What do you see? The blots or the white background?

The mind has been a repeating theme lately. Here’s some mind – based, mind - blowing information:  

• It’s estimated we have between 25,000-80,000 thoughts a day,
• Up to 98% of those thoughts are repeated every day,
• In the region of 80% of thoughts are negative (imagine them like ink blots on a white background),
• Negative thinking impacts on our health - we become ill more often, feel stressed, helpless and hopeless, and our brains reduce the chemicals that help us feel happy.

Over time, because we tend to focus on the repeated and negative thoughts, creating more and more blots, we can no longer see the white background – we’ve got a head full of “stuff”. 

Yoga's roots are geared to increase the mind’s ability to focus. This funnels our many thoughts to specifics related to body or breath, co-ordination or rest, over time shifting the mind’s patterns. When our mind's patterns and focus improves we become calmer, more productive, have a better outlook, feel less overwhelmed, sleep better – shall I go on?!

Be clear, the thoughts may still happen, but, with consistent, regular practice (see my January blog for more on that) we can teach the mind new habits.

Here’s another mind-blowing piece of information:

• It takes, on average, 66 days for a habit to form – hence where the consistent, repeated practice is needed to shift from Mind Full to Mindful.

Want something to try?

• Next time you notice your mind is whirring, settle the gaze on one thing, anything. Notice its shape, colours, then gaze beyond or through it. The eyes will want to dart around, keep them steady, the mind will want to argue, keep it attentive to what your eyes are fixed on.  After a while you might close your eyes, but keep the image in the mind for a while. Let go of the image after a while and enjoy seeing the white background instead of the ink blots!

Read more about focusing the mind: 
www.verywellmind.com/things-you-can-do-to-improve-your-mental-focus-4115389
tinybuddha.com/blog/10-ways-cultivate-positive-mindset-change-life/

Tapas is a Yoga word with a big meaning – it relates to change and the need for staying power, determination and self discipline in the process. Within Tapas are two other really important elements - Abhayasa, meaning consistent, repeated effort and Vairagya, meaning not obsessing about results.

For those who set a New Year’s resolution, by February most will have given up. Why? Because we might have set an unrealistic goal, we want results too quickly, or we struggle to put the effort in regularly enough.  

We can create change any time we want to, it doesn't have to be a New Year. How we go about it is what matters.

​How can we deal better with a change we'd like to make?

1. Be realistic about an aim or aspiration, and timescale.
2. Consider where you are now compared to where you’re wanting to head towards.  
3. Form a plan of baby steps that could take you from a to b. Maybe jot down comments or notes about how you’re getting on with your plan – the baby steps will become milestones!.
4. Chip away, and be kind if there’s a few backward steps and falters.
5. Be consistent and creative – babies try many ways (and have help at hand!) to get onto their feet, they fall down before they master walking!.
6. Don’t beat yourself up if things don’t work to plan – let go of the striving for end results, look how far you've come with your baby steps, maybe create another plan - or, even better become more content with every step forward so far!.

What could you create for yourself with the mix of consistent, repeated effort and determination? 

To find out more about Tapas
www.yogauonline.com/yoga-basics/third-niyama-tapas-inner-fire
​​www.ekhartyoga.com/articles/philosophy/understanding-the-niyamas-tapas