What will set this mind at ease? Photo by Aleksandar Cvetanovic on Unsplash We often think of taking rest as a physical act. To stop moving and to be still. It could look like taking a day off from work, an afternoon nap or just sitting at the table, relaxing with your morning coffee. But what about the mind? As a conscious health practitioner, I view health and well-being from a multi-dimensional point of view, which means that well-being is not only about caring for the physical body but requires us to care for ourselves mentally, emotionally, spiritually, socially, environmentally and collectively as well. When you know what you need to find yourself fulfilled in all of these areas, that is when your spark really starts to light up! So let’s talk about the mind today. When we get that inner knowing that rest is needed, it’s not necessarily a problem of the physical body being overworked (although this can be the case). An overworked mind will also lead to a felt sense of exhaustion in the body. Making it easy to be confused about what remedy is actually needed - physical rest or mental rest. We take physical rest thinking it will make us feel better, but end up feeling just as exhausted as we were before, even after we’ve “rested”. And the thing about the mind is, it never actually gets tired, does it? I’m not sure if you’ve noticed this, but the mind has a relentless ability to keep going and pushing, even when all other signs are pointing to the fact it needs to just stop and take a break already! The mind itself never actually gets tired. How often do you set aside time to get curious about what the mind is really up to? If we don’t take the time, in an intentional way, to tend to the health of our mind and plan for it to rest, it can easily start to over run our lives, inevitably leading to exhaustion and burnout. The mind can cause exhaustion for many reasons. It is a bit of a trickster after all. It can tell you all sorts of things, not all of which will be helpful and uplifting for you. Furthermore, many of our thoughts are just things we’ve been conditioned to think about and aren’t really our own thoughts to begin with! They are a record stuck on repeat of something we learned a long time ago that isn’t even relevant to our lives anymore. Which is why it is so important to be intentional about tending to our mental health. A mind left unattended to can make it really hard for you to find your spark again! In fact, it is one of the most stubborn blocks to work through. But with awareness comes choice, and so your invitation this week is to start to pay more attention, on purpose, to what the mind is up to. Here are some things you can start to get curious about:
These are only a few things you may start to notice as you pay attention to what your mind is up to. As you become more mindful of your thought patterns, you will be better able to discern what is helpful and empowering for you and what isn’t. An overactive mind can be quite persistent, so have patience! This is a practice, not another goal to be achieved. Honestly, it is something to spend a lifetime tending to, so keep this in mind . . . The mind isn’t going anywhere, so it’s best to find a way to work with it rather than have it working against you! The irony of all of this is - these stuck patterns are actually pointing you in the direction of your spark. When identified, your greatest gifts will emerge from the steps you take to break free from them. Once you start to notice what patterns your mind is playing on repeat, it is helpful to write them down on paper and read them back to yourself. Then, tune into your heart and ask . . . What will set this mind at ease? With Love, Kristen XO Comments are closed.
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Kristen BraidGuiding & supporting you to live a Soul Inspired Life so we can uplift the heart of our world to a greater experience of love, health & harmony. Archives
February 2024
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