A Poem by Danel~Ibrahim

In the quiet whisper of the present day,
Where senses softly dance and play,
A cluttered mind finds its release,
In moments brief, in breaths of peace.

Pause and ponder—what do you feel?
The flutter of a breeze, the warmth that’s real,
How often do you stop to see?
The beauty in simplicity.

In constant whirlwinds, thoughts may stray,
To yesterdays and tomorrows, gray,
A tangled web of worry spins,
Yet here, in now, true freedom begins.

The world within may teem with clatter,
But does it really truly matter?
Inhale the now, exhale the dread,
Let silence swirl within your head.

Feel anxious? Do not turn away,
Instead, let presence guide the fray.
Observe the self, emotions fleet,
And find your soul’s own rhythmic beat.

Think not of what has yet to come,
Nor dwell on past where worries hum,
Be still, be here—your mind untamed,
In mindful peace, reclaim your name.

For in the moment’s gentle grace,
We find the light in every space.
Let go, let be—your thoughts unspun,
Sleep well, dear heart, your day is won.

So heed this call, embrace the now,
With open heart and furrowed brow.
For in the present’s tender hold,
Lies wisdom deep, and peace untold.

Here are the action items for addressing issues related to Mindfulness and cluttered thoughts:

Practice Mindfulness Regularly: Dedicate time each day to practice Mindfulness to help you focus on the present moment. Use mindfulness techniques to become more aware of your senses and bodily sensations.

Acknowledge and Accept Emotions: Recognize your emotions as they arise and accept them without judgment. Reframe your response to negative emotions by focusing on acceptance and positivity.

Manage Mental Energy: Conserve your mental energy by not overreacting or becoming overwhelmed by external situations. Focus on managing your reactions in a healthier, more mindful way.

Shift Focus to the Present: Practice shifting your thoughts away from the past and future to concentrate on the present moment. Use breathing exercises and Mindfulness to redirect your Focus when negative thoughts arise.

Observe Thoughts and Emotions: Be aware of your thoughts and emotions without becoming attached. Recognize that both positive and negative emotions are temporary.

Find Perspective in Setbacks: Look for the silver lining in setbacks and focus on solutions rather than problems. Compare your situation to more significant challenges faced by others to maintain perspective.

Be Mindful of Reactions and Responses: Practice not allowing external factors or other people to control your emotional responses. Apply mindfulness techniques to choose healthier responses to stressful situations.

Regular Reflection and Self-Assessment: Regularly assess your progress in mindfulness practices and adjust techniques as needed. Use past experiences as learning opportunities to refine your mindfulness skills.

These action items can help develop a more mindful approach to addressing brain clutter and fostering a healthier relationship with thoughts and emotions.

Consider the practice of Creative Mindfulness.

Mindfulness teaches you how to handle ‘brain clutter’ by focusing on the here and now as you develop a healthier relationship with thoughts and feelings. That state of being fully present in whatever you are feeling.

You aim to accept the current reality of your situation as ‘it is what it is.’ Being in a mindset of acceptance is essential to be fully present.

Being present heightens your awareness of body sensations.

Okay, so I’m anxious. Now what? How can I avoid being worried and reframe my response to be more positive and accepting?

If you’re worried, then instead of fighting your anxious feelings and thoughts, be fully present in them.

This way, you acknowledge your internal state (anxiety).

Awareness is the first step to resolving tension.” okay, I’m nervous about something; now what?”

Let the feelings parse through your soul. The sooner you do, the sooner that funky emotion dissipates.

Imagine the sensation swooshing through your body and out your backside (like a glorious fart).

I had it temporarily, and now it’s gone!

By not resisting, you conserve energy and experience negative bullshit (anxiety) fading away.

Being present heightens your awareness of body sensations.

Okay, so I’m anxious. Now what? How can I avoid worrying and reframe my response to be more positive and accepting?

If you’re worried, then instead of fighting your anxious feelings and thoughts, be fully present in them.

This way, you acknowledge your internal state (anxiety).

Awareness is the first step to resolving tension.” okay, I’m nervous about something; now what?”

Let the feelings parse through your soul. The sooner you do, the sooner that funky emotion dissipates.

Imagine the sensation swooshing through your body and out your backside (like a glorious fart).

I had it temporarily, and now it’s gone!

By not resisting, you conserve energy and experience negative bullshit (anxiety) fading away.

Manage your energy.

That is to say, you don’t overreact and are not overwhelmed by what’s happening around you.

Yes, this is way easier said than done.

If you cut me off on my bike, I’ll freak out and yell. But when I objectively examine the situation, I laugh and wonder why I didn’t choose a healthier response.

Had I mastered the art of mindfulness, I would not have exerted such negative energy. So, it’s all about managing your energy, which is handy as you age.

Chances are your anxiety is related to thinking about something in the past or the future.

Can you shift to the present?

You can’t think negatively when concentrating on your breathing, the beauty of the sun, or the sensation in your left toe.

So get the negative kaka (poop) out of your head, and focus on good vibes and calm body sensations.

For instance, I fear missing an upcoming flight to Bangladesh. I’ll freak out and be super anxious because I’ll worry that I won’t be able to get there on time to meet my partner, whom I haven’t seen in months.

Then I’ll likely end up cabbing it back home (waste money) and have to catch a flight later that week. I’ll picture myself fighting the airline to get my money back… bla bla bla

So what! Yeah, it’s a huge inconvenience, but I’m alive and well, unlike the guy in Ukraine defending his country against Russia or the starving kid in a refugee camp somewhere.

I’m trivializing my flight dilemma and need perspective, man! My situation is not dire, and there’s always a solution.

Who’s in control of your emotions, you or the airline company? Don’t let fu*k-turds control your feelings. Think of your psyche as a walled garden. You don’t want to miss a flight AND be in a foul mood all night?

OR do you miss a flight (beyond your control), chill, go home, relax, calmly call your friend and save your energy for a good shag which is well within your control?

If you look for it, every setback has a silver lining.

I deal with setbacks by being fully present and appreciating that I’m still safe. I have money for a cab, so I’ll call my man and tell him I’ll be a few days late. The plane didn’t crash!

If you’re like me, you’ll freak out and cause a scene if you miss a flight. But years later, you’ll laugh it off and say, “Remember when.”

Looking back at my life, I’m reminded that something extraordinary often comes after a significant setback. — Daniel-Ibrahim

Be an observer of your temporary feelings.

When your unpleasant feeling dissipates, you realize that negative emotions are momentary (not permanent) feelings that come and go.

Not just yucky feelings, but the good ones, too, so don’t get too attached either way.

With Mindfulness, you observe your inner state (the observing self). As a result, you are no longer recognized and lost in the inertia of your negative thoughts and feelings and become the observer of your sensations.

As an observer of your emotions, you experience your authentic feelings.

Observing your thoughts and emotions without judgment makes you realize their short-term nature.

You learn that beliefs are incredibly subjective; not all are predominately true.

In sum, Mindfulness can assist you in recognizing fewer negative emotions, feelings or thoughts.

Simply put, we are not your thoughts or feelings and can merely be mindful of your fleeting emotions or opinions.

Now go out and be present!