A Million Thoughts

I recently arrived at work one morning and didn’t remember the drive there.

And I was the driver!

My 35 minute drive to work is routine for me. I leave at the same time. I drop the kids off. I listen to the traffic report. I eat the same breakfast, finishing it before I get on the highway. Then I start drinking my coffee. I take the same route. I park in the same spot in the parking garage.

This is when I usually realize I don’t remember anything about the drive.

I was going through the motions of life. I wasn’t aware of life. I was on autopilot.

I was stuck in the million thoughts running through my mind. I was being mindless. I was caught up in thoughts that prevented me from being in the present moment.

When you have a million thoughts, you body is in one place and your mind is in another. They are out of sync with each other.

When your mind and body are in sync, you are more aware of life. You also:

• Have less stressed
• Have less anxiety
• Communicate better
• Are more focused
• Listen better
• Are able to solve problems
• Perform better
• Sleep better
• Stop your thoughts from controlling you

You can improve your ability to be more aware of life. This helps you to get less stuck in your thoughts. To be more mindful:

• Smile
• Take a deep breath and feel it go in and out of your nose
• Notice when your mind is replaying the past or worrying about the future. Then pull it back into the present.
• Listen to the sounds of nature
• Feel the water on you in the shower
• Walk barefoot
• Smell the food you’re about to eat
• Put your fork down between bites so you can chew your food slowly
• If a negative thought enters your mind, name it as such and let it go
• Feel your emotions - sad, angry, happy, hurt, disappointed and name it. Then then let it go.
• Accept the things you can’t change
• Delay your reaction and take a deep breath before you speak
• Do one thing at a time
• Actively listen when someone is talking
• Watch the sunrise/set
• Eat a meal without checking your phone

Practice any one of the tips above. It’ll help you start living life as opposed to going through the motions of it.

Next time you drive somewhere and don’t remember how you got there, smile, take a deep breath and practice being mindful.