Are you struggling to clear your mind?
Are you one of these people for whom it is difficult to clear your mind of those persistent and annoying thoughts? Many of my clients say the same thing to me.
“I can’t clear my mind. I am always thinking, processing things and planning my next move. “Next they will say “The moment I sit still, my mind takes over, I can’t meditate. I am analytical, and a logical thinker. That’s how I operate”. Although this may be true, learning how to clear your mind and learning how to control your thoughts provides tremendous benefits in health as well as practical decision making.
I hear it over and over. And just like everything else, the process to clear your mind is something that you can learn to master.
We have learned that we need to rely on our mind. We trust our mind to get things done. “I think therefore I am” is the famous quote by René Descartes. It says it all. Without thinking you are nothing.
Things we use our mind for, that we can’t live without:
- Our mind learns things. The fact that you drive a car, that you know how to speak are all examples of our ability to learn.
- The mind protects you from danger. When you manage to escape by running away or jumping out of the way of risk, this is all down to the mind.
- The mind absorbs information and forms values and beliefs that keep you safe. From a young age, you pay attention to your parents, siblings, peers at school and religious institutions. The mind stores that information and uses it to create what becomes your personality.
- Your mind keeps your body running. It is the engine of your body. It ensures you keep breathing, your heart keeps beating, and much much more.
So yes, the mind is essential. But have you ever thought that maybe we give it too much power?
How to clear your mind, the two things we know.
- The mind absorbs information, it stores it, and it pulls it out when it is needed. It doesn’t differentiate between reality or imagination, so your mind is easy to manipulate. Which of course, works to our advantage if we want to change actions and behaviours.
- We also know that the mind is essential for us to function. In the same way, you can’t drive your car without an engine; you can’t have a body with a mind. But you don’t trust your engine with the directions from A to B. In the car; it is the driver who decides what direction to take, often assisted by the GPS. The question is why do you trust your mind to give you the instructions on where to go in life?
4 Key benefits that show you why it is essential to clear your mind
- You allow the real driver in your life to come through the heart. If I ask you to imagine where in your body you feel that you are on the right track, I can guarantee you, that your attention goes to the heart. In other words, trusting your heart will help you make the right decisions easier.
- As you learn how to take control of your mind, you will get better at controlling the negative thoughts and beliefs that keep you from achieving the success you desire. I have formed a process called Neuro Pathway Mapping that targets these thoughts and beliefs from many different angles.
- You can find peace and relaxation. It is during these times you can experience alignment with your purpose.
- Research links stress to many diseases. Learning to clear your mind helps you build resilience to stress with a positive impact on your health.
Master the process to clear your mind.
Now is the time to start relaxing your mind.
- First of all time. You have to take the time. Accept that initially, you may only last 5 minutes, over time this will improve.
- Choose the time of day. The belief, in general, is, that the best times are upon rising or just before going to bed. I often do it when I come home from work because that is a moment where I don’t have anything to do. In other words, do what works for you.
- Create a routine. Make sure you have space to yourself, without interruptions. Light candles, put your chair in a spot. Consistently following the same steps, creates an anchor, in which your (re)mind yourself that you are getting ready to put your mind at rest.
- Laying down or sitting in a chair are both great ways of doing it. However, I would suggest avoiding laying in bed as you are more likely to fall asleep. At least when you fall asleep sitting in a chair, you will have to wake up. It creates a separation between sleeping and a “meditative” sleep.
- Now you need to start putting your mind at rest. I suggest you try different things but here are some ways that have worked for others:
- If you are new to learning how to clear your mind, use guided meditation. Meditation is a great way to start to experience going into a deeply relaxing state. You follow the instructions, and slowly, without noticing your mind will slow down. Especially for people that “can’t visualise” and who don’t have experience, this is a great solution.
- Use music. Generally speaking, using a guided meditation is similar to a guided meditation. Music will support you in slowing your mind down and can become a point of focus.
- Focus on your breathing. Whenever a thought comes up in your mind, be kind to yourself and remember step 4.
- Remember that your mind is useful. So accept any thoughts that come up in your mind. Thank them, and go back to focusing on your breathing.
- Listen to the silence in the room. Listen to the sounds that are not there.
- And accept that if you fall asleep, this is part of your mind resting.
