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Clear Your Mind

Lauren Grace Living

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Clear Your Mind

Ones head can be a pretty scary place sometimes.

Especially when you have a lot on your mind. When there’s that one situation that you just can’t stop obsessively thinking about. You know the type. It is most likely something that is completely out of your control. We’ve all been there. Maybe it’s about a relationship, or your business. Whatever it is, you can’t stop thinking about it. And you most likely can’t do anything about it either. If you are like me you’ll start to make up all these possible scenarios in your head. And often play out the worst case scenario. Next thing you know you are having an anxiety attack over your own tortured thoughts. Your mind is taunting you with endless chatter, and you feel trapped.anxiety

So how do you pull yourself out of this hell hole?

It is often advised that when your thoughts are taking you to crazy town that you should try meditation. Try to just focus on your breath and clear your mind. Now I meditate every single day. I am a huge fan of meditation. However, in this particular situation I don’t advise meditating. It is highly unlikely that you will be able to really clear your mind and zone out when you are in this state. And the last thing you need is 20 minutes of silence where you are just tuned into your own racing thoughts. Instead try distracting yourself.

Yes, it’s actually that simple.

You need to immerse yourself into some activity or hobby that will help change your state and interrupt your thought pattern. This technique is often used in Neural Linguistic Programing (NLP) to change old thought patterns and phobias. And it usually involves some sort of activity that distracts you from your current train of thought. Here are a few of my go-to pattern interrupters that help me shift my  thoughts from crazy town to happy land:

1. Get Physical:  One of the best ways to change your state and to distract yourself is to get your body moving. For me I either turn to running or yoga. Both of these activities help distract my mind, release happy endorphins, and put me into a more positive state. When I am really worked up I’ll go on a nice long run. It’s amazing how much perspective I can gain when I literally get out of my head and into my body.

2. Turn up the Music: Listening to good music is one of the best mood changers out there. And I swear my $10.00 Spotify subscription has saved more often then not. I actually created a “Happy” playlist which never fails to get me smiling and dancing. Just choose your music wisely. If you are feeling obsessed about a relationship don’t go listening to a bunch of sad break up songs. Keep it happy, keep it light. Make your own happy playlist with all your favorite uplifting songs. And the next time you are feeling trapped in your head just turn the music up and sing along.

3. Laugh out Loud: Laughter is another awesome state changer. I think it’s imperative to one’s health and happiness to laugh every single day. And one of the best ways to distract yourself is to put on a funny movie or t.v show. Something that will have you laughing out loud. If you don’t have time to watch a whole show and just need a quick fix turn to youtube and watch a 3 minute silly video. Laughing will quickly interrupt that negative brain loop and help rewire you into a happy state.

4. Get Creative: Another great mood changer is to occupy yourself with a creative activity. Maybe it’s drawing or scrap-booking. Or perhaps you love to garden or bake. Whatever it is choose something that you really enjoy. That activity that you could get lost in for hours. When you turn on your creative mind your analytical mind can’t be running at the same time. This means all those obsessive thoughts will start to calm down and get quiet as you lose yourself in this creative endeavor.

Now once you’ve distracted yourself and are in a different state of mind, then you can meditate. Then you can approach the situation from a calmer place. You’ll gain perspective and stop catastrophizing. You’ll be able to see the situation clearer and remain more detached. And most of all you’ll feel better, which is really the whole point. Remember that you can’t solve a problem with the same mind that created it. You need to step away from your current train of thought in order to keep your sanity and gain some perspective. So the next time you can’t stop thinking about that “thing,”  distract yourself, break up that thought pattern, and get out of your head!