Disengage, To Prevent Exhaustion

A quiet, reflective talk that explores how our inbuilt capacity to settle out of exhausting, painful thinking does a great job… if we let it. As always, awareness of what's going on is key.

What I'm pointing to in this track is something that is true for all of us; something that can lead to profound, permanent change.

As such, there’s no effort required while you’re listening, only something to realise. So get comfortable, relax, and listen quietly for insight.

Transcript

Hi,

It's Giles.

This is a short piece for you to take time out with and reflect on.

A light-hearted story that points to something that's true for all of us.

As such,

There's no effort required while you're listening,

Only something to realise.

Something that can lead to profound,

Permanent change.

So get comfortable,

Relax,

And listen quietly for insight.

Disengage to prevent exhaustion.

There's this weird human trait where we're so used to mulling over problems in our heads,

You know,

The stuff that the mind creates in order to try and solve it itself,

That we get a bit uncomfortable when we become aware of not doing it.

We are that addicted to overthinking.

It came up for a client just the other day,

After they'd been fretting anxiously about something,

And then caught themselves and let go of it,

Then felt immediately better,

And then started trying to recall what had made them anxious in the first place,

In order to try and manage it away next time,

Before feeling all tense again.

Back to square one.

It's classic mind.

This is the source of your exhaustion,

Because there's so much energy required to keep that going.

You are thinking yourself away from mental health.

There's a lovely turn of phrase to describe it that we use here in our family.

We call it putting your hand back in the fire.

You're getting burnt by painful thinking.

All is not well.

You take your hand out of the fire,

I.

E.

Your attention is turned elsewhere,

Back to life.

You either realise,

Or your inbuilt psychological immune system does it for you,

Without you noticing.

And here's the critical step.

The mind tries to get all revved up again,

Taking you along for the ride.

And you end up inadvertently putting your hand back in the fire.

Don't do that.

With love,

Giles.

And as with all my talks,

A deeper appreciation for what I'm pointing to can be had with repeated listens.