Sometimes, when we’re finally alone with our thoughts at the end of an exhausting day, they start to wander to things that are important but have been perhaps brushed aside for more immediate daily concerns. We lose the ability to visit these thoughts in the chaos of our busy schedules, and we stir up deeper daydreams at night. We start to consider where we’re at in life, how far we’ve come, where we’re headed. It’s difficult to stay in the present moment and appreciate the ability to rest because our minds naturally wander to those stressors we’ve tucked away until we begin to allow them to become our main focus, and this, we desperately wish to change.
When our troubling thoughts surface from the deep recesses we’ve vanished them to, they can come flooding back like an all-compassing tidal wave, a rush of worry we can’t easily turn off. This means, we’re stuck navigating our troubles, unable to sleep, and as time passes, we begin to suffer from sleep deprivation.
We can attempt to the best of our ability to try to refocus on positive, productive patterns in which we can at least come to some much-needed decisions while alone with time to ponder life’s path. If we were able to somehow dump out the bad and replace this space with good, then turn off our thoughts when we’ve come needed conclusions, this would be most ideal. How can we do this? Can we do this? Do we have it in us to redirect our thought patterns to live as happily and healthily as possible?
Yes, we do. As we practice utilizing mindfulness to move away from trauma, we will begin to have a much better grasp on the way we think, and we’ll have much more control over how and when we do, as well. We must practice this new way of thinking until we have a solid grasp on how to access it without much effort.
So, the next time you’re lying in bed and your thoughts begin to race, the first step is to make a decision to employ mindfulness in order to enjoy a restful night’s sleep. Once you’ve actively chosen to use these skills, summon an image in your mind and think only of this image for the next several minutes.
One of the most effective things you can do is think of an especially fond memory and allow your mind to stick here for some time, considering every aspect of it. Why was it so special?
Allow yourself to relive the happiness of that moment until you’ve completely redirected your reference point to this moment in your life only. Then, take a deep breath and slowly transition to thinking of where you’re at now, pulling your mind back to the present. Once you’ve returned internally, accept your thoughts and feelings of that particular moment fully. Are you tired? Are you anxious you won’t be able to turn off your mind and rest? Are you achy? Are you comfortable?
How do you feel right now?
Then, comes the hard part. Considering how you feel, think of the capacity you have to change the things in your life you know need to be changed – thoughts patterns, behaviors, certain aspects of your personal and professional life. Perhaps it’s your relationship with your significant other that needs help, or your parenting skills, your connections with friends and extended family, your involvement in church or extra-curricular activities. What do you have the capacity to adjust right now that will allow you to proceed in your healing journey?
Once you’ve discovered the answer to this question and exactly how you’re going to use your resources to change that aspect of your present being, you should be able to rest easier knowing that you have control over this and the capacity to change whatever it is that is leaving you trapped in post-trauma turmoil. If we begin to alter our thinking every night, get more rest, and become well-rested enough during the day to act on our motivational thoughts from the previous night, we will begin to move into the next phase in our recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Little by little, we will start to realize we have more control over our lives than we ever expected. We are not defined by our circumstances. We are a uniquely beautiful compilation of our thoughts, feelings, emotions, morals, values, and experiences. We need to begin to think more positively, celebrating our positive parts, in order to successfully make this transition. Celebrate the good, release the bad, and don’t be afraid to enjoy life!