A busy mind, one that disturbs our peace of mind, or sleep, or makes us anxious, is a reflection of a deeper imbalance.
A busy mind reflects a stressed nervous system and brain with negative implications for our mental, emotional and physical health. A busy mind can be a familiar nuisance that points to something deeper.
So being able to quiet the mind is valuable and necessary for our mental, emotional, and physical health.
A good start to quieting the mind is to avoid trying, or efforting to do so. The more we try or effort the more we rev up the sympathetic nervous system or stress response. The more the stress response is activated the more the thinking mind is fueled.
Lose Your Mind and Find the Present
The more that you become involved with sensory experience, for example, noticing your breath, or the sensations in your hands, or the feelings around your heart, you switch into a neurological pattern where you feel more and think less.
Simply noticing sensations without the need for the mind to interpret or judge them takes practice. Over time you’ll develop new neurological circuits (neuroplasticity) that support you being more peacefully present and less distracted by a busy head.
When we’re more neurologically balanced our thoughts will be more helpful in terms of providing the appropriate insights, understanding and intuition that helps to guide us authentically forward.
When we’re not balanced neurologically our thoughts tend to keep us stuck in the negative and limited programming from our past. In that state, we’re living on autopilot and in the grips of familial and cultural programming that doesn’t reflect our true potential.
When it Doubt, Simply Notice
Here are a few suggestions for simply noticing (ten seconds at a time is helpful):
- You can notice the sensations in your feet … just be curious … and take a gentle breath.
- You can notice a sound or two in your present environment … notice curiously … and breathe.
- Breathe (don’t deep breathe, please) GENTLE, SLOW breathing gives you something to notice while balancing your nervous system.
- Notice the thoughts in your head and how they make you FEEL … and breathe.
- Notice something for which you are grateful … appreciate the feel of it … and breathe.
Remember that it takes time to grow new neurological circuits, so be patient and consistent with your practice.
Steven Templin, D.O.M., Dipl. Ac. specializes in Acupuncture and Limbic Brain Reprogramming to address the roots of chronic pain and illness. He offers a comprehensive mind-body program for addressing the underlying inflammation, toxicities, and stress-induced causes of most pain and illness.
He places special emphasis on resolving the stress response and repairing adrenal gland and digestive system function to address the root causes of many common and often difficult to treat illnesses.
He translates emerging research in the fields of Epigenetics, Energy Psychology, and Functional Nutrition into effective practices that you can perform at home.
You can work with Dr. Templin in his Lakeland office, or online. You can visit his website at www.stevetemplin.com and contact him via email at drtemplin@gmail.com.
You can schedule an office visit with Dr. Templin by calling 863-838-2779.
Steve is a retired Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture Physician, and HeartMath Trauma-Sensitive Certified Practitioner with over 35 years of clinical experience in Energy Medicine, Energy Psychology, and Biofeedback.