10 ways to quiet your mind
The hardest part of finding solace, isn’t discovering the furthest most point from another human being or the quietest spot in the woods or park. It’s figuring out how to stop the chatter of your mind, or at least not listen to it for a stitch of time.
Here are 10 ways that I have found to escape my annoying thoughts long enough to catch a break.
Close your eyes. There is so much visual distraction- everywhere. Just stop processing it all for a minute.
Relax your muscles. It’s hard to let go of your mind when you are holding on tight and clenching your muscles. And not just the major ones. The muscles I always find clenched are my jaw, tongue, shoulders, and around my eyes. Who knew?
Notice what you are thinking. This is harder than it seems. Our thinking is so engrained and your thoughts run so fast, it’s hard to catch them. Once you grab one, just notice what it was you were thinking about. You may be surprised at how random it is, or how negative it is. Noticing is the first step toward being able to control them.
Pretend an annoying sound is something else. For example, the other night my partner was snoring SUPER LOUD! I almost went into the other room, but stopped myself so I could practice this exercise. I told myself the snoring was ocean waves. I imagined myself on the shoreline of Florida at night and I was hearing the waves crash while I was falling asleep. For a minute I actually took myself there in my mind.
Listen to meditation music. Just go to YouTube and turn on meditation music by Yellow Brick Cinema. It does wonders for your sense of calm.
Pay attention to your breath. I’m always amazed when I remember to notice my breath and I realize that it’s been days since I consciously noticed I was breathing. Same with your thoughts in that once you notice, it’s a win because at least there is some sort of inner reflection going on.
See your thoughts as clouds and they are just floating by and not sticking with you.
Pet an animal. If you have access to an animal, show them attention and notice the simplicity of this act. Notice how their fur feels against your skin. The Kzoo Cat Cafe & Rescue is a great place to wind down with a living being who gives you no judgement.
Create an invisible shield around yourself. I use my imagination to envision an invisible force field around me and tell it not to let in the sounds, attitudes, negativity or other junk that might disrupt my peace of mind.
Go outside! When we shift to a different environment, especially outdoors, your perspective can shift with it.
