Out of my mind

Have you ever driven 20 minutes across town and once you arrived, realized you weren’t even aware of how you got there?

Or gone on a walk in nature, lost in thought, and by the end realized you didn’t notice the trees you passed along the way?

The first of these is known as “highway hypnosis,” which occurs when someone is performing a familiar or monotonous task (such as driving a well-known route) and enters a state of automaticity, where procedural memory takes over.

As a result, the person may not recall specific details of the journey, even though they were driving safely and reactively during the period. It’s a common and generally normal occurence for frequent or long-distance drivers.

As someone who’s been doing morning carline for years with her kids, I am quite familiar with this experience.

I’m also guilty of going for a walk to BE with nature, but halfway through I realize I’ve spent the whole time in my own head.

To me, when I’m lost in thought or just going through the motions, I don’t feel like I’m fully living. I’m not ALIVE to the present moment.

The average person is estimated to have between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day. However, some studies suggest the number may be closer to 6,200, especially when using brain imaging techniques to track thought transitions. A significant portion of these thoughts, around 80% to 95%, are repetitive, with many being negative. 

Several years ago I realized I was tired of thinking the same worn out thoughts, either ruminating about the past or worried about the future.

As a curious spiritual seeker, I started practicing mindfulness.

Mindfulness is simply the practice of actively and openly paying attention to the present moment, without judgment. It involves observing thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they arise, noticing them without getting carried away by them.

Essentially, it's about being fully present in your experience, rather than being lost in worries about the past or future.

However, I thought it was strange that the practice of being present in one’s body and experience was named MIND-FUL-NESS.

One of my teachers taught me that in Buddhism, the term heart-mind is actually one word - “citta.” (For my fellow yogis, this term overlaps with the Sanscrit “citta”, but not exactly the same).

The heart-mind contains and includes all our thoughts, emotions, responses, intuition, temperament, somatic sensations and consciousness itself.

In Western society, we usually refer to the mind as only the rational thought process that occurs in the left hemisphere of the brain. Here we observe an endless stream of thoughts, ideas, and stories. While this processing mind has a practical value, it can also separate us from the world; our ideas easily bifurcate and create “us” vs. “them,” black and white, good and bad.

Our left brain also likes to create imaginary problems.

Among many benefits, practicing mindfulness helps to stimulate the RIGHT side of our brains, which is responsible for creativity, imagination, and emotional processing.

I used to hate how emotionally sensitive I was.

Sometime in high school I remember searching on the internet “how to not cry so easily.”

I thought my emotions were a problem, but my spiritual quest taught me that it was my lack of awareness and the stories I made up about them that caused a lot of my suffering.

I overate to numb the intense emotions.

I binged Netflix to distract from the emotions.

I even meditated in an attempt to not feel the emotions (a form of spiritual bypassing).

Without awareness and healthy ways to support my nervous system, I was cut off from my heart’s innate wisdom.

Slowly incorporating mindfulness into my life led me back home to myself, my intuition, and the healing available from within.

If you’re intrigued, here are a few accessible ways to start exploring mindfulness:

• Body Scan: Lie down or sit quietly and bring your attention to different areas of your body, starting from your feet and moving up to your head. Notice any sensations—tightness, warmth, or tingling—without trying to change anything. This builds awareness and possible relaxation.

• Tune Into Your Senses: During everyday activities, focus on what you can see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. For example, savor the flavors and textures at your next meal, or pay attention to the feeling of water on your skin in the shower.

• Mindful Moments: Choose a daily routine (like brushing your teeth or walking) and use it as your cue to be present. Notice the sensations and thoughts that arise, and gently redirect your attention if your mind wanders.

Please don’t think of mindfulness as another activity for an already packed to-do list.

Just 5 minutes a day will add up to an increased present-moment living. If you’ve ever wondered, how can I “Be Here Now”, mindfulness is the gateway.

If you have questions or would like support, please reach out. Mindfulness is a vital aspect of the work I do with people in overcoming limiting beliefs and getting “un-stuck” in life.