Deepak Chopra said,
The best use of imagination is creativity.
The worst use of imagination is anxiety.
It sometimes feels as if our creative brains are able to conjure up the scariest,
Most catastrophic scenarios to torture us with.
There is a reason why our brains work this way.
It is a way of keeping us safe and alive and preventing us from putting ourselves in dangerous situations.
But in today's relatively safe world,
This defense mechanism can sometimes turn our imaginations against us.
If we constantly use our imagination to fixate on the worst that could happen,
We spoil our journey through every experience with negative thoughts.
Instead of remaining open to what is unfolding for us,
We remain in a state of constant anxiety.
Mindfulness offers us relief from this negative thought pattern.
If we can keep our mind from wandering into our scary imaginings for the future,
We can help ourselves to see that right now,
In this moment,
We are alright.
The most powerful way to slow down your thoughts and connect with the present moment is through your breath.
Let's begin today's practice by sitting in a comfortable upright position.
You should be able to breathe deeply and with ease.
Now we will take three long,
Slow breaths together to help us bring a sense of calm to the body and mind.
With each inhalation,
I would like you to allow a sense of ease and relaxation to flow into your body.
When you exhale,
Allow all tension to drift from your body.
Take a deep,
Relaxing breath in and slowly release any tension with your exhale.
Another deep,
Easeful breath in and release all tension with your exhale.
One last deep,
Relaxing breath in and allow all tension to flow from your body as you exhale.
Now allow your breath to return to its natural pattern.
Quietly observe your breath.
Connect to the sensations you feel as your breath flows into your body and out again.
If anxious thoughts enter your mind,
Acknowledge them and then return your attention to your breath.
You may have to refocus your attention on your breath repeatedly and this is perfectly alright.
Allow you to observe your breathing and any thoughts that may arise without any judgement.
Now,
I would like to invite you to practice using your imagination in a positive way.
For the next few moments,
Imagine the best possible outcome for yourself and the situation that you have been feeling anxious about.
If negative thoughts creep in,
Acknowledge them and then refocus your attention on envisioning your ideal scenario.
Let your mind,
Grasp the Remember that we cannot predict the future,
But there is no need for us to always expect the worst to happen.
When we are already very good at imagining the worst case scenario in every situation,
It can be good for us to consciously make an effort to imagine what the best outcome for us could be.
With practice,
We can become better at imagining our best life.
This can help us to feel more positive as our journey unfolds,
No matter what the outcome of any situation in life may be.
