...What do you think about?

I'm trying to heal from my traumas (emotional) and would like to get back into walking. Problem is, my mind wanders into hurt territory, and I have to rush home because of it.

I used to walk around, like 4-5 miles each day, but I can't remember what (or how) I thought. I'd like to be able to just not THINK, and just enjoy...

Any suggestions? Do you think about "big" things (either important, or heavy/intense thoughts)? What are some lighter things out there?

Thanks for all suggestions, they're all important.

Quote from: Beth Andrea on March 11, 2013, 01:07:11 PM
...What do you think about?

I'm trying to heal from my traumas (emotional) and would like to get back into walking. Problem is, my mind wanders into hurt territory, and I have to rush home because of it.

I used to walk around, like 4-5 miles each day, but I can't remember what (or how) I thought. I'd like to be able to just not THINK, and just enjoy...

Any suggestions? Do you think about "big" things (either important, or heavy/intense thoughts)? What are some lighter things out there?

Thanks for all suggestions, they're all important.

I love music so that's what helps keep my mind off things when I'm on the treadmill. I hope that helps

Try counting birds or squirrels, or identifying different trees. Maybe listen to happy music or books on tape. Also helps to walk with a friend, if possible.

I used to love walking.  Walking anywhere it didn't matter, I just loved being out.  Now because of diabetic problems I can't do much walking, but when I do it around the desert, I love it there, its beautiful especially now with the cactus and other plants in bloom.

But mostly I just get lost in my mind, making up stories as I walk.

I tend to let my mind wonder when I go for a walk. However, once it gets into the painful thoughts I tend to try and focus on something in my surroundings. Normally where I walk there are a bucnh of different animals, so I pay attention to them. I also like to see how many snakes I see during the summer. It's easier to do sometimes than others, but if you can keep your thoughts on what is around you at the moment it might help.

Ipod or your phone.  Listen to music you like and just enjoy.

Walking...

if with my wife at a park, beach, paved path or nature trail, the conversation occupies us, taking in the waves on a beach, the flora and fauna, birds, butterflies etc all divert my mind from any issues.

Alone in the same locals, minus the conversation much the same, but I do find I get my stride into a pace, rhythm, sometimes I hear and concentrate on my breathing and zone into this like a trance with no thoughts on anything that is bothering me, still aware of the Beauty of my surroundings, the fresh air feeding me energy. If I am on a hiking trail, the exercise of where to place your foot when stepping over stones, rocks, tree routes, fallen branches, logs & twigs, up and down uneven terrain  has your mind totally involved in navigating the countryside. Sometimes I get into this zone even walking these areas with my wife. I go back home with a fresh new outlook, completely refreshed, feeling good from the exercise & knowing my body thanks me.

Hope something in there may work for you.
Cheers
Jamie

I find that walking in an unfamiliar place tends to be helpful. Taking a slightly different route, etc. It makes me feel like I'm getting away from it all, and makes it "safe" to think about whatever may be bothering me. I find if I walk quite briskly, it helps keep the thoughts at bay too, I just get little fragments of them floating about in my head as opposed to consuming me and making me anxious.

But besides that...I think about my thesis sometimes, about my past, my present, things that have been worrying me, things I want to get done, goals I have and how to go about approaching them.

Oh and as Janet said, sometimes music is the best.

Thanks, all...it seems that what I'm gonna have to do is focus my eyes and thoughts on my immediate surroundings, of course being interested in foot hazards but also navigation...and to try to see the wonder in everyday things.

Keeping my thoughts THERE might help me with walking, but also in other areas.

It's weird, but even thinking (imagining) such things makes my mind cringe...

All good advice. In addition to noticing details about my surroundings, or listening to music, there are a few other things i do to occupy my mind:
1. Focus on what my body is feeling: notice each breath in and out, notice how my hands and arms feel as I swing them, notice my breasts rubbing or bouncing, notice my popping ankles, grinding left knee, and the arching reaching flexing of my foot with each step. Sunshine on my skin or hot or cold
All ads up to This Is Me and I am Here Now.
2. Imagine my perspective changing as I grow to enormous size carefully lifting my feet to not godzilla (yes thats a verb) the power lines or squish the traffic between my toes. Unless I want to. Feel again when I shrink to tiny size.  Make myself lighter than a feather and walk on air. Make myself 2000 degrees and melt the sidewalk with each step. Become invisible. Reappear. Feel gravity reverse but activate my earth-magnet shoes so my feet stick . Become bouncy ajd carefully avoid bouncing into orbit. Oops too late. Turn into a cat and slink. Turn into a wolf and saunter. Turn into a Clydesdale and clomp like Maddie.
3. Imagine my Beth friend is with me and hold a conversation with her in my head.
4. Make up silly or angry or egotistical words to familiar songs and sing them.

Oh, Maddie...you're sweet.

I know! I can take Teddy and/or Bunnie with me! That'd be almost like having you beside me!!