I love my mind, but sometimes it’s too much. It’s no fun to be besieged by thoughts (some negative) and replays from the day as we attempt to sleep, be present or meditate. We carry that wired and tired feeling from when we wake up to when we finally fall asleep or if we fall asleep.
Do you find yourself struggling to put a stop to repetitive or overwhelming thoughts and narratives that leave you feeling frustrated or overwhelmed? Just know that you’re not alone in this experience.
In the last few years, I’ve been practicing a simple technique that has helped me separate from obsessive thinking and emotional overwhelm, find quiet, and reconnect more deeply with myself. I’d love to share it with you.
The exercise involves intentionally shifting your attention away from your internal experiences and towards your external environment. You can achieve this by taking a few breaths and then using your senses to explore the world around you.
- Take a few breaths.
- Shift your attention away from your internal experience and towards your external environment.
- Fous on what your senses and analyze your immediate surroundings
- Note what you hear, smell, taste and feel in your surroundings.
*This exercise is a Somatic Experiencing technique used to work with trauma to help individuals find their way back to a regulated state.
The goal is to allow your attention to move from one stimulus to the next without getting stuck on any particular one. Exploring or connecting to your space in this way can help to increase your sense of safety and provide a sense of anchoring especially during times of stress or overwhelm.
I have found this exercise helps me to regulate my nervous system, reduce anxiety and stress, and improve my sleep. You don’t have to take my word for it. Try it and see what happens for you.
Set aside some time, bring your curiosity, and notice what shifts as you switch your attention from the inside to the outside. If you have any questions about this exercise or would like support, please feel free to contact me.
Here’s to ease-filled days and good sleep. Sending you the sounds and smells of desert rain
Love,
Navjit