My favorite detox techniques—for the mind

In a recent blog post, I introduced you to some of my favorite detoxification techniques for the body.

I also pay careful attention to emotional detox. Over the years I have come to terms with anxiety and worry and generally unhealthy feelings. Rather than this being an academic interest, my coming to terms is because I was a born “worry wart,” to use my mother’s phrase, and it took some undoing to overcome this pattern of being.

3 approaches for emotional detox

While my path to freedom took many twists and turns, in the end three approaches worked for me:

1. One was classical homeopathy, as prescribed by an expert classical homeopath — the doctor found the correct remedy and the anxiety was gone.
2. Another is a series of Korean Qi Gong breathing and movement exercises which, after three days of one hour sessions each, always bring me a feeling of well-being for no reason. (By the way, I have learned that a feeling of well-being for no good reason is the soundest and most blessed of all feelings of well-being).
3. The third technique concerns the recognition that “What we put our attention on grows stronger in our life.” Intellectually I know that if I put attention on what I don’t want (worry); I will attract more of it. My antidote is to make a clear list of what I do want, carry that list around, and give attention to those things, while setting aside — that is releasing — worries and concerns I do not want to amplify.

Techniques to quiet my turbulent mind

The mind is like a monkey that jumps from branch to branch — all wisdom-driven cultures hold quieting the mind as a pathway to internal peace. My mind is as much a monkey as the best of them, so I have come to incorporate many practices for purifying and calming the mind. Here are a few:

• Meditation: I sit quietly, releasing thoughts and resistance for 15-20 minutes twice a day.
• Breathing exercises: When stressed or worried, I try to remember to stop, sit back, and take a few deeps breaths. I have come to realize the mind can’t do two things at once, so if I am paying attention to my breathing, I cannot worry at the same time.
• Being out in nature: Spending a bit of quiet time out in nature really helps to slow down and calm my mind. I try to do this daily — even if for only 10 minutes. I move my attention to the colors, forms, and beauty around me, and, when I remember, I make a silent list of gratitudes.

Finally, I do believe in the attention to spirit for both detox and quieting of the mind. We are spiritual beings with an occasional human existence, and frequently I deliberately detox worry, fear, and sadness with uplifting thoughts from the wisdom of the ages and from current teachers of Spirit. There are so many to choose from. I am sure you have your favorites — go back to them often.