Observe

Last weekend I was taking a yoga class and the instructor suggested that we become aware of that part of us that is able to watch all the changing feelings, thoughts, sensations, and impulses that continually roll in and out of our awareness.  It reminded me of the Observe skill; in fact, it WAS the Observe skill.  Throughout this week I have continued to practice this skill as I am going about my life.  As I was driving home from work last night in the snow the Observe skill allowed me to notice that my habitual worry around driving in less than optimal conditions is just a form of negative thinking.  As I noticed the various worry thoughts, for example, "I have to go slow because there could be black ice," or "...this person's headlights are making it even harder for me to see," and the increasing tension that accompanied them, I realized the whole production was coming from history, not from the present moment.  I was living in a kind of overlay of the past on the present.  Through using the Observe skill I was then able to step back a bit and notice the thoughts with more clarity and name them "Negative Thinking."  That allowed me to wake up during the drive, release the tension, and step out of habitual worry.  Each time a worry sentence arose in my mind I observed it, labeled it, and re-focused on the present moment.  I suddenly found myself enjoying the beauty of the swirling white snow against the black sky.  I think my driving was more reasonable and safe as opposed to overly cautious or tentative.  What a relief to be able to step back and release painful and unproductive worry thoughts!  It resulted in calmness rather than misery.