Want to know the process that has helped me [and some of my clients] more than anything else over the past few years?
It’s Breathe Don’t Think!
Simple? Yes!
Powerful? Indubitably!
For example, early this morning way before first light, I woke up and immediately started worrying about something. It felt terrible. And I could have continued to think those worrisome, negative, unpleasant thoughts. Which would have continued to feel terrible. And would have kept me from returning to the blissful sleep I desired!
But, over the years, I’ve gotten pretty good at switching from thinking to breathing.
As soon as I choose to refocus on my breathing, I’m no longer thinking the annoying nagging troublesome thoughts.
Because it’s not possible to focus on both breathing and negative thoughts at the same time.
So, as soon as I become aware that I’m worrying, fretting, kvetching, complaining, ruminating . . . , I remember to refocus on my breathing instead.
It’s like meditation in that the negative thoughts may try to take over again. Like meditation, the answer is to refocus as many times as it takes. And the more I’ve practiced it, the more easily it works.
I also use the Breathe-Don’t-Think process throughout the day but truly my favorite time to apply it is at night when I want to go back to sleep.
Or to go to sleep in the first place. On occasion, my mind wants to continue thinking thinking thinking which precludes my desire for sleeping sleeping sleeping.
Same answer. I do my best to refocus on my breathing.
When unwanted circumstances arise, you might choose BDT to help you relax. Perhaps you have *that* friend or *that* relative or *that* boss. Instead of getting stressed out, you might choose BDT.
Anytime. Anywhere. Breathe-Don’t-Think may become your reliable helpmate, as it is mine.