Tools for Mental Health: A Few Practices to Get On the “Right Side” of Our Thinking

When I was first introduced to Breathwork, I did not come to the session from a place of seeking physical fitness or even expanded consciousness. As luck would have it, I had a roommate who was studying to be a Breathwork practitioner in Norfolk Virginia who I was living with in 1994 after graduating from college. When I was asked to participate as a “demo client” for her training practice, my primary interest was to support my own mental health.

Having struggled with feeling happy and finding contentment within my own mind for many years, I had dabbled in spiritual and mystical practices in order to find a way to peacefulness inside myself. Thankfully- my first experience with Breathwork was a surprising doorway into finding a respite that I had never experienced before.

Mental health is such a challenging concept to unpack because we often can’t tell from the outside if someone is ailing or struggling inside. The thoughts within our head can be such monsters to our own well being and yet we can drive around running errands or even interacting with co-workers without anyone ever really knowing that inside. And sometimes, the negative thoughts can be loud enough to drown out any sense of joy.

Thankfully the mental health field has broadened to include more and more somatic-based practices to find new mental pathways to wellness- including Breathwork. In fact, I’ve seen over the past few years an increase in clients who are referred by their therapist to seek out an alternative way to find peace within themselves.

Breathwork offers us a full body engagement into the “here and now” as well as gives us access to the more mystical aspect of ourself which can bring a fresh perspective on the tenacious thoughts of our mind. Deep breathing practices also involve helping to get fresh oxygen to the brain- where often our old limited stories are crystallized.

Also- the deep “theta state” brought about by this therapeuticlevel Breathwork style, helps us receive a deeper access to our quieter more intuitive center. And- as we raise our vibration we can experience ourselves from a higher vantage point and strengthen of our more “witness consciousness”.

The benefit of any form of conscious breathing is also that when we are focused on our breathing- it is very difficult to also focus on our thoughts. Check out the Box Breathing Practice in this newsletter issue- a focused practice often taught to Navy seals. While Breathwork is a vast science just gaining more and more recognition for the immense mental, emotional, spiritual and physical benefits, there are additional daily practices that I engage in regularly to help keep me on the right side of my own thinking.

Having traveled just this past week, I found that some of these travel really well which is a blessing since it is often being out of our routine that can throw our mind into a tailspin.

1) Meditation as a daily practice has been a lifelong savior for me as a steady place to be a witness to what is happening in my thoughts. There are so many forms of meditation but a wonderful doorway in is to just SIT- and then simply choose a focus point- whether a candle, a mantra, or your own breath at the nostrils. Then key is to just keep coming back to the focus point- no matter how many times your mind tries to take you away from this present moment…

2) In addition, any written practice that involves using a favorite journal and pen to “put the thoughts onto paper” are equally beneficial. These practices could include using The Work of Katie Byron- One Belief at a Time worksheet available HERE.

3) As well as a written “gratitude practice” writing down 5-10 things you’re truly grateful for- followed by using the H.E.A.L. meditation developed by Dr. Rick Hansen- available HERE.

4) Other mental health practices I regularly engage in involve reading high vibrational text or listening to podcasts. I recently watched this film on the airplane during my travels and found it such a helpful buoyant resource (Enlightenment on the GAIA Channel) WATCH HERE.

5) The other practice I regularly engage in is the use of affirmations. Affirmations can sometimes be confused by brushing off our true feelings but the key with using affirmations involves not just writing and reading a word but instead “attuning to the frequency” of a word or a statement to help override a belief system and deepen into the present moment of the transmission. This helps us actually feel into the neural “over-ride” happening in our own software system. I love Binnie Dansby’s Archetypal Affirmations as a starting point- available HERE.

6) Having spent a lot of time in my own head growing up as a kid, keeping my feelings and thoughts inside, I find equally that verbal processing can be equally beneficial. While it’s important to choose the write time place and person for this exercise and also to not use it as a way to repeat negative thought streams over and over again. I do find having a space for “active listening” can be very beneficial. The key is to remind the listener that you really have all the answers inside, you just need an opportunity to process out loud and maybe also could use a hug.

7) One other favorite mental health exercise involves chanting. I’ve long loved chant artists Snatam Kaur or Krishna Das miracle renditions of sacred Hindu and Sufi chants that invoke the focus point of a more simple and mystical view of our life- one that is centered in our peace and our love or our trust. The nice thing about chanting is that it is also wonderfully portable- in the car, the kitchen, etc. I carry headsets with me at all times in case I’m somewhere where I need to find access to the “higher note” frequency of these songs.

8) Finally, and I think the most important aspect of all is to share and own and acknowledge how you’re feeling and remember that you’re not alone.

Most mystical practices are centered around finding the place of the witness inside. The place of the “witness” that can be observant of our thinking rather than just follow along with our thinking.

While some people may find it easier in their life to stay happy, and think happy thoughts more regularly, others may need to have more of a practice to stay on the right side of themselves. But this does not mean that these practices are not effective for anyone and everyone and that we can’t all benefit from doing our best to center our mind toward that which is good, whole and true inside us all.

Most would agree that that this human life really is an epic journey- I hope these offerings are a benefit to you today. Many blessings of love and light!