“Lose your mind and come to your senses”. Through this profound quote, Fritz Perls, the father of Gestalt Therapy, wanted to exemplify that we live too much in our heads.
There is a constant internal chatter that takes place in our minds – The things we need to do in the future, the things that have happened in the past. At times this chatter becomes incessant and it consumes us, and more often than not, we don’t even realize it. It prevents us from living in the moment. We lose touch with our feelings and our experience as living beings.
One of the most powerful forms of self-care is to metaphorically ‘take a break’ from our minds by doing something ‘sensory’. Sensory activities (such as art, gardening, yoga, dancing, playing, etc.) help us tone down (and at times even drown out) our inner chatter, breathe and live in the moment.
Be aware of when your inner talk turns into ‘chatter’, signalling a need to take a mental break. Identify sensory activities that are fun, captivating and de-stressing for you. You will realize that these can be hobbies or even simple everyday things like watering or spraying your plants. Also, it is not about finding the time – as they begin to work very quickly and you can integrate them into your daily routines. Getting up from your desk, stretching, and taking in deep breaths are some of the oldest tricks in the book. Mindful eating during meal times, even when one is at work is one great example (something my 6-year-old daughter made me realize).
These activities give us the space to tune into our inner experience and see our external reality more clearly; they directly or indirectly help us disentangle our often muddled up thought processes and gain perspective. They allow us to be present and respond to life with poise and balance.
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