A self-critical mind?
- “Wasted day, didn’t get anything done…”
- “Taking forever, still got 101 things to do…”
- “I just want to sit down but I cannot stop…”
The left-pre frontal cortex, the part for the brain responsible for planning, problem solving and judging can keep us locked in this ‘driven-doing’ mode:
- Constantly reminding us of what we’ve still got to do – even in the middle of the night!
- Trying to solve emotions such as anxiety and low mood like an algebra equation – making it worse!
- Judging ourselves against a perfect model – leaving us feeling frustrated and inadequate!
Believe it or not, the left pre-frontal cortex is just doing its job. The same as the heart, the lungs, blood etc. Society places such value and financial reward on us as human-doings, rather than human-beings, no wonder this doing mode of the brain can take over!
An active left pre-frontal cortex is a vital tool, but what would it be like to have a volume control: tune in and listen when needed, turn down the volume when not, a bit like a radio on in the background. Mindfulness is the volume control.
Mindfulness (healthelearning.online)
This link allows you to learn mindfulness@home – pace yourself through an 8-week e-learning course. It covers all the key principles and practices of an 8-week mindfulness course, giving you back the volume control over your mind!