Thought Watching Exercises to Increase Awareness & Reduce Anxiety

We often go about our lives without noticing what our mind is telling us because we are too busy attending to our hectic lives. Blithely unaware, we comply with the advice our mind dictates to us all day long. Some of you may say, “What’s wrong with that?” Well, there is nothing wrong if the advice is helpful, and it moves us closer to our values and goals by following it. But when we are unaware of what our mind is saying, we can end up making unwise choices. For example, if you experience social anxiety, your mind may provide advice that to stay home from a social event is the best option. You believe your mind and don’t go out. In your experience, does that usually get you closer to the goals you have in life? Does isolating yourself at home help you live the true values you hold dear, like wanting to connect and developing intimate relationships? You may feel stuck in this dilemma. Your mind tells you to remain at home in order to avoid anxiety. On the surface this appears to be a great solution. Yet when you do, you feel the pain of loneliness. So what can you do? You can first remember that your mind’s job is to keep you safe and comfortable. As you’ve behaved according to that unhelpful advice, it’s inadvertently created the habit of avoidance for months or even years. The good news is that when individuals increase thought awareness they are able to broaden the gap between the thought and the choices they make. Awareness can enhance people’s abilit...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Happiness Mindfulness Self-Help Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Anxious Thoughts Avoidance awareness overwhelm Source Type: blogs