boot camp for the mind

My mind has been taking the rest of me on some wild and uncomfortable rides during our downtime lately. It stays nicely on track during work or interactions with others -- it's the unstructured time that has been unpleasant. I think perhaps both me and it need to go back to basic training to restore some sense of supportive order and structure.

Here's what I will be experimenting with for the next few days. To help me remember, I'm printing out a few copies of this post and hanging them up around my house.

List of Sanctioned Activities for the Idle Mind

1) Appreciation

2) Noticing and Acknowledging What Is


If the mind is unable or unwilling to do either of those things, it can choose from this:

List of Pre-approved Strategies for Getting Back on Task with the Sanctioned Activities

1) EFT or TAT

2) Energetic corrections or alignments (Yuen, Now Healing)

3) Hoponopono (I love you, I'm sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you)

4) The Work of Byron Katie

5) Singing or chanting


Notably absent from this list:

1) Calculating

2) Evaluating

3) Comparing

4) Ruminating

5) Reminiscing

6) Fantasizing

7) Rehearsing

8) Solving

9) Predicting

10) Worrying


Mind, are we clear?

I said, ARE WE CLEAR?
(hee hee hee, that's my inner drill sergeant talking there.)

Sir, yes sir. Crystal clear.

AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WHEN WE CATCH OURSELVES GETTING INVOLVED IN AN ACTIVITY THAT IS NOT ON THIS LIST?

Sir, get back to the list, sir.

THAT'S RIGHT. NOW GO GET STARTED.

I hope I actually remember to do this ... it sounds like fun.