Thoughts Won't Stop

Today we’re revisiting a newsletter from several years ago that is as relevant now as it was then; perhaps more so. At the time, these words were inspired by a friend in an airport experiencing overwhelming thoughts. Although many of us aren’t doing much traveling now, many more of us are experiencing anxiety nowadays. I hope you find this meditation on how to respond to overwhelming thoughts a helpful reminder in our current times. 

1. Breathe. 

2. This is a good time to practice compassion: 

A. Compassion for yourself. We all do so much, we receive so much and we give so much. All of it good, though more often than not it doesn’t seem so in the moment. When it’s quiet it seems like everything that we’ve needed to process hits us all at once. There’s no queue and no order so endeavor to be easy with yourself. 

B. Compassion for everyone else. I’m not saying that we as individuals are not unique but there are some things that are part of the human condition whether you wish to participate in life or not. This may be a good time to note that you are by no means alone in your situation. We all unfortunately have these moments where we are overwhelmed by the content of our very minds: thoughts. 

3. Breathe. Repetition is good for the soul.  Know you are not alone. Know that this moment will pass, the next one will come and the last moment will pass so all we really have is this moment as it’s happening.  Thoughts in your mind don’t have to be followed down their rabbit hole.  They can just pass through.  The choice is up to you.

4. We do, in fact, need to process so much of what happens to us.  We steal moments of just being from ourselves when we stay connected to devices all the time; occupying ourselves versus noticing how we’re feeling or what we’re thinking or what’s actually happening around us.  Just being are the moments where we can contemplate whatever it is we need to contemplate whether it's the silence or cacophony of thoughts.  New ideas are born in the moments of being.  Being is the time when we revitalize ourselves.  If you keep circling back to the same thoughts, what is the message in them you need to learn?  Give yourself time for revelation. Give yourself a break. 

5. Breathe.  Notice your breath; notice how your breath feels in your body; notice how the act of paying attention to your breath alone will change so much; can change so much.  It is what brings us back to now.  Give yourself space and time to process.  Be Here Now.

Mahalo