Wellness Tip: Slow down your thinking.

Have you ever had someone throw a ball at you and say, “Think fast"? When you “think fast” you most often react impulsively and emotionally. When you slow your thinking you respond intentionally and logically. In this time of chaos and instant gratification, we are trapped in our fast thinking. How many times a day do you “react” with your co-workers, family or patients because you are thinking fast about trying to do or process too many things at once. What if you just thought about what was in the present moment? What if you really listened to what someone was saying and thought before you replied? What if you slowed down and thought about how you want to reply to a social media post you didn’t like? You can learn to respond thoughtfully rather than react emotionally. It is a choice, a conscious choice. Slow your thinking. Take a breath and focus on what is in the moment. When your thoughts start speeding and you are thinking about dinner and it’s 10 a.m., be aware and slow your thoughts. When you are driving and realize you are going 80 mph in a 65 mph zone, do you put the brake on? No, you take your foot off the gas. Your thinking is the same. You control how much gas you give your thoughts. So slow down. After all, if you keep speeding, eventually you will suffer consequences. If you would like to learn more about this concept, check out the book "Thinking, Fast and Slow," by Daniel Kahneman.

By Sheela Abarr, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC, End of Life Coach and Doula, Live Well Alaska LLC