I Didn’t Realise I Was Doing This…

We all do it. We ruminate, ponder, reflect and worry. And some would say we do it too much, especially when the quality of our thinking plays such a significant role in the quality of our lives.

I remember when I first understood the power of my thinking. I was lying in a deep bubble bath filled with lavender oil and Epsom salts. The light was soft, candles flickering, and the house was quiet. Heaven. Just what my body and mind needed after a long week.

But I wasn’t really there. I was somewhere else.

I was caught up in my thoughts.

Thoughts that were making me feel low. And suddenly, I realised how strange it was. I was in one of my favourite places, yet I was missing it completely because my mind had wandered elsewhere.

Our feelings don’t actually come from circumstances, people or events. They come from the thoughts we are having in that moment. Our experience of life is shaped by our thinking. It’s how two people can be in exactly the same situation and have completely different experiences.

In yoga, we begin to notice that we don’t have to believe every thought or give each one our precious attention. We can learn to treat them like clouds moving through the sky, gently bringing our focus back to the present moment.

So maybe this week, you could take a moment to notice the quality of your thinking.

Could it be that you’re not experiencing life, but experiencing your thoughts about life?

And if you catch yourself drifting somewhere else, maybe you can gently bring yourself back to what’s right in front of you.

I’d love to hear what you notice.

Thank you for being here. Sending love and kindness,

Laura x

P.S. If you’d like a little help stepping out of your thoughts and back into your body, my Thursday Virtual Yoga class is a space to do just that. First class is free! x