919-680-1866

logologologo
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • FAQ
  • Library
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • FAQ
  • Library
  • Contact
featured_image

Calm My Racing Mind!

March 14, 2018 by Cara Jones Uncategorized 0 comments

Lying awake at night, staring at the ceiling hour after hour. Thoughts pouring in like an open faucet.

Distracted no matter what I’m doing…can’t focus… my mind is darting everywhere.

If you ever have trouble quieting your mind, here is an exercise to try. The idea is to have a mental place to put all of your thoughts/”to-dos”/worries until you can deal with them, one at a time. You can rest them knowing they’ll be there when you are ready, but you don’t have to deal with all of them at one time, much less at this very moment. It’s a way to helpfully compartmentalize, drawing out to your attention just what you need right in the moment.

Some people make this a physical reality and create a beautiful container in which they put slips of paper with jotted thoughts. They find the act of writing and physically placing them outside of themselves brings more mental release. Go for it!

In either case, read the thought aloud a few times to familiarize yourself before trying it. Have someone read it if possible when you try it or even read it as you go, if needed. Or you can put it into a voice memo app to play back to yourself. You’ll soon get the hang of it.

Before you can do the Container exercise, you need two things: a mental “container” and a “safe place.” This requires two brief visualizations. Get in a relaxed, quiet place for a few minutes. Breathe deeply as you consider these things:

1. Think first of a beautiful container with a one-way lid opening, like a hinged box. Picture it in as much detail as you can. Might be something you have or just something you would like.

2. Then, close your eyes and visualize a ‘safe place.’ What comes to mind? Your home? Your childhood home or grandmother’s place? A favorite place in nature? Being with a certain person?

Pull in all the details of this safe place… what do you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch? Do you see other people or are you alone? Do you see walls or open space? Something beautiful? What color? Smell food or city smells? Farm smells? Perfume? Are you eating anything or tasting the salt of the ocean? What textures are you touching? What’s against your skin? Are you touching the ground or furniture? Sand, grass, etc? Paint as vivid picture as you can.

Once you have these pictures in your mind, you’re ready to put your cares into your “Container.”

Prev

Recent Posts

  • Calm My Racing Mind!
  • Succeed making a new habit!
  • The Practice of Mindfulness through Sensory Awareness
  • The Practice of Mindfulness through Breathing
Carajonescounseling.com is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, or medical/therapeutic diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified mental health provider or physician related to any mental health or medical symptoms. Do not disregard professional psychological or medical advice, or delay seeking professional care because of something you have read on carajonescounseling.com. Use of this site or materials herein does not constitute a professional relationship with Cara Jones Counseling, PLLC.

Address and Contact Information

(919) 680-1866

hello@carajonescounseling.com

115 S. Fifth Street, Suite A
Mebane, NC 27302

© Cara Jones Counseling, PLLC and Its Licensors. All Rights Reserved.