Be Still

- Elda-Rosa Coulthrust, MA, LCMHC, LCAS, CCS

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

—Buddha

It is often said, “live in the present!”, “ be in the now!”. These are often the words of someone you know – maybe your friend, colleague or family member. But what does it actually mean to live in the present? The simplest way to explain this, is to consider what it means to not be in the present. It is the state that keeps us stuck - perhaps with regrets from our past, or worries about the unpredictable future. These are the thought pearls whirling around in our minds at lightning speed!

So how can we possibly think about now and how do we manage “the now”? I would suggest being “still” for a moment. Finding a dedicated space to be still with the intention to slow down.

Here is the challenge, settle into a position where you are comfortable and balanced, set your timer to 30 seconds and touch start - slowing down the breath to match the heartbeat - close your eyes and isolate a whirling thought pearl - slow down the thought - if it is a thought from the past, image gently pinching it between your fingers and placing it on a cushion of air behind you, if it is a thought of the future, gently place it on a cushion of air in front of you. Allow yourself deep breaths and ground yourself to the feeling of the air moving around you. Tune into the sounds and vibrations in your space until your timer intrudes. Practice increasing the time and organizing thoughts.

This practice is a good way to combat wandering minds and becoming an agent of the present. The next time your thought pearls are whirling - whether it is a loop on a past event or race into the future, choose to be still, targeting the present moment and be curious about the now.

Coaching Moments

3 Strategies for Slowing Down Whirling Thought Pearls

• Listen to instrumental music. I have found instrumental versions of my favorite songs and genres, so if classical music is not your thing - try a search for an instrumental version of one of your favorites.

• Try a puzzle or word search. This is a popular exercise to strengthen your ability to focus.

• Create positive mantra and program it on your daily calendar.