• CAN YOU REALLY "CLEAR YOUR MIND?"

    I regularly hear a client or colleague or friend say “I just need to clear my mind!” Or I “need a clear space in my mind to think and make a decision.”  And I semi regularly think – myself – I need to feel “clear headed” before I decide what to do about ……”

    And recently when I was teaching a client to meditate, she asked, “Is the goal to clear my mind?”

    So I’ve been thinking it makes sense to explore what any of us mean when we use that phrase and sometimes use it frequently.  Starting with myself, I know the thought comes to me when I have had a really busy day; am facing deadlines; have some complicated choices or decisions, or am simply feeling overly stressed.

    I think most of us mean we need to have enough space and clarity and relaxation to feel we are thinking clearly.  That’s different from “clearing the mind.”  And as we learn in meditation or mindfulness, the goal is to quiet thoughts, even for a few seconds or minutes — to focus on the breath — and then to acknowledge that thoughts have returned.  Consequently the reality is stress has accelerated when “clearing the mind” is a stated goal.  It means the mind is crowded or perhaps over whelmed with too many conflicting and troubling and confusing thoughts all at once.  That thoughts are not clear.

    So perhaps the answer to the question is really: you can “quiet” the mind.  You can slow down, you can relax, you can focus and reflect.  You can engage your best judgment when you do something to relax and breathe and trust your thinking and decision making.

    The best ways to do that?

    –Meditation for 20 to 30 minutes is a  tool anyone can learn to use. And I highly recommend it.

    –Some form of rigorous exercise will reduce stress and quiet  the racing, stressful thoughts.  That can be a brief walk around the block a few times or a bike ride or a run.  Most people say they feel more “clear headed” within 20 minutes of real physical exertion

    –Write in a journal.  List every thing that is clouding your thinking.  Getting it on paper releases tension in your thought process.

    –Talk to a close friend or family member.  Hearing yourself think out loud clears confusion.

    –Get a good solid 8 hours of sleep a few nights in a row.  That sometimes takes the weight off confusing or even depressing thoughts

    AND if stress and fuzzy thinking continues even after trying these suggestions, it’s perhaps time to speak to a professional.

    AND if possible, learn to use the statement — “I need to clear my mind” — as a simple and straight forward thought that simply indicates you need a break from whatever you’ve been doing. It’s often just a useful thought that says, slow down, pay attention, and think clearly.

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