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Detox the Mind
Before we can lead properly, Brown urges us to let go of who we are supposed to be and embrace who we actually are.
Brené Brown is an American professor, best-selling author, worldwide public speaker and an all-around remarkable change agent. We could write endlessly about her wealth of knowledge on many subjects, but leading with courage, vulnerability and embracing your inner self are the pillars of her behavioral foundation. Before we can lead properly, Brown urges us to let go of who we are supposed to be and embrace who we actually are. This reprogramming requires a clear mind, an unfiltered view, and the willingness to detox the brain.
We often detox our bodies, but we never seem to detox our minds. We re-organize our office, we tidy up our closets, we declutter many parts of our lives, and always feel better when we do; yet, we never do this for our minds. Why? In part because we believe the mind can store vast amounts of information. And it can. However, it might be more effective if we had less to think about, less to worry about, less to contemplate.
So what is the best way to start a mind detox? Here are some productive ways to cleanse our minds, stop worrying as much and find our inner happiness.
1. Begin. Start new. Much like we do every new year, but never keep, take inventory of your life and decide what needs to change. Make notes, and create a short sentence to serve as your daily reminder.
2. Spend time outside. Park far away from the elevator, smell the fresh air, and plan an outdoor activity. Make the outdoors your think place.
3. Ditch the phone. Schedule your calendar for no technology time for at least an hour a day. Try these ways to declutter your phone from your life.
Go for a walk every day without your phone.
Ditch your phone one day a week. If that is too much, try a half-day or a four- hour tech-free window once a week.
Silence your notifications and phone for a one- or two-hour window every day.
Disconnect from electronics 30 minutes before bedtime each night and don’t reconnect until a specified time each morning (i.e. after your workout, meditation, or conversation with spouse.)
Designate a room or zone in your house where electronics are not allowed — and have all members of the household stick to those rules.
Create conscious intentions around picking up your phone: ask yourself, “Do I really need that info or do I need something else?”
4. Let go. Reflect on your responses and goals in life. Let go of the past, don’t let one mistake beat you twice.
5. Say no more. Worry about becoming too busy. You need time to think. Thinking is hard, its rare, and most of all it takes quiet time. Take time to think.
We all have busy lives, and none of us can change overnight. Gradual change will take time. If we work on changing one or two of our habits over the next 30 days as well and truly emphasize decluttering our minds, we will feel different. Brené Brown believes so, and so do we.
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