COACH MINDA
  • AT A GLANCE
  • SPECIALITIES
  • - Personal Challenges
  • - Work Challenges
  • - Well-Being
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • CAREER HISTORY
  • ACHIEVEMENTS
  • GLOSSARY
  • AGREEMENT & QUESTIONNAIRE
  • WORKSHOP questionnaire
  • AT A GLANCE
  • SPECIALITIES
  • - Personal Challenges
  • - Work Challenges
  • - Well-Being
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • CAREER HISTORY
  • ACHIEVEMENTS
  • GLOSSARY
  • AGREEMENT & QUESTIONNAIRE
  • WORKSHOP questionnaire
Call for an appointment (514) 791- 4506
Coach Minda's

BLOG

    Sign up for my blog
Notify Me
'> Picture
These blogs are a way to share my thoughts and insights with you. Feel free to comment and share.

The on/off switch

21/11/2016

5 Comments

 
light switch
We all have a habit of letting our minds drift and roam, wandering from one thought to another. It can be sweet to daydream, imagine, rehearse or romanticize.  Or simply mull over a problem.

There isn't a living soul who doesn't slip into an inner world of reverie. Our minds tend to wander more when we are stressed, bored or uninterested by the task at hand.
 
While catching up with a friend this weekend I confessed that I have been experimenting with consciously choosing to give my thoughts free rein —  letting my mind wander without direction— curious about the ideas and feelings below the surface. I give this activity a start time: I let my mind dart wherever it wishes, creating whatever fantasies and stories it desires. And it does so with great abandon.  I admit this feels indulgent.

I am aware that I am allowing myself to daydream. And, it feels very different from the daydreaming that happens when you are reading a book and realize you haven't absorbed one word, because your attention has wandered.

I think we need to let our minds wander freely, without any particular goal.  To pursue a degree of mindlessness, from time to time.  But to do this well we also need, in addition to a start time, discipline and an exit strategy. For me, this is being able to turn OFF the ON switch to my daydreaming sessions. On a dime.  

When our daydreaming becomes addictive or compulsive, and leads to excessive rumination, the rehashing of old stories, or repetitive analyses of who did what and when, I see this as a negative form of mindlessness. It leaves you unhappy, worried, overwhelmed and unproductive.  It lacks an on/off switch.

I prefer to cultivate a mindful meditation practice, where you pay more attention to your breath and not your thoughts, but if you need a dose of mindlessness,  just make sure you know  to flip the switch.


in mindful mindlessness,
Coach Minda









5 Comments
Susan
22/11/2016 10:46:16 am

Minda,
You say "indulgent" but it's also "courageous" if it is done honestly… To let yourself risk an encounter with thoughts and feelings that are a little bit out of the normal path of "right minded" consciousness may prove to be an encounter with a "bigger", but maybe less conforming, self!

Reply
Minda
1/12/2016 10:52:03 pm

I like the positive spin you put on this Susan.

Reply
Gillian J. Saunter
1/12/2016 10:25:48 pm

Maybe music is an aid in letting our thoughts, or is it or feelings, run, fly, dance and explore, reminisce and imagine? The song you chose sure helped me do that. Lifted me right out of whatever I had been thinking.

Reply
Minda
1/12/2016 10:56:53 pm

Without a doubt, music let's my feelings fly. I really like this song. Thanks Gillian

Reply
Teagan link
6/1/2021 10:30:07 am

Thannks for writing this

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Tweet
    View my profile on LinkedIn

    My family, relationships, movement, nature,  flexibility of mind, exploration of  alternative perspectives & openness are central to my life. 

    Archives

    April 2025
    February 2025
    August 2024
    December 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    February 2020
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    May 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013


Private and confidential

  • ​In Person, by Phone, Skype, Zoom or WhatsApp
  • Day, evening and weekend spots
Picture

Connect with me

  • (514) 791-4506
  • [email protected]
  • www.coachminda.com
  • Coach Minda FB
  • Psychology Today
  • Ezine articles

​
  • AT A GLANCE
  • SPECIALITIES
  • - Personal Challenges
  • - Work Challenges
  • - Well-Being
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • CAREER HISTORY
  • ACHIEVEMENTS
  • GLOSSARY
  • AGREEMENT & QUESTIONNAIRE
  • WORKSHOP questionnaire