Shut up, I Can't Think
Have you ever tried working in a crowded, noisy room with music, chatter, and constant interruptions? Have you ever wanted just to say, "Shut up, I can't think"?
That's often the state of our unmanaged mind. Thoughts can appear like uninvited guests, most of which aren't positive. They pull us in all directions, demanding attention. However, we can't simply tell them to "be quiet." Our unmanaged mind is
doing its job, a significant part of which is to alert us to danger, real or imagined, though mostly, it's imagined.
Our unmanaged mind is continually scanning the environment for threats. In primitive times, these threats were tangible dangers like predators or warring tribes. This early warning system was crucial for our survival as a species. Consider where we'd be today if our ancestors spent their entire day meditating on a rock.
Today, we face different types of threats. While most are imagined, a few are real, appearing as company rumors, changes in a boss's behavior, or distressing news reports. These threats vary, but the responses remain the same. They trigger a stress response, leading us to a state of fight, freeze, or flight.
The unmanaged mind, unless influenced by drugs, seldom finds peace and quiet. For most of us, its default state is chaos and confusion.
So, how do we manage such an unruly mind? While drugs, legal or otherwise, seem to be a common choice in today's world, there's a cost-free alternative that requires nothing more than breathing - meditation.
“Oh, I tried that once. I couldn’t do it. My mind kept wandering.” That’s the normal response when we mention meditation.
Meditation isn't about controlling your thoughts but rather observing them. We can attain peace and clarity by detaching ourselves from our thoughts and understanding that they do not define us.
The good news is meditation doesn't require any special equipment like bells, pads, incense, or a dark room. All you need is your breath, which everyone has. If you don't, meditation is the least of your worries. It's important to understand the concept of the present moment. Many people are familiar with past, present, and future concepts. Stress and unhappiness often stem from the past, while anticipating the unknown future can lead to anxiety. Unfortunately, we spend little time in the present moment. It can be an oasis of peace and calm if we can find it. Meditation is about reconnecting with that present moment.
The key to the present moment is our breath. Each breath happens in the present moment. We do it about 20,000 times each 24 hours, and we’re unaware of it. Each breath keeps us alive, and we don’t have to work for it. That in itself is worth contemplating.
If you're interested in starting meditation, here's how. Find a comfortable and, preferably, quiet place to sit. Breathe in and out normally. As you breathe in, tell yourself, "I'm aware that I'm breathing in." As you breathe out, say, "I'm aware that I'm breathing out." If you can, you have taken the first steps toward meditation. It’s not a contest to see how many breaths you can take while being aware of them. It’s about experiencing the peace of the present moment.
"It is indeed a radical act of love just to sit down and be quiet for a time by yourself" – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Instead of “Don’t just sit there, do something,” let’s try “Don’t just do something, sit there.”