Calm Your Thought Traffic

Consider your mind being like that bus stop. All kinds of thought-buses are coming through, heading to various destinations.The untrained mind can’t read the destination signs, and often gets on a bus without realizing what the destination is! Distractions abound, and we often end up in places we did not want to be. With this practice you will be able to observe your thoughts and train yourself to step back from them. Respond rather than react.

Transcript

Thought Buses In order to stay at the bus stop,

The bus stop of our mind,

It's useful to begin by grounding our attention into the lower half of the body.

Opening your feet,

Contacting the floor,

Noticing any tiny little changes moment by moment,

And then closing your eyes.

When you're ready,

Opening your attention to the flow of thoughts through the mind.

Just letting the thought traffic come and go.

Keeping in contact with the sensations of your feet,

Anchoring you there,

And the body breathing.

Letting the various thought buses or traffic arrive and pass.

No need to get on board.

In a moment,

I'm going to say a sequence of words and phrases,

Each of which may trigger some thoughts.

As you hear them,

Watch your thought buses arrive.

Notice how you're tempted to get onto some of them and be taken for a ride.

If this happens,

No problem.

Can you notice that a thought has carried you away?

Just practice bringing yourself back by feeling your feet on the floor and noticing your breathing.

You could also try saying to yourself,

This is just a thought.

Thoughts come,

Thoughts go.

Alternatively,

If the bus or traffic metaphor works for you,

You could try simply saying,

Thought buses,

Traffic in my mind.

This is not about pushing away the thoughts,

But simply recognizing them for what they are.

We can practice not getting on board a thought bus or choosing to get off it if we find ourselves on board.

It's easier to stay at the bus stop if we recognize that the bus stop is more inviting.

Staying at the bus stop can be an act of kindness to ourself.

So here are the trigger words and phrases.

Are you ready?

There will be a little pause between each of them in which you can practice working with the thoughts that may arise.

Sunshine.

Crows.

Children.

Traffic jam.

An argument.

Emails.

Friends.

Watching the thought buses arrive.

Practicing staying grounded.

Are you still with a thought bus?

Noticing you don't have to get on board or stay on board with the difficult thoughts.

You can practice relating to them differently saying,

This is just a thought.

Thoughts come,

Thoughts go.

And then when you're ready,

Feeling your feet anchoring you again.

Opening gradually,

Opening your eyes.

Reviews

Wonderful. Thank you 🙏🏼

Nice. Will recommend to clients.