We are more stimulated than ever before. From the moment we open our eyes until our head hits the pillow, our minds our racing around the infinite possibilities of our days. If we don't make a conscious effort to clear the mind, we risk going into overdrive. Here are some ways to make your mind a great place to be.
Set time limits on your devices.
Setting time limits to when you are digesting external stimuli such as taking phone calls, surfing the WWW or even having your devices online can make a world of difference. We love this mp3 player that we loaded up with meditations, music & subliminals for the morning. It has no Bluetooth and can be paired with a portable speaker or used with headphones.
Emotional Freedom Technique.
EFT/Tapping is a technique used to help manage emotions, release self-limiting beliefs as well as integrate trauma. EFT can also be used to regulate the nervous system and reduce stress & anxiety. To practice EFT, tap your fingertips on certain acupressure points on your hand, head, and torso. You can create a custom statement to recite as you tap on those points or follow along a guided tapping session.
Take a forest bath.
In the 1980's, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries created the term shinrin-yoku which means “forest bathing” or “absorbing the forest atmosphere.” The practice involves simply spending time in nature. In today's overly stimulated world, the benefits of spending time alone in silence are vastly overlooked. Make room for awe. In his book, Dr. Dacher Keltner, a psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, writes that awe is critical to our well-being — just like joy, contentment and love.
"Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your understanding of the world."
- Dr. Dacher Keltner
Practice mindful movement
Yoga is one of the greatest technologies of our lifetimes. It has been practiced for centuries to regulate the nervous system, bring the mind to the present moment and achieve Ekagrata. Ekagrata is the ability to turn off all the little distractions that infiltrate your mind in order to reach a state of focused attention. To ancient yogis, the human body without yoga is like an unbaked clay pot. Regular yoga practice is the kiln that strengthens the body and makes it resilient to everyday wear & tear.
Practice being a neutral observer
It may not always seem like it but what we need to recalibrate our energy centers and make our inner world a sanctuary is readily available to us. Being a neutral observer means neither holding too tightly to a feeling or the outcome of a situation nor suppressing or invalidating an emotion/ experience. Finding the happy medium between detachment and overattachment. Utilize the breath as a buffer before action to process what you're feeling and move from an intentional space. Above all, be kind and gentle with yourself as you do this inner work. Move slowly.
The mind exists to serve the desires of the heart. An overly stimulated mind serves the ego & the programming of the world.
