THE WORK by Byron Katie. Making me realise I believe bullshit and my thoughts are just to be observed and not latched on to like the Gospel truth.
Kind of liberating knowing that just ‘cause I’ve generated a thought, doesn’t mean it HAS to mean something 😊
I try to keep in the habit of 10 minutes a day. This is an easily sustainable goal for me. Sometimes it’s longer but when I set my goal at a level that is easy to meet I get it done! If I try to set a goal that is going to be a struggle I just avoid it.
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Attribute unnecessary significance to some randomised thingy and read the divine wisdom contained within that thingy. Like tarot or shuffle on spotify.
I really like this because there have been many times I’ve had to just distract my mind to get away from something stressful. Music and audio books really helped just keep me somewhere else until the storm passed. Coming back to an issue later, can be helpful for coming back to it with greater clarity.
I wouldn’t say it’s divine. It is quite rational and logical, to be able to see something from the outside you are able to get a larger scope (or perspective) of things. A bit of distance helps to clear mental fog.
Although epiphanies, sudden realisations and understandings – that, to me, certainly feels divine.
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I do a lot of my thinking in the shower which brings clarity to a lot. Sorry about the hot water! LOL
Daily. I used to be one of those people who thought that meditation didn’t work until I started doing it. It’s been a pretty helpful thing – not only while doing the ‘meditation’, but I noticed that throughout the day I am much more relaxed and my mind focuses on stuff a lot easier.
🙂
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Sometimes I write them out. Sometimes ask someone close for their opinion. If its critical of something or someone I might wait a day and see how I feel then.
No, it’s hard I agree. This is because I realised I’m somewhere giving too much importance to judgements of people around me. While analysing my thoughts I was viewing them as what other people would think about this decision rather than thinking about what consequences it would bring to me.
That’s when the introspection and retrospection came into scene. Now I only worry about what changes my thoughts will bring to me, nothing else.
That’s somewhere makes it a little easy. Helps me to clarify my thoughts a little better because now I’m fighting against me not the other world.
I’d say it happens intuitively — a feeling or spark that pulls me in one direction or another. A majority of the time, however, when my headspace gets overwhelmingly clouded/crowded, I just go straight to the journal page. After engaging in that practice for so many years, I know with complete trust + faith that it’ll always help somehow.
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I write them down and stretch them out. I’ve learnt so much through writing.
Both of these and more, when I listen to music it helps me to collect my own thoughts and also to relate occasionally to particular songs as well for reflection. When I make my own music I’d saw that’s when it’s more about release.
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I usually write and make a mind map. That is a good way to get clarity
If anything it may just take longer if emotions are involved, but harder? No. It’s always a pretty rewarding process.
Loading...
Pick a corner and start de-cluttering . I will let my mind wander freely during the process and amazingly it normally clarifies my mind as I clear the space ..
It gives me an opportunity to carefully observe my thought. Memory, feeling, body responses, etc. WHAT ARE THE INPUTS AND WHAT ARE THE OUTPUTS? Lets me look at my beliefs, desires, identities, conditions, biases, etc. Basically a ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS! Being able to understand the BIGGER PICTURE is very important for me. It may not help solve anything in the short term but subtly nudges my sensitivity, seeps into my subconscious and influences my consciousness as I know it.
Lying in bed before I sleep I like to try and work through some thoughts, or even during the day being in bed soothes me enough to work through some of it
Loading...
Lists. Lists. Lists.
Even for less complex thoughts. I write down nearly everything. I’ve found it’s the absolute best way for me to function.
talk it through with someone, write it down / blog. I like the mind map idea. Sometimes I’ll read tarot. Sometimes the best thing to do is to ignore it – overthinking just muddies things again
not very, it’s easier to get distracted – find a flow activity. When I put my mind to it I can think of loads of those!
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Write, talk, walk, garden. I write paragraphs in my mind in the garden because kneeling on the soil is so grounding. Sorry for the pun-ny truth. -Rebecca
I become quiet and start working on a task such as gardening or cleaning or cooking. I just think through the problem or whatever it is I am thinking about.
It’s interesting to see that chores can help our thought process. Maybe it feels that we’re actually cleaning our thoughts too along with our environment?
Great question. I write and converse with a trusted interlocutor. Often externalizing what is muddied cleans things up (and, ironically, what I think is already clear usually gets muddied).
