Is it time for a spin break? The looping thoughts that get out of control and often dictate daily behavior and habits. Have you ever had a conversation with a friend that immediately takes you out of detrimental spinning thoughts? It is sounds like the needle scratch on a vinyl record. The spinning thoughts refer to the ones that rule our reactions and behaviors. A few common detrimental thoughts are “not good enough”, “when I get some time, then I will start”, or “as soon as I get through this situation”.
Many times, looping thoughts that spin out of control can keep us from our goals and dreams. These thoughts can come in many forms that lead to distractions. Giving voice to the same excuses over and over, scrolling mindlessly on social media or using busyness as an excuse. But what if the day started with a movement practice, meditation, journaling or a walk to get grounded. At the state of being grounded then ask this question to start the day. What do I want to do most today? I read recently this statement, “we don’t wake up grounded”. Whaaaaattttt? This statement caught my attention and made me want to experiment with purposeful grounding each morning.
It has been quite the journey to change my first thoughts in the morning. I progressed from “what do I have to do today” to “what do I want to do most today”. Here are a few habits that I have experimented with in this process that are worth sharing.
1) At night before I go to sleep, I ask for guidance for whatever is at the top of my thoughts. I use Notes on the phone then promptly release the thought.
2) In the first few minutes of my day, I write in long hand morning pages. This is from The Artist Way by Julia Cameron classes and book. Lately, at the top of the first page, I write “what do I want to do most”.
3) Another practice that works wonders is meditation or prayer. I have chosen a 40 day 12 minute meditation to burn in the habit of grounding before beginning my day.
This summer I had the opportunity to study with peers in a life coaching course. I had many sessions with several of my peers but one stopped me in my tracks on spinning thoughts. This particular cohort and I had not talked previously. At this session together, we were new to each other. I wanted to start the session the same as in my previous ones with other cohorts but it did not go as planned. I wanted to start with the same thought at the top of my brain which was, I’m juggling so many projects and feel so overwhelmed and need more focus. My plea was “tell me how to focus better”. She listened and asked one simple question. “What do you want to do most?” That’s it. No one had asked me that including myself as I juggled my projects around trying to do it all.
My response back to her was, “I want to work on my book”. That was the only one that came to mind. That’s what I want to do and I needed to hear myself say it WAY OUT LOUD. I feel indebted to my cohort for pulling this out of me. It gave me a whole new light on how I spend my day. Every day work on that ONE goal. The other projects will fall into place. I needed one priority to put my efforts into, my book. As we talked a few issues came up around my excuses and what was holding me back with my book. One was the rejection process that all writers go through once they get to the publishing phase. I love my book and want to go through the process of selling it, but the fear of rejection is real. Secondly, there are my own self-imposed excuses that keep getting in the way. I have many projects that I could work on as my book sits in the corner waiting for its special day. It is a process and I am moving forward a little each day.
Do you have recurring thoughts or distractions that keep you from your goals?
Journal or talk it out with a trusted friend.
Where does the story come from?
Is it true?
What is the deeper emotion attached?
What is the worst that could happen?
If the worst happened, then how would you continue after that?
Why do you have this goal?
What do you want most?
Corie Feiner wrote a beautiful poem regarding the hero’s journey within us. Hero Pose Poem post is linked here and below.
Below is something I wrote for New Year’s Goals and thought it was appropriate here.
Excuses or goals
What are the dreams
What are the excuses
Are they real issues.
Why do they take over
Why are they stronger
Why are they so loud
Can I shift the focus
No excuses
Gratitude and blessings
Honest and uplifting
I am not my thoughts
I can control how long
To focus on the goal
To focus on the task
To move past discomfort
To move past distractions
To move toward my dreams.
An offer for a yoga challenge coming September 1st. Stay loose and keep moving forward.
Much needed - I am going to try the 1# on asking for guidance for thoughts...