is referred to as “ your mind ” instead of you ? My personal belief is that it is because “ you ” are actually the soul , or being that oversees your mind . The mind is that constantly chattering voice in your head that is difficult to shut down . You are the observer that is living life , or pressing the buttons on the metaphorical computer that is “ your mind .” Unfortunately , “ your mind ” is a supercomputer with the ability to overwhelm your life with stress if you allow it . Think about it for another moment , stress is either derived from thoughts about some past event that did not go as you would have liked , or thoughts of the uncertainty of what may happen in the future , so it dwells only in your mind through fixation on time . The past cannot be changed . The future cannot be predicted . Stress , fortunately , is something that lives only in time . We feed it and allow its existence and effects in our lives through that ever-present voice in our head that focuses either on ( a ) what we could or should have done differently in the past , or ( b ) what we may or may not encounter in the future . Time , the past or the future , is either gone or not yet arrived . This moment , right now , is where we actually experience life , rather than just experiencing a false or past vision of life in our mind . The trick is to use time , by focusing on this moment , rather than letting time use us by drawing our attention away from actually living life at the moment it happens ! Whether it is experiencing the laughter and happiness of a child , a big laugh with a friend , a thrilling jump , wedding vows , a conversation with your parent or spouse , or any number of precious moments , immerse yourself in that moment by turning off the voice in your head and simply being present !
Sure , time has its place as a practical application , but it should not ruin our life as we try live it by manifesting as stress or anxiety . Control the controllables , right ?! As lawyers , we were trained to dive deeply into the past events and future possibilities in the cases that we are entrusted to handle for others on a regular basis , so we have to use access time as a tool every work day .
In many instances , the “ facts ” of a case recalled by our clients ( not to mention uncertain witnesses ) may not contain the whole truth . This necessarily means that , in our work lives , we rarely have the pleasure of living completely in the present moment , where life is actually happening . For many , this carries over into our personal lives , out of habit or because we are simply unable to turn it off . All in all , the practice of law involves constant mental activity that cannot easily be left at the desk or in the courtroom . Small moments , however , can help to train our minds to be present when circumstances allow , rather than focusing constantly on time , which leads to stress . The challenge is to recognize these simple truths and to use your mind and time as tools , rather than letting these tools dictate your attitude and approach to life !
Meditation has proven very helpful at reducing stress in my life . There are many meditation practices available for you to try . One helpful meditation technique that I have learned and use frequently is called noting . To continue with the computer analogy , noting is much like defragmenting , or organizing your mind , so that the priorities of life [ peace and happiness ] are properly aligned . The noting meditation entails taking only about 10 minutes out of your day . You will sit comfortably in silence , without distraction , eyes closed and focus on your breathing . Start by taking three deep breaths , and then allow your breathing to return to normal , feeling each breath as it fills your lungs and exits your body . Focus your attention on your breathing , continuing to feel the air enter and leave your body . Observe thoughts that distract your attention from your breathing , acknowledge them very briefly , and then let them go , returning your focus to your breathing . If it will help you , as it has me , find a guided meditation online to follow . Just search for “ meditation noting technique .”
If you are new to meditation , and as clueless as I was when I began , a simple way to understand meditation is that it can be analogized with sitting next to a road watching traffic – watch the vehicles passing by you , but do not judge them , categorize them , or otherwise analyze what is going on . Simply watch . Observe . Turn the analytical button of “ your mind ” off . This was , and remains , the most difficult task for me , but the more I practice mediation the more I realize that it actually works and benefits my quality of life .
Remember , your mind is a tool for you to use , not a tool that should control you . It is not “ you .” Likewise , time is something that should not control your life , in a sense of focusing your efforts on yesterdays or tomorrows . If you let these powerful tools take over , they are almost certain to drag you down that slippery slope to stress and anxiety . Throughout each day , in addition to the ten minutes of dedicated meditation , try to frequently observe your mind and remind yourself that it is a tool for you to use , not the other way around . Try to be present exactly where you are at any given point in you day , rather than dwelling on where you were yesterday or where you want to be next week .
Think about it for a moment : There is most likely nothing lacking for you right NOW ; the only concerns are driven by time . Be the observer as often as possible , and you will be present and more able to enjoy life .
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