Trained Dogs and Stillness
Brains are amazing organs. They keep our heart beating, lungs breathing, chemicals circulating around our body in the right amounts at the right times. They are great for solving problems but can also be equally great at causing problems. All of us can think of a time when we over thought something, fretting over something that never came to pass. Many of these thoughts begin with the words, “what if”. What if I don’t have the money to pay the rent, what if my car breaks down, what if I don’t get that report done on time, etc. Sometimes the thoughts are conversations we have in our heads that have not happened yet or we are ruminating over a conversation that happened in the past. We have all done it and felt negative emotions as a result. Often triggering a feeling of spinning emotions. Our brains can wreak havoc when allowed to run amuck.
A great analogy my neighbor shared with me is that our brains are like border collies, they need a job to do. I might venture a bit further into this analogy and suggest that they need to be trained. Well trained dogs seem to be happy dogs. They know how to follow the commands to please their human (earn a reward) and when to settle down. If our brains are trained to work on the task at hand, in other words, be fully present in this moment, we seem to be happier, too. That is our reward.
For years we, as a culture, have thought of multitasking as a skill. Science is now showing that we are not very good at it. We can do one thing at a time well or attempt to do many things simultaneously yet poorly and inefficiently. Training our brain to focus on one task at a time can bring more calm to our lives. Being in the moment, focusing on your surroundings, is a form of meditation. Practicing this focus consistently will help you train your brain.
As we are able to quiet the mind, we become able to access that inner voice, our creativity, peace and contentment. We live a life where are able to navigate the ups and downs from a perspective that feels more like we are in control rather than lost at sea, in the dark, without a life raft. Try focusing in the present moment. The only moment in which we have any control anyway.
Appreciate all that your brain does for you by training it. You’ll be happier for it.