The other week I talked about reminding ourselves to "keep your eyes on your own work," a phrase I have repeated to myself numerous times since sharing, and one that others have reportedly found helpful. 

Inspired by this feedback (and the fact that it takes almost no time to try), today's Wellness Tool is an awareness mantra. A mantra is typically defined as either a phrase that's sacred and thought to invoke a spiritual power, or simply one that is repeated, so no matter what your belief system, using one can be helpful. The objective is to simply bring awareness to your thoughts, without judgment, and to greet them with a phrase. 

Now, I could go into the details of how our attachments to, judgments about, and erroneous stories created from our thoughts causes us undue suffering, but I actually don't think this would be necessary to start alleviating the ache (irritation, unease, blech) of that experience. If you have the desire to try something different, and have 3 seconds to spare, pause and repeat one of the following:

1. "I am not my thoughts."
2. "This is what it feels like to _____." (examples: This is what it feels like to worry, to have tense shoulders, to think too much, to suffer, etc.) This is inspired by Phillip Moffitt, Esquire CEO turned Buddhist practitioner and teacher whose daylong retreat I attended last year at Spirit Rock.
3. "Even though I _________, I accept myself completely." (examples: Even though I can't stop thinking about the mistake I made yesterday at work, I accept myself completely. Even though I gained five pounds, ...) This phrase (which is actually a kind of hybrid awareness mantra/affirmation) is the foundation phrase of Emotion Freedom Technique (EFT), an energy psychology technique involving tapping different areas of your body while saying specific statements. If this sounds a little too out there for you, fear not: In this context, it's a stand-alone sentence!

See how it feels to take pause and meet your thoughts with a kind and gently firm reminder. You will be surprised to find how many 3-second opportunities come your way every day...