The 6 mindfulness steps I took to finally tame my over thinking monkey mind
Step 1 – I became aware of my unconscious thoughts.
Those thoughts running continuously just beneath the surface. That annoying voice in my head that DID NOT SHUT UP. I listened in, I held the thoughts up to the light.
At first this FELT like it made things worse.
I felt like there were more thoughts. More negative thoughts in particular. I wanted to shove them back down, but I persevered instead.
Just to be clear, the thoughts were ALWAYS there, I just wasn’t fully aware of them. They were definitely impacting my life.
I couldn’t manage what I didn’t acknowledge.
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Step 2 – I learnt that my thoughts are NOT ME
This is the most important step as far as I am concerned. This is the step that has been SO FREEING and life changing for me.
I am the blue sky
My thoughts and feelings are the weather
Temporary
Separate to me
NOT ME.
I don’t need to reason or rationalise with my negative thoughts any more.
I simply don’t take them so seriously.
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Step 3 – I became aware of my unconscious feelings.
This may sound weird to some .
Wasn’t I previously aware when I was sad, mad, scared etc??
I really wasn’t
My feelings were controlling my actions. Causing me to procrastinate , to avoid uncomfortable situations , to clam up instead of speaking up for myself. Yet I wasn’t even aware this was all happening .
I was running on auto pilot.
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–Step 4 – I learnt that I am not my feelings either
I am not sad (or mad, scared, angry, anxious etc).
I FEEL those things.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO DIFFERENTIATE.
Just like my thoughts, my feelings are separate to me.
Temporary.
I can feel them and let them pass through me. My feelings cannot damage me.
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Step 5 – I finally learnt to allow and accept all of my thoughts and feelings.
Knowing they are normal human behaviour and knowing they cant damage me. Actually let me clarify… I am still learning how to do this.
This is the hardest step for me. Hard, but SO WORTH IT .
I HAVE TO FEEL IT TO HEAL IT.
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–Step 6 – I practice grounding techniques + I spend more time in the present moment.
Instead of getting caught up in the future (to do list) or past. Doing this is like a mini re-boot for my over-thinking brain.
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Learning these MINDFULNESS skills has completely changed my life.
I call myself a recovering over thinker.
I am so passionate, that I became fully trained and qualified as a mindfulness coach. Now I teach others how to manage their minds so that they can also live their best life.
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