Does Thinking Have You in a Sweat?

Do you think a lot? I like to think, it keeps me alive. Having the ability to reason is an attribute I’m not willing to give up. But, I also believe that thinking can be a source of discord.

Years ago my mother said to me, 'the problem with you and me is we think too much.' Okaaay. It pissed me off at the time. I had no idea what she was talking about, but over the years, I've come realize she was quite right.

We can spend too much time in our heads. All that churning about that we do, the back and forth – should I do this or should I do that, or the worry that spins us into anxious moments of despair.

Staying in our heads by constant thinking can actually work against us because it doesn’t bring an answer or relief.

Take a moment and reflect on the past 8, 12, or 24 hours. Were there times when you were caught up in your head, going around and around about a topic? Did you find a resolution or did you just keep going around? I know for myself, even when I think I’ve found a solution, I’ll think it’s not good enough and continue toward that perfect solution until I’m tied up in knots, overwhelmed and not able to find my way out of a paper bag.

Often, this is the workings of the ego. It wants you to be safe, which is of course a good thing, but it can take its job a bit too seriously - it wants to keep its job. If you can’t make up your mind and stay in your head, then the ego has a job to do and it's ever so happy.

There is a way to bypass this however and that is to drop into your heart space.
The heart doesn’t have an opinion, instead, it will love you toward a solution as only the heart can.  

Here’s how it works. The next time you’re thinking about something that has your head swirling, bring it into your heart. You can immediately feel the energy soften around your concern, giving space for a solution to flow.

'But Deborah', you might say, 'I don’t know how to get into my heart space'.

Have a seat and relax. Close your eyes and breathe. After a few slow, deep breaths, put your hands on your heart as a way to focus your attention. Breathe into your heart center and keep your focus on your heart. Continue breathing into your heart for several breaths, locking in the sensation.

Now move your focus into your head. How does this feel compared to being in your heart?  For me, being in my head feels shallow and my heart space feels deeper and richer.

Practice being in your heart space and once you get comfortable there, bring your concern from your head into your heart by focusing again on your heart. Ask your heart, “Please tell me what I need to know about ______.” Let the concern go and let your heart take it from there. What do you feel? How do you feel?

As you practice this, you’ll find when you start thinking too much, you’ll be able to quickly dip down into your heart space and let love give you what you need.