An Overwhelmed Mind

Have you ever tried to stop thinking? Some people say it can't be done! When we feel our mind can’t be turned off, we often go to bed tired and wake up tired. If our first action in the morning is to reset the snooze alarm "one more time," perhaps it’s time to commit to improving our life and putting an end to feeling overwhelmed.

An overwhelmed mind is limiting in its ability to function since it’s too busy jumping from thought to thought to perceive accurately. If we think we can listen and speak at the same time, we are only contributing to our mental noise and distancing ourselves from the greater potential of understanding.

Clearing an overwhelmed mind can be as simple as taking two or three deep breaths in coordination with relaxing the body. By drawing deep, cleansing breaths, we can calm the body naturally and increase our flow of inner energy. When our breathing is calm, we release any stress, anger, or fear we have and allow our mind to become clear in any situation. Feeling overwhelmed is an unconscious habit developed by responding to life’s changing circumstances. By taking the time to clear an overwhelmed mind we perceive more accurately and discover a balanced, more fulfilling life.

New Year's Resolution - Creating the Life We Envision

New Years is the perfect time to make changes in our lives since change is in everyone's consciousness. One of the best ways we can create the life we envision for ourselves is by writing. There is empirical evidence that shows we can improve our well-being, optimism, and enjoyment of life by beginning a "Best Possible Selves Diary."

The practice of writing has an extraordinary effect upon our consciousness. When our mind is calm, our creativity is high and we can access our higher mental faculties. This is the perfect mental state to create our future built upon positive expectations.

To begin the practice of writing in a journal, simply find a place to sit that feels peaceful and relaxing. Without over analyzing our thoughts, practice visualizing and believing the best possible outcome for this year. Then write from a positive perspective with the feeling of great expectation. The power of this exercise comes from allowing ourselves to believe and feel like our best possible self has already created what we want.

Keeping a journal of our best possible self can help overcome life's daily challenges. If we fall back into our old habits and behaviors, we can always re-visit our journal and know what we visualized and wrote about is still possible. All we have to do is accept that we have the power to choose our reality, develop the habits that will ensure our success, and allow ourselves to succeed.

Tips for a Happy Holiday

The holiday season can be a time of great joy and celebration, yet it can also be a time of great stress. During this time of year, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and out of balance at work and home. What’s missing is our ability to be at peace with ourselves, and as a result our relationships can suffer. To reduce stress and make this time of year more enjoyable for everyone, here are some tips which will help add joy to this special time of year.


• Eliminate Negative Habits
Everyone is busy this time of year, some are even frantic, yet many people don’t recognize how their habits actually increase their frustration and rob them of their productive time. If we feel overburdened, perhaps it’s time to give our mind a rest from stress and focus on the positive aspects throughout each day. By training our mind to let go of limiting thoughts and negative emotions, we free ourselves from the burden of repetitive negativity. When we develop the habit of working from a positive perspective, we reduce our stress, feel happier, and improve our health.


• Share Words of Encouragement
When people are overly stressed, a few well-timed words of encouragement can be a welcomed gift. Being a positive influence can help people to remain calm, collaborate effectively, and make the season more enjoyable. When we naturally share words of encouragement, the impact upon people’s lives is immeasurable.


• Reduce Interruptions
Although we cannot eliminate interruptions, we can learn how to respond to changing circumstances and make the most out of our busy periods this season. I know an engineer that honors his need to have a quiet place to concentrate. Sometimes he reserves a small conference room when one is available. His coworkers assume he's at a meeting, but actually he's reducing his interruptions, doing some of his best work, and getting projects done on time. Giving ourselves quiet time to focus when we are at our peak performance can be one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves.


• Be Patient
Even small problems can become exaggerated. Being calm when others are anxious directly reduces tension and improves the quality of our relationships. Being patient allows us to see the big picture and make positive contributions from a calm center. Developing patience helps reduce our stress and is a value to everyone we encounter.


• Celebrate Success
This is a great time of year to celebrate our successes—that is, everyone’s successes. Find out what’s new in people’s lives and join in the celebration. When we enthusiastically share in the joy of celebration, we strengthen the connection we have with others and gain a greater appreciation of the many blessings in our own life.


