Are You Mindful or Mind Full?

 

It’s that time of year. 

There are many things to get done. 

 

To-do lists grow out of thin air and suddenly it can seem like the calm of the day disappears.

 

I have done this and realize that the work I have put into becoming mindful has then turned into my mind being full. 

 

How does this happen? 

 

Let’s take a look at the lists that appear. 

They can include things such as these

 

Planning.

Gathering. 

Thinking about others. 

Decorating.

Creating.

 

What would you add? 

 

Perhaps you are like me and each of these items can then become their own trail of immense additional things to do. 

My mind is full

And then, wouldn’t you know, my mind is full. 

 

Mindfulness is out the window. 

 

Here’s the deal. 

 

When my mind is full, I have found that it can feel how it looked on this day. 

 

A bit out of focus.

Moving to get to the next thing.

 

What was so important at this time? Or was it that something big had happened and I was going with whatever came instead of paying attention to what was important? 

 

Time swirled and twirled and then I realized I wanted, and needed, to become mindful. 

Again. 

 

How to do that? 

 

I had done this before, so the quest began. 

 

Daily reminders did come back. The Calm to the Storm was one that I found coming to me. 

Clouds and pausing have been one of the many ways to bring the mindful moments back. 

 

What else can be done? 

Is there a way to choose what I do and not do this time of year? 

 

Oh, and throughout the year? 

 

Yes, my friends, there is. 

 

I began to remember that there is a way to focus on what I can control, and what I can’t. 

 

Both are important to me. 

 

It became even more so as I realized that my mind full of thoughts could pull me here, there and every way at the drop of a hat. 

Time to be mindful

Yes, it was time to be mindful. 

 

Here is what I found. 

I can focus on my thoughts and what I do. 

 

Let me start with the thoughts that were becoming their own trails.

 

Has that happened to you? 

It still can for me until I give myself three things to do. 

 

Pay attention to the trails of thoughts. 

Pause. 

Look up. 

Pay attention

If I pay attention to what the thoughts are telling me then I am able to home in on what my whirling world is telling me. 

 

What?  Can you believe it? 

Yes, I do let my thoughts stay open and then pause. 

 

If a thought comes, then I see if it works into something I can do.  

 

The things I do, the behaviors, turned into me doing what helps me pause. 

 

Focusing on what I can control includes what I choose to do next. 

M’hm. 

 

Feel the moments that come when the choice is within our realm.

 

That brings calm to my soul, a day and then gives time to look up. 

The final piece

The final piece for me. 

 

An indicator that I am being mindful and not in a space with my mind full. 

 

How do I know there is a difference? 

Time and time again I have felt it to be this. 

 

Being mindful helps me to stay in the moment, with the people I am with and not jump into the next one, two or twelve things that could be done. 

Feeling calm, serene, and joyful. 

 

When my mind is full it feels like I am playing leapfrog with ideas, never settling into a space with the person I am with, tapping a foot or fingers with an unsettled beat that needs to be drummed out and yet not knowing where to go next. 

Becoming rattled, nervous, and darting here and there. 

 

I’ll tell you this. 

The first me is where I like to be. 

Where I strive to stay

It is where I strive to stay. Where I am wired to be. 

 

Yet, I am both at times. I think that is ok as I practice and continue on from here. 

 

Learning how to let thoughts come while paying attention continues to be the quest. 

 

Being curious about the quest has become my fourth and final addition to all of this. 

 

Four steps that look different at times. 

 

How does this work for you, my friends? 

 

Are you mindful or is your mind full? Join me as we all find our way through each day.