EGO DISSOLN Lose your mind so that you can gain a new way of knowing.” ~Holly Lynn Payne

Lose your mind so that you can gain a new way of knowing.” ~Holly Lynn Payne


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1. Ping pong

The next time you find yourself caught up in some type of love story or money trouble or worry in your head, pay attention and you will see you have thoughts that say completely the opposite.

Think about this classic example of contradictory thoughts:

“I never want to see him again.”

“Why doesn’t he call me?”

When you have opposing thoughts like this, take a step back in your mind and look at both thoughts. It’s just like looking at a ping pong match, right? Then just stay there for a while and feel what happens.

2. Look

Go for a walk outside; it doesn’t matter where or when. Focus purely on looking at your surroundings. Just look with your eyes, really look, without commenting in your head on what you see. It doesn’t matter if it’s a beautiful forest of a busy shopping street, just keep your attention on what you see and experience the moment.

If at any moment a thought pops into your head, don’t grab hold of it; just observe it and let it float by, like a cloud in the sky. In the meantime, keep your attention on your surroundings and keep walking.

3. Five breaths

This might sound very simple, but when it comes down to it, it’s harder for a lot of people then they might think, and that’s what makes it so fun and so eye-opening. It’s a great way to see how many thoughts, big and small, are popping up in your head every breath.

So just sit down, close your eyes, and breathe five slow breaths in and out, in and out, counting as you go—inhale, exhale, one; inhale, exhale, two. Counting will give you something to hold your mind, which will help you keep it clear of other thoughts.

If you can make it to five with a quiet mind, see if you can add another five, and then more after that. If thoughts pop up, simply bring your focus back to your counting and your breath.

While you practice this the invitation is to see what happens for you. How does your mind feel? How does your body feel? Are you experiencing anything different?

4. Wait for it

Sit down, close your eyes, and say to yourself, “Hmm, I wonder what the next thought is going to be.” Focus on the space inside your head where thoughts seem to come from and sit and wait for the next thought while keeping your focus.

5. Hum!

The amazing Indian tradition of Brahmari is a great emergency tool for calming a chaotic mind.

Just close your eyes and go “Huuuummmmmmmmmmm” and keep the “mmmm” going for as long as you can until you hear the “mmmm” in the center of your brain. You can also use “Ohm” or “Aum” if you like, since they end with “mmmm” as well. Do it as long as you can, for as long as you like, and see how it calms and relaxes you.

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These five exercises will give you an experience of silence in no time at all, and they’re all great first steps toward a regular meditation practice. When one doesn’t work just move to the next one, not forcing anything. Be playful with it.

If you do these exercises regularly the silence will become longer and clearer. But beware: They might just make you fall in love with losing your mind!

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///////////////////////////////CALMNESS IS YR SUPERPOWER

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There is in the soul a taste for the good, just as there is in the body an appetite for enjoyment.”

--- Joseph Joubert, Pensées