Want To Find Calm? Stop Future Tripping!
Are you finding it tough to maintain a sense of calmness right now? Between the COVID-19, unemployment, and upheaval as our society expresses a desire for a system that provides equality for all, we’re seeing heartache, loss, anger and confusion dominate both the news and our minds.
When I need grounding, I’m that person who’s always asking other people, pretty much anybody I meet, “what do you do? How do you stay calm?” My friend Jay listens to the Martha Quinn Show in the morning, he’s like your wise hippie uncle, and he had amazing advice in answer to my “how do you stay calm?” question. Jay said the main thing we need to do to maintain equilibrium is stop Future Tripping!
In his wise hippie-uncle phrasing, Jay summed up what ancient Chinese Philosopher Lao Tzu said over 2,000 years ago, “If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” In other words, stop Future Tripping. Be In The Now. Jay’s technique for getting yourself out of a Future Tripping loop is take a moment to focus on something right in front of you. It could be your coffee cup. Then breathe and bring to your mind what you have to be grateful for, right now.
I can’t tell you how many times a day I say to myself, “Martha, stop your Future Tripping. What’s good right now?” I also enjoy this 5-minute breathing exercise to help put the brakes on my Future Tripping. Next time you start spiraling down into what-if worries, give it a try! Let me know if this 5-minute breathing exercise helps you!
Thank you Jay, and thank you everyone who listens to The Martha Quinn Show on iHeart 80s @ 103-7. We are getting through this thing called life one 80s song at a time. Group Hug!