{"id":4208,"date":"2023-08-06T19:29:18","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T01:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.happysimpleliving.com\/?p=4208"},"modified":"2023-08-06T19:30:09","modified_gmt":"2023-08-07T01:30:09","slug":"a-meditation-for-hamster-wheel-mind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.happysimpleliving.com\/a-meditation-for-hamster-wheel-mind\/","title":{"rendered":"A Meditation for Hamster Wheel Brain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At 2 a.m., my hamster wheel brain <\/strong>feels free to explore a wide range of topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you’ve been there, too. It’s deep in the night when you should be sleeping peacefully<\/a>. Instead, your mind is turning something over and over and over<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“The phrase ‘apropos of nothing’ really bugs me,” my brain will suddenly announce. “And also, the expression ‘easy peasy.’ And periods. Used. Like. This.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I roll over and whisper, “let’s go back to sleep,” but the busy hamster feels duty-bound to remind me about the too-small sum I got after plugging my numbers into a Retirement Calculator yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now the hamster leads me through the Home Depot parking lot to the shed kits. “Do you think we can afford the Majestic Western Cedar model to live in when we retire?” it asks. “Or will we have to go with the Val-U fiberboard economy shed?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that doesn’t get my attention, the relentless rodent moves on to worrisome topics like the peeling paint on the west windows of the house. Or the high price of health insurance. Or the National Debt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Late Night Worries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why is it that issues loom so large at 2 a.m.?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, with practice it’s possible to stop the hamster wheel brain. The next time your mind is stuck in a loop of worry, try this simple meditation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Get comfortable in your favorite sleeping position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Take several slow, deep breaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Send up a prayer for good sleep, if you like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Think of a 2-syllable word that will soothe you. Some ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n