Why do I keep thinking about this?

Lake Superior

Many of my clients have experienced what I commonly refer to as the monkey mind.  It’s when your mind continually rehashes a problem over and over again.  Usually the subject of these dialogues deals with something in our life that we are not happy with.  It could be a disagreement with someone.  It could be a work, financial or health situation.  Whatever it is that incessant dialogue in your head won’t stop and the more you tell yourself not to think about it, the more you think about it.  It is called the law of resistance and that which you resist will persist.

Here is the reason why we find it difficult to shift our thinking process.  Our minds like to be kept busy and are continually nattering on about something from the past or projecting something into the future.  Our minds do not operate in the present.

Here is a simple experiment for you to try. Next time you wake up in the morning lay there in bed for a few moments. Become aware of your thoughts.  What you will discover is your mind will search for the last thought you had before you fell asleep.  The mind always returns to the vibration you last left it at.  So if you fell asleep thinking about an argument you had with a friend, the mind will return to that set point to begin your day.  This principle also applies to everyday situations and people.  Ever went home to a family reunion and found yourself acting in ways which were contrary to who you are today?  What happened is you went back to the old vibration.

In order for you modify a thought process you have to understand it takes 17 seconds for a thought to create a point of attraction.  When you hold that thought for 17 seconds another thought of a similar vibration will join it. If the thinking process is allowed to continue for 68 seconds then that train of thought becomes your dominant vibration and attracts to you persons or situations of similar thought.  So if the thoughts you are thinking are positive, change nothing.  If they are negative, you have to shift to another train of thoughts and hold that thought stream for at least 68 seconds.

So how do you shift to another train of thoughts? First you have to recognize that you have to work at it.  You can’t just do it once and expect your life to change.  The mind is extremely stubborn and once it gets hold of something it is like a dog chasing its tail. 

Here are a few exercises you can try.

1.   Give the mind a diversion and go do something else.  Go for a walk.  Pet your dog.  Go to the movies. Take a nap.  Search through YouTube and find something that makes you laugh.   

 

 

2.  Practice mediation. If you find that your mind will not shut up while you are trying to meditate focus on a noise in your environment or use a chant.

3.  Think a better feeling thought.  Think about someone you love and all the things you appreciate about them. Think about a beautiful sunset.

4.  Write out the letters of the alphabet and beside each letter think of a good feeling word. For example, a=appreciation, b=best, c=charming, d=delicious...

5.  Another diversion you can do is sing musical scale or use a non-descript phrase or sound. 

Next post I show you how your beliefs affect your life.