This article is the second in a series of articles that focus 
on how you can effectively overcome negative self talk, emotional reactions, runaway thoughts and things that go bump in the night.
The gap is the space between thoughts. It’s your source of inner peace, joy, creativity and freedom.
If you’ve ever travelled in London’s underground rail system, you’d have heard “mind the gap”. It’s good advice when getting on or off trains, but living your life like that is another story. And on London trains you see most people filling the gap with mind (newspaper, phone and all kinds of noise). You also see those who’s minds are so full and fatigued that they’ve got the eyes rolling back, head bopping thing going. They’re passing out from overload.
I’m all for stimulating and enriching the mind, but one has to recognise that there comes a point when you need a break. Many people think that break needs to come in the form of mind altering substances, TV, or their well deserved holiday. They think that by inebriating the mind they’re giving themselves a break. Wrong!
Others take a more conscious approach to easing the mind, through exercise, yoga, meditation, or being in nature. But it’s so easy, when we get busy (which is when we need them most), to put even these valuable practices on hold.
What if there was a way for you to access the vast intelligence of your mind, while enabling yourself to feel cool, calm & collected, and being able to accomplish this in a few seconds, anywhere, any time?
Well, there are simple and effective ways to achieve this, and like most things, they come with practice. The following Tips in this series will provide you with a variety of approaches to find the gap. For now, here’s one way:
Shift your attention out of your head and into your body. To do so concentrate on the rising and releasing of your belly with each inhalation and exhalation –
- Breathe in through your nose, feeling your belly rise.
. - Breathe out through your mouth slowly (twice as long as your inhalation), feeling your belly release.
. - Continue with this slow circular breathing pattern, while keeping your attention on your belly.
. - Let any thoughts and tension be released with your exhalations.
Through using this simple technique you will soon discover how your mind and body easily unwinds. After familiarising yourself with this technique, it will begin working for you within a few seconds. It’s a useful skill to help you get back to sleep at night or during the day when you need to compose yourself.
To listen to a 19 minute podcast of Jevon facilitating the above process, click here.
Find the gap, and you’ll find yourself. And you’ll find that you’re amazing!
Continue reading – Find The Gap – Part 3
Written by Jevon Dangeli – NLP Trainer & Coach
