How to Harness The Wandering Mind

How many times have you found that your mind wanders, as if it has a journey all of its own?  By the time you realize it, you’ve missed precious, real time moments never mind what was being said or what we were trying to read, watch etc.  Sometimes we are so lost in thought about the past or the future and we miss out on the present – the only time that really matters.

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles…but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly,”  Buddha.

But how do we harness this? How do we control our thoughts and bring them back into focus quickly, easily and gently?

There are a few things, fortunately, that really can help us.  They are:

1. Put a light around your thoughts – from the point that you realize your mind has wandered, visualize a ring of light around your thoughts and follow it back to the deep recesses of your mind where it originated.  After doing this several times, you will experience a gentle settling of the mind.
2. Get your thoughts out on paper:  Journal your thoughts.  This way they won’t be tempted to come and lead you astray once again.  It is like giving them a home.  You will receive so many other benefits from journaling as well, not the least of which is creative inspiration, also considered the best use of one’s mind.
3. Practice some form of meditation:  even if it is only for 10 minutes a day.  Your mind will not only get used to this quiet time but you will also experience a craving for the peace and rejuvenation that you will experience as a result.  If you are truly too busy to sit and do a focused meditation on a daily basis then at least mix it up with various forms of mediation in motion, as I like to call them.  This can be accomplished when you are exercising, simply walking, gardening, cooking or any activity that you find pleasing and can go inwards with. 
4. Treat your thoughts as you would a best friend:  when they wander, bring them back by talking to them lovingly and redirecting them on what is happening in the present.  This will develop a muscle that helps to keep the mind from wandering in the first place.  If you are finding your thoughts to be negative and limiting in their nature then this is the ideal way to replace it with more positive life affirming thoughts.   It is important to not judge or criticize yourself when this happens but rather simply strive to refocus.  Eventually, your mind will be your ally.

Harnessing the mind is very important to our living in the present and getting the most out of our life.  With practice it gets to be very easy and you experience a remarkable difference in the nature of your thoughts and in what you attract to yourself as a result. We are all born to live the best life that we can possibly imagine so allow your mind to have its focused imagination and create the beautiful journey that you deserve.

| | | | | |