Mind The Gap

Continuing on our journey of investigating everyday activities that are mindful moments, there is a very important moment that we tend to overlook. The pause. Those gaps in between, the bridge, the flow point, the moments that help ground us in the midst of chaos. Taking the time to understand these moments in between are important yes, but the equally important piece is understanding why you are investigating the pause. Why are you trying to ground yourself and seek a more balanced state of being? Are you trying to be mindful because everyone else is? Or are you doing it for you? A great example is mindful eating which we discussed last week. We may love a certain type of food. It’s something we always eat when we’re out with friends or family having a great time.

Now, during the pandemic, as you take the time to eat the same food in a different context, you may suddenly realize that….wait a minute…this is truly horrible food! The appreciation was really stemming from the association you had made to the good time you had with your friends/family and not the food itself. A bit more of an extreme example but hopefully one that highlights the importance of utilizing the gap as a means of both slowing down and coming to a better understanding of you.

A question you may have is how we find those gaps. There are so many different methods out there but a favourite of mine is to use good old punctuation to help visualize things. How? Try this:

A question mark (?): Ask yourself a question, something curated and inquisitive. Now watch your mind delve through layers of understanding and shift through information.

A period (.): A representation of stopping for a moment between tasks. Be present, connect with your senses and be aware. Try not to rush into the next moment, the next task, the next meeting.

An exclamation point (!): Used to express strong emotion, use the exclamation point to remind yourself to check in with your emotions and your physical being. Take a moment to identify your feelings and try to channel them positively – journaling, meditation, art, a walk outside.

The inverted comma (“ ”): Representing speech, we are all familiar with the constant stream of chatter in our minds. Use the commas to take a second and really observe what the chatter is about. Is it your inner critic? Your inner coach? Positive, negative, neutral? Taking stock can really help you focus your thinking and give you back the power to decide what your mindset will be.

In combination with punctuating your day, you can also try the 5,4,3,2,1 technique. Commonly used as a grounding technique when you feel stressed or anxious this technique is also helpful when you bring punctuation into the mix. See link to the article below for further information.

Seven grounding techniques when you are feeling overwhelmed (satuppada.com)

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