Being present in the moment is not just a thing related to yoga and only the spiritually enlightened people. Given the pace of life we follow these days, it has become an essential practice to follow for our mental, spiritual and emotional well-being.
The speed with which we are asked to make decisions and make choices are simply overwhelming. Despite being at home post-work, the wheels of your mind might just not stop churning. This situation turns even worse when the negative thoughts spiral in and the process is just impossible to stop. In the longer run, this may turn out to cause mental illnesses which at certain times might go unnoticed.
These practices help you to align your body, soul, and mind and cherish the present moment. For some, these steps may come across as novel practices and may make you wonder about how to get started.
We have enlisted certain steps below about how to be present and peaceful when you can’t stop thinking.
How to calm the mind
If you are human, you will have thoughts!
While you can think endlessly, it is a sign of a healthy and high-functioning brain. Just like our other body parts that function 24/7, so does our mind.
It is impossible to have a mind without a thought. If you are aiming at stopping your mind from thinking, realize that it’s an impossible feat and that it cannot be attained while you are still alive. Till your mind continues to function, you are bound to have thoughts. The only thing that we have control over is the quality of our thoughts.
Consider relaxing your mind well before you begin a task so you are aware of exactly how it needs to be tackled.
Don’t judge yourself
To aim at not having thoughts at all is like setting some very high and unrealistic expectations from yourself. While we know that such a state of mind cannot be attained permanently, it is possible to embrace all the emotions and thoughts one has.
The key is to stop the judgment. Once you stop judging yourself, it will be possible for you to calm your mind and experience tranquility.
Don’t try to run away from your thoughts, this leads to unnecessary anxiety. Rather, if a thought enters your mind, it’s always best to let it go as soon as possible if it’s not a good one.
Knowing that the mental dialogue won’t stop, will help you realize how to work your thought patterns around it. Trying to fight those thoughts or running away from them will simply make it worse by multiplying their intensity. To evade these feelings, some of you may even resort to practices like tarot reading, simply to know what lies ahead.
Be accepting of the thoughts you have daily, without judging them. Attaining peace and tranquility will come easily by following that way.
Focus on what you are doing
When you start focusing on what you’re doing, it is important to focus on the tasks at hand rather than dwell on the negative thoughts in mind.
The best way to do that is to do some breathing work or opt for chanting a mantra. This will allow you to keep your thoughts anchored to the present moment.
Some spiritual gurus call the continuously chattering mind the monkey mind, which never stops its dialogue. It does not just continue with its dialogue but it will also continue to run away from the present moment.
Incorporating these practices into your daily schedule will help them get strongly rooted in your lifestyle, something that you require. The daily tasks at hand, such as commuting to work, eating, and completing your daily chores, feel like we are on autopilot mode. Since these tasks don’t require much focus, paying attention and being present in the moment turns out to be even more difficult.
Since these tasks also don’t require your mind to work hard, it goes on autopilot mode and continues its inner dialogue. And hence it gives rise to racing thoughts that go miles per hour.
Get back on track as soon as you sway
Getting off track cannot be avoided while your focus is still on the weaker side.
But that doesn’t mean that the journey towards being present and peaceful has ended. It has simply hit a roadblock and you just need to do some rework to get back on track.
The key is to not give up and start again. Your mind is bound to lose focus, it is important to bring your focus back to your thoughts wherever you feel that you have swayed away.
As you continue with the practice, your awareness is bound to become stronger and help you be more rooted in the present moment. The scattered approach towards life due to the mental chatter is an opportunity that helps us strengthen our awareness.
Sometimes when you lose track, you might also want to opt for tarot reading practices to ensure that you are on the right path.
Eliminate stress
We’ve heard about the benefits of a stress-free life multiple times, but when implementing it, stress still creeps in through tiny cracks.
Stress is more likely to occur during bedtime while you are trying to get some sleep after a long tiring day. On the flip side, bedtime is supposed to be the most relaxing time of the day.
To keep stress at bay at bedtime, it is important to follow a relaxed bedtime routine. Unwinding before bedtime also includes, eliminating the use of gadgets during these hours.
Practice gentle yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises to calm your mind and release tension. Other activities that you can engage in during your bedtime routine include, reading a book, or simply practicing mindfulness exercises.
It is suggested to spend time alone with yourself during the hours before bedtime, and identify what behavior patterns need to change. Though for individuals who feel the mounting pressure of stress daily, should opt for therapy or medications if need be. These measures can help reduce the consequences of stress and what a person feels due to it, while also following up with meditation, yoga, and self-awareness practices may also help.
However, it is also important for the individual to realize that racing thoughts may be a result of certain mental illnesses as well. These disorders may include anxiety, ADHD, Bipolar disorder, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or agitated depression.
Consider engaging in regular yoga sessions that can help you relieve your stress.
Other techniques
There are other multiple techniques that may help you on your path to feel present and peaceful.
One such impactful technique includes being grateful throughout the day.
Along with the other techniques, there have been certain mind-controlling techniques that have surfaced too. To begin with, you can start with identifying the intrusive thoughts that you want to change. Accept those thoughts and let them flow. Rather than controlling them with a fixed mindset, it is better to let them go and adopt practices like meditation to calm the mind.
As you become more mindful, you will experience the negative thoughts receding automatically. In the long run, it is also important to change your perspective on those aspects of life that usually trouble you.
In a nutshell
Though it may seem a bit difficult in the beginning, the techniques can be polished as you work on your awareness and realize what works for you. It is also important to not beat yourself up if the chatter doesn’t stop. You just need to be okay with the passing thoughts and refine their quality as you progress on this journey.
It is okay to not be able to do it initially, but as you continue to strengthen your awareness and spiritual muscles, being present in the current moment becomes easier.
