Distraction for Attraction

I have already written about what it is like to battle my own mind when the negative thoughts start to take hold. Its a big issue for me. Once the negative thoughts seep in, it can be only a matter of time before the whole downward spiral of negative emotions, thoughts and consequences ensues.

Always looking for easy ways to intervene when my mind starts to turn black, I have found a few that work pretty well. However, I find that I have to really take a moment to decide where to turn because even the best ways of distracting myself can cause the opposite effect that I am seeking.

I recently read a post on Debra Moorehead's blog that suggests asking yourself questions when you find yourself on shaky mental ground and you begin awfulizing. The good thing about this approach is that it can lead to problem solving and finding answers for things that previously alluded me. The downside is also that it leads to problem solving. That is to say, asking questions and constantly looking for answers can be the very thing causing my negativity. So, depending on the nature of whatever problem I am having, this can be the way to go - or not.

Reading doesn't work that well for me because unless I am really gripped, it often just provides my brain the space it needs to begin negative ruminations. If I happen to be in the middle of a great book, then this might be the first place I turn.

Movies and TV can also work wonders - IF I can find a really inspiring, or at least benign bit of fluff to occupy my time. But you never know these days where some violence or implied violence will be thrown into our entertainment in order to up ratings or create a storyline that is more sensational. Or, if the story is too banal, I find myself getting even more irritated.

I find myself going to YouTube a lot these days, finding episodes of childhood sitcoms or 80s music videos to entertain me in a way that I know in advance can't go wrong. Thats kind of fun.

I found a site called Lumosity which also works well for me recently. I don't know how I stumbled upon it, but seeing a site geared toward brain training was bound to draw me in. Always up for a mental challenge, and knowing that my ability to focus has been waning of late, I signed up for the free trial (despite generally being anti-videogame). An unexpected consequence I found when I logged into to do a bit of brain training was that it really had the ability to pull me out of whatever funk I was in. By concentrating so hard on the task at hand, my state of mind just shifted enough for me to get a grip and redirect.

Along these same lines, I remembered that in graduate school I used to do a lot of pottery. If found that if I was getting too stressed or overwhelmed, nothing helped me to relax like getting my hands in some clay and having total concentration at the wheel. With that in mind, I have tried to consciously choose to do something like make bread or do some sewing if things start to look bleak. The hard part with this strategy is that there isn't always enough time for this approach and feeling the lack of that time can sometimes emphasize the lack I am feeling.

The bottom line is that I find it very important to have a variety of tools to implement when I find my mind and my thoughts veering off course. Knowing the downward spiral that can happen if I let the negative take hold makes getting ready for a serious dose of distraction so important; choosing the right tool can be just as crucial.