CALMING the DIS-EASE of OUR MINDS

Recently I had the opportunity to travel for one of my daughter’s dance competitions. The entire experience was lovely. The competition was held in Tampa where the weather was spectacular on the days we were there. I had the great joy of watching my daughter perform, and we had some free time to enjoy the area. While at the airport waiting to board the plane for our return home, I noticed that I was becoming impatient. I was annoyed that it was taking “too long” for others to board and for the airline staff to call us up. I wasn’t particularly tired, I wasn’t uncomfortable, and I had had a great weekend. We were all going to get on the plane, and the plane would not take off until every passenger was settled in their seats. I knew this to be true. Yet, I was feeling annoyed, impatient, anxious. Why?

I realized that my brain was automatically taking me to a place of dis-ease. Even though there was no reason for me to feel hurried or worried, that is what I was experiencing. I was suddenly struck by the clarity of all the billions of times in my life that I had allowed my sense of peace to be replaced by this dis-ease of my brain. And, I decided I no longer wanted to stand idly and allow this to happen again. So what did I do? I once again turned to my practice of mental fitness. 

The practice of mental fitness has allowed me to strengthen my capacity to 1. Identify when something that I am experiencing just doesn’t seem right 2. Intercept the thoughts that are causing me to feel that way and, 3. Command my mind to shift to the neural pathways in my brain where I can access the Sage powers of empathy, explore, innovate, navigate, and activate. What did this practice look like at that moment in the airport? Instead of staying with the thoughts that were causing frustration and annoyance, I chose to pay especially close attention to my daughter, who was standing next to me. I focused on her eyes, her smile, her hair, and tried to see all the littlest details, while letting go of all the thoughts that tried to invade my brain. Every time a thought tried to interrupt my focus I let it pass and brought my attention back to a detail on my daughter. In essence, I did PQ reps on my daughter. This intercepted the thoughts that had caused my mental dis-ease, and created the space for me to command my brain to engage the neural pathways that could shift my being to a place of gratitude. Once I was there, the dis-ease began to fade. I was so thrilled to be where I was, with whom I was, and to have enjoyed such a lovely weekend. All of a sudden, the time waiting to be called to board the plane had become an opportunity to focus my being on the being of someone whom I love, to relish the memories of the moments spent over the weekend, and to just be without having to do. 

I urge you to pay attention to your thoughts. Our brains are literally wired to create dis-ease, even in the most wonderful moments of our lives. It is a function of our survival brain. However, we can train our brains so that we are not controlled by our thoughts. We can choose to command our brains to use the neural pathways that will serve us best in the moment. Do not allow your sense of peace and calm to be taken from you. Choose to train your brain. Like all life changing training programs, this is a process that takes practice and commitment. And, there is no date of completion. What do you choose?