I am quite confident I know the answer to this one: in my case, running through arguments in my head to arrive at what I think is a concrete conclusion often involves hidden biases and automatic assumptions that become revealed when the argument is externalized.
Here is a very real example: when I prepare a talk for a conference on my field of scientific research, I spend days going over the talk in my head. And I am certain, at this stage, that the talk makes sense. But when I do a dry run through the talk, it becomes glaringly obvious that what I thought made sense, or was clear, was in fact not.
The same thing happens when I am certain of some outcome in some interaction that is important to me (say a tough discussion with the wife or the boss). I am certain of my position…in my head. But when it is vocalized, that position becomes much less certain.
I hope these ideas are clear…
THE WORK by Byron Katie. Making me realise I believe bullshit and my thoughts are just to be observed and not latched on to like the Gospel truth.
Kind of liberating knowing that just ‘cause I’ve generated a thought, doesn’t mean it HAS to mean something 😊
Yes, exactly! Thoughts are just some hypothesis which can be tested.
Meditation 🧘♀️
How much per day do you meditate?
I try to keep in the habit of 10 minutes a day. This is an easily sustainable goal for me. Sometimes it’s longer but when I set my goal at a level that is easy to meet I get it done! If I try to set a goal that is going to be a struggle I just avoid it.
Attribute unnecessary significance to some randomised thingy and read the divine wisdom contained within that thingy. Like tarot or shuffle on spotify.
I really like this because there have been many times I’ve had to just distract my mind to get away from something stressful. Music and audio books really helped just keep me somewhere else until the storm passed. Coming back to an issue later, can be helpful for coming back to it with greater clarity.
And I laughed over “randomized thingy”
😊 Perfect! Whatever will work at that moment!
Do you always find the divine wisdom contained within that thingy?
I wouldn’t say it’s divine. It is quite rational and logical, to be able to see something from the outside you are able to get a larger scope (or perspective) of things. A bit of distance helps to clear mental fog.
Although epiphanies, sudden realisations and understandings – that, to me, certainly feels divine.
I do a lot of my thinking in the shower which brings clarity to a lot. Sorry about the hot water! LOL
Lol. Hot water warning!
Actually! That’s a peaceful place😁
I’m wondering how come the shower brings clarity. I guess all that water relaxes us and that’s why we can see things clearer.
Meditate
🙂
That’s great! How often do you do it?
Daily. I used to be one of those people who thought that meditation didn’t work until I started doing it. It’s been a pretty helpful thing – not only while doing the ‘meditation’, but I noticed that throughout the day I am much more relaxed and my mind focuses on stuff a lot easier.
🙂
Sometimes I write them out. Sometimes ask someone close for their opinion. If its critical of something or someone I might wait a day and see how I feel then.
Love it, especially the part when you wait a day before releasing the “critical” thoughts! That’s where self-control develops.
Analyse – Introspect & Retrospect- Conclude. These are my 3 steps.
Can you do it without emotional implication? That’s one of my biggest challenges.
No, it’s hard I agree. This is because I realised I’m somewhere giving too much importance to judgements of people around me. While analysing my thoughts I was viewing them as what other people would think about this decision rather than thinking about what consequences it would bring to me.
That’s when the introspection and retrospection came into scene. Now I only worry about what changes my thoughts will bring to me, nothing else.
That’s somewhere makes it a little easy. Helps me to clarify my thoughts a little better because now I’m fighting against me not the other world.
𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚞𝚜𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝, 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚛 𝚓𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙𝚜. 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎. 𝙸 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚐𝚘, 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗.
🕊
𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗’𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚢𝚙𝚘! 𝙸𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌, 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑? 🙈
I do the same with my writing! Rather, I am quite detached from my own writing when I read it.
Awesome approach! Are there things you prefer to write without talking to your husband?
𝙽𝚘𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚢. 𝙷𝚎’𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚜 𝚖𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚡𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎. 𝚆𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙𝚜 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚞𝚎𝚜, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚜𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚗𝚞𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎.
🕊
Cleaning up and mucking out my closet.
So physical activity helps you clear your mind?
Exactly, …and from my experience outward/external orderliness is suitable to create
inward/inner order.
