This week, I'd like to chat about the good old mental checklist that many of you may know all too well. Let's call it MC for short.
How friendly is the relationship between you and your MC?
Are you rarely present? Is it controlling you? Or, can you observe the checklist and use it when needed to serve your best interests?
Listen, lists are okay, and organization is good! But we don't want it to control the show, which comes at a cost.
We aren't present. When life is busy, the mind can get busy, sometimes feeling like a never-ending checklist is consuming us. When doing one thing, we still focus on the next thing on our list.
Our minds and bodies are more stressed. Our mind is racing away, thinking about what's next to get done, and our body feels this. Maybe you feel more irritated or on edge. It may be hard to let yourself truly rest.
We might feel unfulfilled. Life can feel mundane because our day will feel like endless things to do and achieve rather than meaningful moments.
I'm proposing the possibility of not being controlled by our M.C.
What if we gave our MC a rest? Not get rid of it entirely, but learn to turn it off and give ourselves a much-needed break from the constant to-dos.
So, the big question is, where do we start?
We start with our mindfulness practice.
We set an intention to notice and observe, and we explore with compassion and curiousity.
For example, take a moment now to consider these questions:
When you woke up this morning, what was it like for you? Was your mind present and still?
Were you present and aware when you were lying in bed?
Or was your MC running with to-dos before your feet even hit the floor?
What about when you were getting dressed?
Were you present, or was your MC thinking about a conversation you need to have with someone, what to pull out for dinner, or other random things?
And how about when you go to bed at night?
Ever find your mind is still busy thinking about what still waits on the list? So much so that you can't sleep?
"The little things? The little moments?
They aren't little."
– Jon Kabat-Zinn
Try this:
Whenever you become aware, your MC is controlling the show…STOP.
* Don't push it away; simply notice or acknowledge it.
* Let the checklist go, or 'flip it over in your mind.
* Place all of your focus on your breath.
* Take three mindful breaths.
* Observe the breath as you inhale and as you exhale.
* Bring your focus back to what you are doing at that moment.
It's a practice.
Just like any skill, it develops over time. We strengthen our minds and our ability to be present and observe. Being present will become more natural and familiar rather than a random occurrence.
This is living life from the inside out.
Much love,
Diane