The holiday season is the perfect time to be at peace with ourselves and grateful for all we have, as well as the opportunities we have to help others and improve the world in which we live.

Three Thoughts for Today

One -- Our beliefs create our reality

We are limited by what we believe is possible. Once we develop the mental focus to concentrate and the willpower to see our desires through to fruition, we are able to create what we believe. There is only one thing that can stop us from creating what we want, and that is doubt. If we have doubts, we must realize they are only shadows of limitations that we have adopted from others who have tried and given up. Besides, doubts are not who we truly are. Sometimes the greatest leap of faith we can take is in ourselves. Once we know what we want and are willing to commit to see it through, we can achieve whatever we choose.


Two -- When we learn to accept ourselves can we greet others with full acceptance

The level of acceptance that we greet others with directly affects the outcome of the encounter and the quality of the long term relationship. Have you ever been greeted with complete acceptance? It’s a rare occurrence in today’s world. When we greet someone with complete acceptance, it opens the doorway to truth and honesty. If we greet someone with mental and emotional resistance (even if it’s only a little) we limit our ability to clearly communicate with that person. Our ability to accept others is always limited by how we accept ourselves.


Three -- There is great power in seeing the best in others

When we practice seeing the best in others we improve our relationships. We know exactly what our relationship is with anyone by paying close attention to the first thought that crosses our mind the instant we see them. What is our first response to that person? Paying attention to our first thought will give us great insight into the quality of that relationship. How many of our relationships have some negativity or emotional resistance in them? When we practice seeing the best in others, we help them and ourselves to let go of negative thinking and habits.


Remember, how we choose to respond and relate to others is a reflection of our habits and beliefs. One of life’s greatest gifts is that we can change our mind and improve how we relate to ourselves and others. When we see the best in every person, we are making the world a better place.

A Cup of Coffee

Two weeks ago while driving home from a writing retreat in the Sierras, I asked Maureen, "How's your coffee?" She smiled and said, "It’s great." I was happy for her because I know how much Maureen loves a good cup of coffee.

This may sound like a simple situation, but what would have happen if I asked, "Is today’s coffee as good as the coffee you make at home?"

Asking that question would have made Maureen compare her present cup of coffee with another coffee experience. By comparing, it would have taken her away from the joy she was experiencing at the present moment.

The more time we spend in the present moment, the more joy there is in our lives. When we compare events, it brings up experiences from the past that can create judgments. By living in the present moment, we expand our awareness and enjoy the experience that’s before us right now.

Seeing the Beauty in Life

Have you ever wondered how people can look at the same view and yet never see the same thing?

Years ago, I was setting up my camera and tripod to take a beautiful seascape picture near Big Sur, California. Two men hiking along the trail paused as they passed to see what I was photographing. As they walked away, I overheard one of the men say, "I’ve walked this trail hundreds of times, but I’ve never seen what he sees."

So often people only see what they’ve seen before with the same mindset, yet the beauty in life is often discovered when we see things as if for the first time. Creativity and inspiration come from seeing things in a new light which often leads to incredible innovation that benefits us all.

Peace of Mind

How do we find peace of mind in a world that seems to be spinning out of control? The answer lies in quieting the busy mind. Yet when we try to sit still for a few moments our mind seems to be overflowing with thoughts and emotions and we wonder if peace of mind is even possible. Sometimes I wonder if we even allow ourselves to be at peace.

One morning as I was sitting quietly for a few minutes before a busy day, this thought crossed my mind:

"I accept all good things for Michael."

I visualized going through the day without wondering or worrying about what would happen in each situation; instead, I envisioned all good things coming to Michael.

What I felt was a peaceful state that lasted throughout the day. Even when things weren’t going as planned, my perspective shifted as I saw the bigger picture.

A few days later, I mentioned to a friend how this simple exercise greatly improved my peace of mind. She replied, "Michael, what you’ve found is present moment consciousness and allowed yourself to succeed."

The next time you want a little peace of mind, take a few moments to breathe fully and accept all good things for yourself. You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel and how many good things do come into your life.