Usually one or more of the following, depending on the context… journal writing; tarot; a long walk; talking it out with a close friend.
When do you choose which one to do?
I’d say it happens intuitively — a feeling or spark that pulls me in one direction or another. A majority of the time, however, when my headspace gets overwhelmingly clouded/crowded, I just go straight to the journal page. After engaging in that practice for so many years, I know with complete trust + faith that it’ll always help somehow.
I write them down and stretch them out. I’ve learnt so much through writing.
That’s awesome! Great approach! When did you start writing in the first place?
Mainly listen to and/or make music, 🎶 I do occasionally mediate as well but that’s more to clear or calm my thoughts
Does music help you understand your thoughts better or you feel they are released in the world through it?
Both of these and more, when I listen to music it helps me to collect my own thoughts and also to relate occasionally to particular songs as well for reflection. When I make my own music I’d saw that’s when it’s more about release.
I usually write and make a mind map. That is a good way to get clarity
That’s nice! How does that mind map look like?
Like a tree with various branches giving us clarity
Typically just keep thinking/talking/writing. The real center of my thoughts eventually shows itself and I can trim away the rest as junk.
Great process! Does it become harder when emotions are involved?
If anything it may just take longer if emotions are involved, but harder? No. It’s always a pretty rewarding process.
Pick a corner and start de-cluttering . I will let my mind wander freely during the process and amazingly it normally clarifies my mind as I clear the space ..
Awesome! I guess the thoughts just need a way to manifest themselves.
Stay still (as much possible)
How is staying still influencing your thoughts?
It gives me an opportunity to carefully observe my thought. Memory, feeling, body responses, etc. WHAT ARE THE INPUTS AND WHAT ARE THE OUTPUTS? Lets me look at my beliefs, desires, identities, conditions, biases, etc. Basically a ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS! Being able to understand the BIGGER PICTURE is very important for me. It may not help solve anything in the short term but subtly nudges my sensitivity, seeps into my subconscious and influences my consciousness as I know it.
Go to bed
What if those thoughts don’t want to sleep?
Lying in bed before I sleep I like to try and work through some thoughts, or even during the day being in bed soothes me enough to work through some of it
Lists. Lists. Lists.
Even for less complex thoughts. I write down nearly everything. I’ve found it’s the absolute best way for me to function.
That’s great! So writing is the cure for you! 😀
talk it through with someone, write it down / blog. I like the mind map idea. Sometimes I’ll read tarot. Sometimes the best thing to do is to ignore it – overthinking just muddies things again
How easy it is for you to ignore it?
not very, it’s easier to get distracted – find a flow activity. When I put my mind to it I can think of loads of those!
Write, talk, walk, garden. I write paragraphs in my mind in the garden because kneeling on the soil is so grounding. Sorry for the pun-ny truth. -Rebecca
I hear you and do the same. Nice pun 🙂
That’s cool to hear, glad the earth inspires other writers, and thanks! -Rebecca
Well, where else can you be more grounded if not in the garden?
Exactly!
I become quiet and start working on a task such as gardening or cleaning or cooking. I just think through the problem or whatever it is I am thinking about.
It’s interesting to see that chores can help our thought process. Maybe it feels that we’re actually cleaning our thoughts too along with our environment?
Yes, like sorting our way through things.
Lay down
Lights off
Soft music
Thought awareness
So you address the thoughts instead of running away from them…
Great question. I write and converse with a trusted interlocutor. Often externalizing what is muddied cleans things up (and, ironically, what I think is already clear usually gets muddied).
This is interesting! In your opinion, why the things already clear gets muddied?
I am quite confident I know the answer to this one: in my case, running through arguments in my head to arrive at what I think is a concrete conclusion often involves hidden biases and automatic assumptions that become revealed when the argument is externalized.
Here is a very real example: when I prepare a talk for a conference on my field of scientific research, I spend days going over the talk in my head. And I am certain, at this stage, that the talk makes sense. But when I do a dry run through the talk, it becomes glaringly obvious that what I thought made sense, or was clear, was in fact not.
The same thing happens when I am certain of some outcome in some interaction that is important to me (say a tough discussion with the wife or the boss). I am certain of my position…in my head. But when it is vocalized, that position becomes much less certain.
I hope these ideas are clear…
Yes, and it makes sense. Thank you for sharing!