gita 5.24 We all think: When they understand me, I’ll feel better. When they treat me right, I’ll be okay. When things change, I’ll be at peace. But the Gita flips that on its head. It says: Peace begins when you stop outsourcing your inner world to the outer one.
You don’t need perfect people or perfect conditions to feel whole. You just need to return to yourself—again and again. Because the person you’ve been waiting for to make it all better? It’s you. Close your eyes. Breathe. Say: “In this moment, nothing is missing.” Say it until you believe it. Say it even if you don’t. Because peace is a practice. Not a prize.
Final Thought:
The Gita doesn’t ask you to become someone else. It asks you to remember who you were before the world made you forget. Not a perfect person. Not a detached monk. Just someone who shows up—with awareness. With intention. With love. Because peace isn’t the absence of problems. It’s the presence of clarity in the middle of them.
And when you really understand that, not just in your head but in your bones—something inside you finally, quietly, relaxes. Not because life got easier. But because you did.
To go to bed without replaying every conversation. To sit in silence without being attacked by our own mind. To feel calm when things are uncertain. To just… breathe without bracing for impact. And in those moments, we’re not looking for complicated philosophies. We’re looking for something that actually helps. That speaks to the everyday chaos inside our heads, and tells us—not in a loud voice, but a steady one—“You’re not crazy. You’re just human. And there’s a way through this.”
1. The Mind Is Loud. But You Are Not the Noise
Witness
( Image credit : Pexels )
“One who is not disturbed by happiness and distress, and is steady in both, becomes eligible for liberation.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.15
You know that feeling when everything looks fine on the outside—you're at work, talking to people, smiling even—but inside, it’s chaos? That’s not weakness. That’s what the Gita calls the restless mind—constantly swinging between past regrets and future worries. But here’s what it teaches: you are not your thoughts. You are the one watching them.
You’re not the storm. You’re the sky. And when you remember that, even for a moment, you create space. Space between you and the panic. You don’t have to fight the thoughts—you just stop clinging to them. Next time your mind spirals, ask: “Is this thought helping me or hurting me?” Then, don’t argue with it. Let it pass. Like clouds. You’re still the sky.
2. Do What You Can. Let Go of What You Can’t
Pray
( Image credit : Pexels )
“You have the right to perform your actions, but not the fruits thereof.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.47We’re obsessed with outcomes. We want control. Guarantees. Closure. But the truth? We’re not in charge of how everything turns out. The Gita tells us: focus on the action, not the result. Not because results don’t matter. But because chasing them steals your peace. Do your best, with honesty and attention—and then let it go.
That’s not passivity. That’s wisdom. You’re not a machine. You’re a human. You’re not here to be perfect. You’re here to be present. Replace “What if this fails?” with “What’s the next best step I can take today?” That’s how real progress (and peace) happens—one grounded step at a time.
3. You’re Not Failing. You’re Just Learning What Doesn’t Work
Smile
( Image credit : Pexels )
“Even a little effort on this path protects one from great fear.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.40
Maybe you tried meditating, and gave up after two minutes. Maybe you tried therapy, journaling, quitting a habit—and you slipped back. That’s okay. The Gita doesn’t promise perfection. It promises progress. Even a small step taken sincerely, even one moment of clarity, counts.
Because this path—the path to inner peace—is not a race. It’s not about speed. It’s about sincerity. And every time you choose awareness over reaction, you’re winning—even if nobody claps for you. Don’t aim for a perfect life. Aim for a little more self-awareness every day. That’s real growth.
4. Pain Is Inevitable. Suffering Is Optional
Cry
( Image credit : Pexels )
“The wise do not grieve for the living or the dead.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.11
We’re all going to lose things—relationships, health, opportunities, people we love. Life doesn’t spare anyone. But suffering—the mental resistance to what’s already happened—is where we get stuck. We ask: Why me? The Gita gently replies: Why not you? Everyone goes through pain. The question is—will you let it define you?
Acceptance isn’t giving up. It’s stopping the fight against reality, so you can finally breathe again. Ask yourself: “What am I clinging to that’s already gone?” Then, say goodbye. Even silently. That’s how healing starts.
5. Your Peace Doesn’t Depend on Other People
Hug
( Image credit : Pexels )
“A person whose happiness is within, who is active within, and who rejoices within... such a person is truly free.”
— Bhagavad Gita 5.24 We all think: When they understand me, I’ll feel better. When they treat me right, I’ll be okay. When things change, I’ll be at peace. But the Gita flips that on its head. It says: Peace begins when you stop outsourcing your inner world to the outer one.
You don’t need perfect people or perfect conditions to feel whole. You just need to return to yourself—again and again. Because the person you’ve been waiting for to make it all better? It’s you. Close your eyes. Breathe. Say: “In this moment, nothing is missing.” Say it until you believe it. Say it even if you don’t. Because peace is a practice. Not a prize.
Final Thought:
And when you really understand that, not just in your head but in your bones—something inside you finally, quietly, relaxes. Not because life got easier. But because you did.