So, what did you think about? Random little thoughts about stuff that happened today? Cringing because of something embarrassing you said in middle school and wishing you could redo that scenario? Planning tonight's dinner? We are ALWAYS thinking. We have millions of thoughts each day. It's just what we do. However, most of our thoughts are very repetitive and not very useful. For example, you could be sitting at work thinking, "I can't wait to get out of here. I'm craving Chinese takeout. How am I ever going to pay off my debt? I could use a vacation, but I need to pay off my debt first. I need a better job. Could I pay my debt off if I sell a kidney? probably not. How am I going to get out of debt. I need to remember to pick up Chinese..." True, thinking about a problem and coming up with possible solutions is very important if you follow through with them. However, just chewing on a problem because your mind is bored and wandering is very harmful. Stress takes a toll on your emotional well-being and your physical health. Have you ever been so stressed that you end up having an anxiety attack or had chest pain? The state of one energy body effects the whole because they are all connected.
You probably already know the best way to clear your mind. It's no secret anymore. Word sort of got around in the 70's (thanks hippies). Meditating 10-60 minutes a day can greatly improve your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Yeah, its pretty awesome. But who has time for meditation? I don't know about you guys, but I've lost a few hours of my life stuck in the Pinterest-Matrix looking up craft ideas... that I never plan to do... I waste a lot of time with Netflix, Facebook and other modern distractions, but for whatever reason, I have trouble meditating because "just sitting around not thinking" sounds pretty unproductive. Plus, there's the whole sitting still issue. "Passive meditation" is very familiar to most folks, Pagan or otherwise, but a good alternative to sitting and clearing your mind is "Active meditation". This is just what the name implies, you are active while meditation. A few good examples include mandala painting, zen gardening, pulling weeds, washing dishes, folding clothes, and any other activity that involves repetitive motion and not much concentration. The goal is to be present in the current moment rather than fretting over the past and stressing about the future because no one cares or remembers that embarrassing thing you said in middle school and no matter how stressed you are, there's nothing that you can do about your finances in the 10 minutes you spend mowing the grass, so you might as well enjoy the process and relax.
Take a deep breath, slowly in. Slowly out. This was your first action when you entered the world. Breath in. And slowly out. In your last moment, this will be your final act. Our breath, not only fills our bodies with the oxygen it needs, but also circulates our Prana. Our Chi. The Force. Our collective Spirit. In each breath is life, and our connection to all living things. For the rest of today, try to be conscious of each breath. Alive in each moment. Live fully present in the Spirit of the Universe flowing through you.
I understand that mediation isn't for every one. A good way to toss out your random thought clutter physically is journaling Or, you could try free-writing. Simply take a notebook page, put your pen to it and write until you fill the page. This can lead to surprisingly fun results. If you don't know what to write, just repeat a word over and over and thoughts will come. "Bored bored bored are we out of eggs? bored how do chickens get pregnant? bored bored I need to visit Hannah's farm. I bet I could ride her horse. I've always wanted to try..." See? Give it a try sometime. Not really into writing? that's cool. Ask anyone who exercises regularly and they will tell you that being "in the zone" is a good way to clear your mind and relieve stress.
I'm going to get real with you folks. How many times have you considered going to your family doctor but have worried that people might think there's something wrong with you, or they would treat you differently for getting a check-up. Probably never. Unfortunately, mental health care still carries a stigma that prevents people from getting the help they need. "But what if there's nothing wrong and it's all in my head?" If it's all in your head, that is an issue. That's what these professionals are for. Therapy or counseling can help you lighten your mental load and gain insight on why you get stuck in certain thought patterns. If you or someone you know feel that you would benefit from therapy or counseling, go for it; You deserve to be as healthy as possible. In some areas, there are groups, churches, colleges, etc that offer free counseling! If you are having more serious issues, just know that you don't have to deal with it on your own. (check out resources at the end of the post)
We started this four-part post with the physical body, which picks up a lot of psychic debris because it is so connected to the physical world. The emotional body tends to flow into the energy of others, but is mostly effected by your own feelings. The mental body is your own internal world; It is difficult for the physical world to pollute your mental energy, unless you allow your surroundings to shape your thoughts. Have you ever heard the quote "A cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind"? It's true that your world within effects your world without (As above, So below). So get your thoughts in order, discipline that brain, give it a well earned break once in a while, and your life should follow suit. In my next post, I will be going over the big picture: the Spirit Body. Thanks for Reading!
Help Resources:
National Teen Gay and Lesbian Helpline: 1-800-347-TEEN
National Youth Crisis hotline: 1-800-HIT-HOME
National Hope Line: 1-800-SUICIDE
Alcohol/Drug helpline (24 hour): 1-800-417-6237
Al Anon & Al Teen: 1-888-4AL-ANON
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
Rape, Abuse, and Incest Network: 1-800-656-HOPE
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