Worry about the future....recriminations about the past.....how often do you find your mind somewhere other than where you find your body? Synchronizing body and mind is so refreshing, bringing relief of stress and tension caused by focusing on any moment other than the present moment. We can use the one-mindfully skill to take the reins of our mind and place our attention on what is going on right in front of us.
The first step is noticing when our mind has drifted into a dream of the past or future. Set the intention when you arise in the morning to notice when the mind is wandering away from the present moment. This intention alone will spark moments of "waking-up" to the discursive mind...the mind that plots, re-plays, fantasizes, worries, engages in self-criticism. You get the picture.
Once you notice that mind and body are in two different places, bring your attention back to the present moment. Feel the warm water as you wash the dishes. The smoothness of the keyboard as you type. The sound of your voice as you speak, or the sound of someone else's voice as you listen. The senses only operate in the present moment. They anchor us to the here and now.
It is normal for the mind to wander. It's no problem that you will have to practice this skill again and again. Each time we make the effort and have the discipline to return to the present moment we are strengthening our power of attention. By choosing what we pay attention to we gain mastery over our lives.
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