When it rains it pours. There really can be too much of a good thing.
Right now I am pretty much awash in interesting possibilities. My yogini and I are planning a six-week program applying yoga and mindfulness to mental health issues. At the office we are in the beginning stages of negotiating with a county agency to provide psychological evaluations. Lin and I are exploring options that have been presented to us to share our AMD knowledge and writing skills beyond what we do currently . My husband and I head to Ireland in April. Whoa.
In other words I think about the future a lot. I sort of live in the future.
So what are I doing now? I am lying on the bed with a dog stretched over my stomach. I am writing this page and thinking about taking a nap. I am cold and tired after a busy morning and it is time for a break. Time to be in the now and let the future take care of itself.
For many of us, being in the now – being in the moment in DBT speak – is extremely difficult. I know many of you live in the future in a rather negative fashion. We get a lot of “what if” comments. What if I go blind and can’t do x, y or z? What if they take my license? The world is full of what ifs that have not happened yet and may never happen. Yet we allow these thoughts to destroy perfectly acceptable nows because we worry and fret.
I have preached mindfulness here and at the office and have been told it is “impossible! I can’t do that!” dozens of times. I beg to differ.
In yoga – yes, again – there is a thing called a Drishti. A Drishti is a focus point you can use for balance. If I am doing a balance pose I have learned to find a stable spot in front of me and stare at it. With my vision I often use the little red light on the sound system speaker. THAT I can see!
Of course, balance challenged as I am, my Drishti often becomes a drifty, but that is neither here nor there. Having a point of focus helps maintain balance.
As it is on the mat, so it is off the mat. Having a point of focus in life helps to maintain balance as well. This can happen at many levels.
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At the simplest level is something like focusing on petting the dog. Or the cat if you must. If you get a little drifty and start worrying and fretting, bring your attention back and try again. Focus on the soft, warm fur and just keep petting with attention, not automatically.
At a deeper level, think about everything you do, and do it with both intention and attention. Perform old tasks with the same focus you used when you were still learning. And be cognizant of your goals. What are you trying to do? Rinse the sink? Don’t just slosh some water around! Think of whether or not you are getting it clean. Focus. What is your purpose in this action?
So that is that…and yes, I know there is a difference between what I am planning for in the future and what you are worrying about. Planning versus worrying? By George, I believe I just set up a segue to my next page!
Catch you later!
Written January 19th, 2019