Thoughts as Traffic

Thoughts

I have learned anxiety is a frightened mind. I can control my thoughts & disengage from the “What if” game my mind wants to play when I am not in balance. I slow myself with mindfulness instead.

Goodbye thoughts 👋

I learned that my thoughts are separate from who I am. I was completely detached from them as I visualized standing on the side of the road, watching them pass by in the form of a car. It’s was very easy and enjoyable. I was smiling as I waved and said goodbye to my thoughts. 💭 visualization meditation is amazing 😉

Thoughts

I’ve never considered how I can observe my thoughts from both the outside and from within, or at least looked at it closely.

Interesting Concept 🚗 🚙

Although I prefer Cassandra’s meditation about thoughts 💭 as leaves 🍁 on a stream, or Cindy Wolk-Weiss’ session as thoughts 💭 as clouds ⛅️ , this is an interesting approach. Coming from a state whose total population (600,000) is less than many major cities it was a bit more difficult for me to relate to. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thoughts abound

I noticed that as Cassandra told me to allow my thoughts to zoom on past, rather, I found myself caught up in them! Had a busy day, starting early on very little sleep, as my son and I helped move my brother and his wife out of the long-term rental house being sold out from under them and made several big dump runs to the local landfill. I'm absolutely worn out. Overdid it for sure! I hate having to cope with these disabilities I'm left with!

Interesting

I liked the analogy in this meditation. I still hopped into too many cars as they passed by and need to focus more on letting them just pass on through. Sometimes I certainly struggle with an over active mind. Might need to repeat this a few times.

Well work on this

The visualization part of this was difficult. Maybe because I’m a bit tired, but I see the point and this is something I will like to work on.

Today is going to be amazing

All of my intentions are being moved into a positive direction. I am productive, creative and motivated to be inspired by I how I feel right now Gratitude

Giving space between you and your thoughts

As a ‘certified’ over-thinker, I found Cass’s invitation to use passing traffic as a way to give space between our thoughts and ourselves very helpful and easy to use. After all, we don’t give too much time and energy to the Honda or minivan that just went by, so why do we need to give negative thoughts any more time or energy than those cars? I’ll return to this meditation often. Namaste.

Thoughts and traffic

In the beginning I had obviously jumped into the taxi with one of my thoughts which brought a tear to my eyes. Then I managed to jump out of the taxi. It is calming to be able to separate myself from my thoughts and feelings. I’m definitely an over thinker and give myself anxiety. I need to remind myself to do this when my mind starts running away with me. I really enjoyed this analogy. This is one of the first times when mediating that my mind didn’t run away with me and I was having to think up thoughts that I wanted to watch drive away…

Letting Thoughts Go

The analogy of standing on side of road watching traffic go by allows me to see that I am in control and can choose not to climb into the car and be taken for a ride.

Like leaves in a stream

The analogy of thinking your thoughts but don’t let them ride with you, drop them off at the next curb. Move on

Thoughts

This is a wonderful way to think about and consider thoughts and also to control which thoughts you “take a ride with” and which ones you don’t.

Observing…?

Just as she begins this session I hear a train whistle a ways away. As she has us watching the cars go by on the street, I am aware of the train approaching right next door on the rails…ha! I think, then let it go. I observe a thought flash up on my mental screen & then… poof… it is gone as soon as I dismiss it. Only to be replaced by another… poof… and another… poof… Reminds me of the old slide projector my dad used back when I was a young lad (like 50 years ago!) Wow! What a cool image. See the thought-pic & dismiss it by pushing my mental “next slide” button. By the time I am out of slides my mind is calm & blank…aummm… Until, I hear the train whistle in the distance again… Incredible!! the whole train passed by me without me being consciously aware of it! Guess this meditation works really well! Thanks Carla! 👍🏼 🚂🍀

Traffic

I’m going to continue thinking about this one. Finding a way to process thoughts would be helpful. I need to be mindful and use this when I need.

Traffic analogy works

A good thing to keep in mind for use throughout the day….especially when there are too many thoughts flying around.

Thoughts as traffic

I’ve experienced times when I’ve had to pull off the road just to gather and reorganize my thinking. While not always on the road, it can be hard to figuratively pull thoughts over and change thinking. This lesson was a good reminder that it’s possible to park thoughts and let them pass like leaves floating downstream

Interesting

Different analogies work better at times. I use a bus station analogy in my sessions.

“Playing in traffic”

I got really busy thinking. I turned my back to the traffic- that helped, I got excited thinking where I would go in the taxi - off to this and that. Haha breath returns me faster than trying to visualize getting out of a taxi but the exercise was and will be useful. I’m in traffic a lot

Traffic

It was nice not to take a trip in the taxi but I felt myself being a bit overwhelmed with the amount of cars. Time to let my mind find a less busy area

True

This was wonderful. I can see how your thoughts can take you somewhere. Loved how she describe it. Like getting in a taxi and your thoughts will take you some where. It you can stop and get out of the taxi. Loved this.

“…Squirrel!”

As a possibly undiagnosed ADD person, I often get thoughts pulling at me faster and faster the more stressed I am, or the more behind a self-imposed deadline. I LOVE the image of catching the taxi as needed, but allowing other stray thoughts to drive by. Thanks for this imagery!

Loved the analogy of traffic and thoughts

I learned that i can catch a taxi and drive around with my thoughts or observe them pass by as I stand on the pavement

Traffic

As I struggle with real traffic in Hanoi each day this is a useful metaphor to stand back and watch it flow placing your thoughts on it or in a passing car

Traffic

Normally when I’m waiting at a street I’m focused on getting to the other side. What traffic is in the way, what other bystanders are doing, and ultimately where I am going. Taking time to stop and appreciate those thoughts passing through, and realizing you don’t have to stay in the car with those thoughts is calming. Being intentional about why those thoughts are there allows me to interact with those thoughts in a more productive way.