The brain craves novelty Newness, difference. When we’re not getting it during mundane repetitive everyday tasks (cleaning up, driving, getting dressed, making school lunches) We tune out Mind goes on screen saver ... into a world of its own. And this is where the trouble begins. In screen-saver mode Another aspect of our mind takes over: Rumination. We go over our stories about things, about life Often repeating an episode for the trillionth time This is the default setting of the brain. Science calls it “narrative mode”. Key point: we don’t know we’re doing it. It happens in unawareness, at a subterranean level Mindlessness (I drive 24 km only to ask on arrival: how did I get here? And what the heck was I thinking about all the way?) It wouldn’t matter if this mind-streaming rumination happened only occasionally It wouldn’t matter if my mind (everyone’s mind) had not a negativity bias: an evolutionary tilt towards seeking problems and sniffing out danger, mainly to do with myself, lil’ ol me …. “what I like/don’t like; want/ don’t want/ how I fit in/ don’t fit in/ measure up how do I get what I want? not get what I don’t want? who is holding me back?” Wouldn’t matter so much if we did the mindless ruminating thing only occasionally. But the issue is: the thoughts we don’t see are the thoughts that control us. Mindfulness means courageously pulling back the veil, non-judgementally. Mindfulness is befriending, welcoming, opening to the lurking background thoughts. With kindness and curiosity. Mindfulness is joyfully appreciating that, ironic as it is, seeing into and embracing the chaotic (and at times intense) content of the ruminating mind is first step to freeing us of its hold. copyright Shakti Burke
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2 Comments
Lisa
30/8/2016 07:40:15 am
Hi Shakti, yes my mind loves to twirl and comb over tiny bits of information from eons ago. I try to give it (my mind) projects, have some activities I can mindfully turn to for distraction when I notice myself going down the same old path. Other times I just watch the circus going by in my mind!
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Shakti
7/9/2016 03:27:38 pm
Sounds like you've got the rumination conundrum firmly under wraps Lisa. Go you mindful thing! Great feedback, thankyou.
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