I can't switch off

Misery as Grace

Recently a friend confided in me “I have trouble switching off. I’m obsessed with my work” Can you relate? I think we all can. Whether it’s work or our personal life, our mind can get in a spin.

It got me thinking about the neurosis of the thinking mind. The mind just thinks and thinks and thinks.

“Don’t believe your thoughts” My yoga teacher Carolyn Cowan says

I used to. I used to take my thoughts as gospel, and was driven to the brink of insanity.

Ram Dass says “Your Suffering is Your Grace”

I think and my thoughts are neurotic. And I am very grateful for how neurotic my thoughts are, because I have learnt to not take them seriously.

My mind wants to do very little. I procrastinate, I worry. It’s very tedious.

And that’s why I got seriously serious about waking up. Being the quiet witnesser of the thoughts is so freeing.

But, now onto switching off. It can very hard to switch off, if you expect that the thought train will stop. Instead the quiet witness can grow in presence, and the thoughts are like clouds passing by. If you could hear my inner narrative I would be very embarrassed. On the inside, I’m lazy and I moan and I worry and I complain and I whinge. A LOT.

Here is how I switch off
1. Long walks in nature, with no phone. Watching whats going on. Today I saw the first few jewel blackberries on the bramble bushes.
2. Sitting in nature. Listening and looking. Here’s a drawing of my favourite stream.

3. Having some kind of “switch off routine” Like having a shower, or making a nice herbal tea to signal to my mind it’s off time
4. Listening to a nice podcast or audio book
5. Practising Yoga Nidra and Meditation. I like this Alpha Meditation right now
6. Sewing. I’m currently sewing a new orange outfit for myself. This repetitive act is very therapeutic.

7. Dancing. Putting on my favourite songs and dancing around the living room
8. Cleaning and Tidying. On especially neurotic days this is the best medicine. Are you feeling stressed? Go Clean!
9. Drawing. Doodling whilst I listen to something.

Get out of your own way! That is my advice for today.
Today I felt like I got out of my own way and got on with things.
Tomorrow I might fall down again.

How do you switch off?
How neurotic are you?
LOVE ALWAYS WINS
Laura
XOXOXOXOX

PS. If you would like to switch off with me, join my next women’s retreat on July 28th HERE

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