Make Space Between Thoughts

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The world is a chaotic, tragic, and uncertain place right now. At times like this, our inner lives begin to feel very chaotic too.

We have worried minds, sad hearts, and helpless feelings. Thoughts are rushing and our brains feel flooded.

Learning how to control the noise in your brain is an important step on the path toward calming your nervous system and feeling at peace amid chaos. It is possible to do, but it takes practice.

Our brains are noisy places: estimates vary, but it’s estimated by the Chopra Center that we have more than 80,000 thoughts per day—that’s a lot of nonstop chatter. Our thoughts commentate in real-time, noticing every move we make, what everyone around us is doing, and a vast number of other things, all at once. Add on top of that the constant swirl of thoughts from the past and future, and it’s no wonder how rare it is for us to feel at peace. Maintaining inner peace is easier said than done, but it is possible.

During times of uncertainty, your thoughts are one of the only things you can control.

While none of us can ever truly exist without any thoughts, there are ways to quiet them, to pause them, and find a little space in between.

Try These

1. Notice Your Thoughts

  • Set a timer on your phone for two or three minutes. Then, sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair with both feet on the floor. Straighten your back, lower your shoulders, and relax your jawline. 

  • Start by noticing your natural breathing. You don't have to take a deep breath. Just notice the air flowing in and out.

  • As thoughts creep in, just notice, “oh there is a thought…and there is another one.”

  • Become a watcher of your thoughts. Notice how busy your mind wants to be; observe the thoughts as they fly through your brain. 

2. Add Space

  • Return to watching your breath move in and out.

  • Now, see if you can create space between the thoughts, like white space between sentences on a page. Maybe it is just a slight pause right now, but eventually, little by little, you can try to hold more space before a new thought comes in. 

  • Notice that in the space between thoughts, there is the quiet of thoughtlessness.

  • Consider how good it feels to practice thoughtlessness. 

  • Pause and be silent like this multiple times throughout your day. Allow yourself to be without thought. Allow quiet. Space. Calm. Notice the experience of freedom from thinking. 

3. Assess Your Thoughts

  • When you notice a thought, assess whether it is helpful or harmful to your peace. If it is harmful, let it pass. If it is helpful, invite it in and hold on to it.

  • Begin to identify if a thought came from the past or the future, imagine pushing the thought aside to make space for noticing the present moment. The idea is to make space for right now.

  • When you notice a thought about something in the past, think: "past."

  • When you notice a thought about something in the future, think: "future."

  • As a Kansas cattle ranching girl, I picture sliding barn doors for this exercise. I picture pushing open the doors like I am pushing thoughts of the past and future off to the side, so I can enter the present moment. 

  • Be patient with yourself; it takes practice to learn how to stay in the moment. When your thoughts creep in and derail your peace, continue to push them to the side and return to the now. 

If you can begin to make space between your thoughts, you are the path toward managing the noise in your brain. Try this practice a few times a day. See if you can increase the blank space between your thoughts.

When you can quiet your brain, you will have clarity in knowing what is yours to do among conflict. If you can practice finding space between thoughts, your being is calmer and those around you can feel calmer too.

When we don’t know how to contribute toward world peace, we can begin within.

Sending you love as we each contribute a dose of peace to humanity,