Humans hold an emotional and physical presence, constantly evolving as we experiment and engage with different routines, activities and habits. This process merits continual growth, which can become difficult to manage and even more challenging to control.

As we throw ourselves into new environments, surround ourselves with new people and pursue new interests, it can feel as if we are consumed by these external factors rather than grounded in the beauty of each experience. We put too much pressure on ourselves, constantly thinking about the next task we have to conquer in a day, month or year. Many of us don’t even realize that when we live our lives this way, we let most of it pass us by.

Michael A. Singer dedicated part of his life to learning how to experience and share ways of achieving inner peace. Singer focused primarily on yoga and meditation, teaching for five decades at a temple he founded for people of all backgrounds and beliefs to enjoy. He continued to write “The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself” in 2007 after years of engaging in these practices.

After reading this book, I have decided to highlight some of Singer’s major points to give you a sneak peek into this beautiful piece of literature, while leaving the rest for your own enjoyment.

Singer opens his novel by putting into perspective how often we let the voice in our heads control our lives, talking to ourselves through every moment of the day — even the most mundane. This voice becomes more persistent the more we listen to it. It becomes a protective mechanism, a form of defense against the uncontrollable feeling of the outside world. The voice acts as a mediator between what you see and feel because “reality is just too real for most of us.”

Maybe you have a busy day and you can’t stop thinking about your lack of free time or the overwhelming amount of work you have to do. You feel dread every step of the way as the voice worries about and fixates on every little thing. Now ask yourself, did anything change just because you ruminated on the negatives all day? Do you feel rejuvenated, satisfied?

The answer is probably no. Singer points out that the only way to escape this voice is “by constantly remembering that you are the one inside that notices the voice talking.”

You have control over this voice. As Singer phrases it, “your will is stronger than the habit of listening to that voice.” All you have to do is recognize the parts of you that need protection and surpass them by taking control away from the voice. This will naturally occur when you shift your awareness to what the voice is saying. You strip it of its power simply by viewing the voice not as a piece of you, but rather like an “inner roommate,” whose advice you take with a grain of salt.

Singer’s next main point explores how difficult it is to define who we are. We can trivially define ourselves as an aspect of a role we play — a sister, a brother, a friend — but, deep down, we know we are much more than that. You are not what has happened to you or what you have accomplished. You are simply the one who is aware of these things.

When you recognize that you are in this seat of consciousness, you will realize that this is where you control your quality of life most effectively.

Singer defines our hearts as an energy center — one that is, frankly, too often ignored. If you pay attention, you will start to recognize patterns in what causes your heart to open and close.

Often, we close our hearts to keep negative energy out. Some people have so much fear and anxiety built up inside their hearts that when something triggers those emotions, they don’t know what to do other than to keep closing, digging themselves further and further into a hole.

When I first read this book, I took Singer’s advice and started to recognize how often I opened and closed my heart throughout the day. Our heart exerts immense control over us, acting as a portal into our deepest feelings. Sometimes, the day doesn’t go how we want. You will feel yourself close up, partly out of hurt and partly just trying to survive.

But this is where our minds have failed us. This is where you are hurting yourself more than you are helping yourself. In these moments, maybe you are protecting yourself against feeling rejection or anger, but you are also stopping yourself from feeling enjoyment and excitement.

Singer puts it simply: “You can either close because you don’t like what happened, or you can keep feeling love and enthusiasm by not closing.” Nothing is worth the cost of closing yourself off to the beauty of each day.

When something happens that makes you feel closed off, you have to accept it and let it go. Rather than allowing loneliness, frustration or discontent to dwell in your heart, just recognize that you simply don’t, nor ever will, have control over some things in life. Bringing awareness to and recognizing this part of yourself that fears the uncontrollable or the unexpected is the only way to let go of those feelings to move past them.

By not allowing these negative energy patterns to control your life, you give yourself the best gift of all — unending openness. You will experience all of the energy that the heart has to offer. Singer explains that this energy “inspires you and raises you. It is the strength that carries you through life. It is the beautiful experience of love that pours through your whole being” and it “is the natural state of a healthy heart.”

Don’t doubt your ability to experience life to the fullest. No matter the goals, values, beliefs or ideals you hold, we are all capable of appreciating life in this way. When you keep a fence up around your heart, you attempt to control life in a way that humans have never been able to control in the first place.

Once you begin to pay attention to these habits, you will realize that you don’t need protection. You simply need to watch, experience, let go of and enjoy all that comes your way. You will recognize the power of forgiving, smiling, laughing and the possibilities for who you can become will feel endless.

Myah Meunier is a freshman majoring in English. 

Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the staff editorial.