By Joan Courtney, C.Ht.

Unstuck Living

I talked with a friend yesterday, and the conversation moved to her random background program as she went about her day. She has a job and runs her own business, so she is busy. Her mind is filled with products she needs to pick up for her horses. Forms needed to compete in a class. Plans for another class, and then on to her home that’s under construction — then the other job — then a trip to see family over the weekend. All this while driving. Or cleaning. Or shoveling manure. Rather than thinking about the negative, she is happily making plans.

The mind never fully rests.

Are you like me? I get my most creative ideas when I’m doing boring tasks. Washing the dishes. Sorting paperwork. Vacuuming and dusting. Meal planning. Waiting in line. Lying in bed as I drift off. Ideas I consider to be flashes of brilliance appear out of nowhere. The mind is in idle gear, but never asleep.

But I can also get stuck in an endless loop of what-ifs and maybes. What if I can’t start this project? Am I doing the right thing for my puppy, Lil’ Toot, post-surgery? Then don’t get me started on world affairs. Five years from now, how will my life be different? And on it goes. Much as a cow chews its cud, I could spin my wheels. Well, at least the cow is productive.

That being said, I still delight in mind-wandering. I’m at my best when I’m bored and don’t want to do anything. Working at simple repetitive tasks. (Laundry, anyone?) When I’m tired after a long day. Sometimes, it’s enough to simply sit with a cup of tea and Lil’ Toot to contemplate the world and my place in it.

Stuck in rumination?

If you find yourself anxious as you ruminate about your life, here are a few tips:

• Notice your thoughts. How do you feel when you have that thought running in the background? Does it serve you well or cause you distress? Your mind is like a jukebox. If you don’t like what’s playing, punch another button for the next song.

• Open your world to something new. Lil’ Toot is new to me and his world at the same time. Yes, there’s a lot of work with a new puppy, but that new life overwhelmingly brings joy and happiness. Constructive daydreaming brought me other thoughts of doggy obedience classes. (Smile.) His reveling in his discovery of other critters, a flower, and his delight in meeting new people. The world holds many exciting adventures. All just waiting for him, and me, too.

• Stop the rumination. What’s one of the easiest ways to shift to another state of mind? Move your body. Go for a walk. Hop on your bike. Stroll through nature. Play pickleball with friends. Take up archery. Hike one of the many trails on the Mountain. Your mind will move to those positive resources deep within. You’ll discover treasures you never dreamed of. You’ll live your best, unstuck Hall of Fame life.

Check out what’s running in your random background program. You can choose to end the endless spinning or enjoy constructive daydreaming. It’s all up to you. Live unstuck.

Joan Courtney is a clinical hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner. Writing for Outdoors Southwest and other publications on the Mountain, she also writes bi-weekly posts for Lil’ Toot, the Canine Executive Officer of Unstuck Living.