Mental Journaling
There are certain times when I just can’t or don’t want to whip out the notebook and pen and write. Like before bed. If I were to write then, I’d get all “into it" and sleep would be further away. Sometimes this IS exactly what I want to do…work with something by writing about it, and get to the bottom of it. Sleep or no sleep. Sometimes I just want to drift off to sleep without writing. Yes, sometimes I don’t want to write! I noticed my dreams change “quality” according to the last thing I pay attention to before sleep. There are huge amounts of data devoted to dreams: Dream meanings, how and why we dream. I’m NOT a dream expert, but what I’ve noticed is that the last thoughts I have, just before going to sleep sort of set up my vibes for dreaming. Watching an action movie or a tense TV program gives me tense clashing dreams. Watching environmental documentaries about how the planet is in trouble can leave me with hopeless, helpless dreams. Reading something funny or romance novels…well, those are usually good dreams! My last thoughts just before sleep carry over into my dreams. Worry produces worrisome dreams, but soothing thoughts produce soothing dreams. The vibe I set up carries forward into my dreams.
Why not choose the thoughts I’m having just before sleep? I can usually control my thoughts. Here’s a list of 10: Soothing Words to End the Day
You can certainly come up with a list of whatever soothes you best. It will probably be totally different from mine. When I do this, dreaming is usually quite pleasant. The list above is very good for when I CAN control my thoughts. What about when worry has my thoughts flying out of control? Here’s a process that I developed a few years ago that I call Spellbinding. (My reason for choosing this name is a story all by itself...) It’s all done in my head – no writing, and the purpose is not to “finish”, but to put myself to sleep. Here’s how I do it:
The ONLY purpose this serves is to keep my mind occupied with thoughts other than traveling down the same negative path that keeps me awake. Try it sometime.
EXERCISING Give yourself ways to build a good vibe while you’re building a good body. I have a friend who does this type of thing while running. She uses a Top 3 Things Process. Keep it simple because you need some mental space for navigating streets, etc! Here are a few examples of Top 3’s:
Choosing this topic is more focused than choosing a topic for Spellbinding where you want to sort of numb you brain. This topic needs to be focused in the direction of something that you want. The topic needs to be on the POSITIVE side of an area of your life where you want to build good energy, or a situation you want to improve. Look to current contrast, and then choose what you prefer instead. Focus on that. Once you choose your topic and you designate the Top 3 Things related to it, you’re half done. The other half is to repeat the Top 3 Things to yourself sporadically throughout the run, or exercise routine. If you’re using circuit training or exercise machines, you could repeat the 3 things each time you change station or machine. If you’re using a treadmill, keep repeating them like a mantra. Repeat the Top 3 or picture them or otherwise mentally acknowledge them all the while you’re exercising.
When you’re done exercising, congratulate yourself for sticking with the Top 3’s. You just poured energy into creating a portion of the lifestyle that you prefer. You exercised law of Attraction as well as your body.
Imagine - if you had a little LoA progress card like you sometimes do for various exercise machines, you could check off additional units.
Here's another great mental exercise process I got from
Derrick Williams
 
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