Customize your shifting experience on iPhone or Android anytime.
Hello there! Hope you’re doing well.
Let's set an intention together to make a shift into a different state of mind.
We’ll take a deep dive into our inner worlds to honor our practice of being intentional about coming deeply into presence, at least once for the day.
It doesn’t need to take a long time to do that.
It’s so valuable.
We'll do it today by shifting into a breakthrough.
I discovered years ago in my own shifting practice, and then while working with people to get their own practice going, that a real breakthrough in your practice — and in your life actually — comes when you're able to shift intentionally between your thinking mind and your watching and listening mind.
Your ‘thinking mind’ to your ‘listening mind.’
When you can do that reliably it means that you clearly know the felt difference — the difference in how it feels to you — between those two states of consciousness.
So let's experience this breakthrough intentionally together right now.
Take a deep breath.
—
Relax.
Settle into your space.
—
Focus 100% of your attention — invite all your focus into the present moment, into the space you're sitting.
Get all your senses attuned to right here and right now.
Let everything go.
Let go of any thoughts that you brought with you, or any thoughts about the future, just let them go for a few minutes here.
Close your eyes if you want.
And listen inside your inner world.
—
See if you can notice any thoughts that are popping through now.
—
What thought is occurring in your mind right now when you just listen?
—
When I’m speaking, you may be processing the words I speak.
And meanwhile, you're also likely thinking about something — maybe peripherally related, or even completely unrelated to these words.
Can you identify any thought that you're processing?
—
—
Noticing your ‘thinking state of mind’ (as we are doing) is a great way to start coming into a ‘listening state of mind.’
Let’s do that.
Close your eyes now, if you haven’t already.
See if you can notice ongoing thoughts produced by your thinking mind for the next 20 seconds or so.
When you notice a thought, don't get carried away by the thought.
Observe the thought.
Allow it to flow through your mind.
Allow it to leave your mind.
Then, just return to the intention of noticing your next thought.
Ready?
Go.
—
—
Good.
Did you notice any thoughts arising in your mind — in your inner world?
I'm sure you did.
Now we're going to make our shift.
Set an intention to shift away from your thinking mind that you were observing, and completely into your non-thinking mind over the next couple minutes.
Shift away from your thinking mind and into your non-thinking mind.
Making that shift entails being committed to letting go of your thoughts completely for a while.
Don't worry, they'll be there when you return.
They always are.
But for now, just be committed to allowing your thoughts to fade out of the foreground of your awareness for a little while.
Let's set a clear intention to let thoughts go for 20 seconds.
Drop below thinking into complete inner silence.
—
Just listening.
—
Just being.
—
Dropping into complete silence now.
Complete inner silence.
—
—
Listen to life.
Listen as life.
—
—
Perfect.
Did you experience a few seconds of pure silence — pure listening mind?
Can you feel that difference between being occupied by your thinking mind, versus how it feels to become your watching mind, your listening mind, your silence?
That's the breakthrough you want to focus on.
Notice which state you're in at each moment.
When you can move back and forth intentionally, you've had your breakthrough.
You'll come to more clearly identify and feel that difference as you practice shifting more — the difference between your thinking mind and your listening mind.
Being able to make that intentional shift when you want to is the most important skill you can develop.
Once you’re in your listening mind you can move your attention into anything you want to just by resetting your intention.
So, what do you want to do next?
You’ve refilled from a place of stillness, a place of silence, a place of listening to life as life.
Now, set your next intention focused on whatever is up next for you today.
So what is next for you today?
—
Set that intention to shift towards whatever is next for you now.
Can you feel your intention being set inside you?
—
It can help to actually see the next part of your day in your mind’s eye.
See yourself fully present, embodying your next intention for today.
—
Got it?
Good!
Have an incredible day.
Stay present,
Sean
^^ If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share and subscribe to receive new Shifts by email. ^^
The OnePerfect Shift app is free if your employer, school, or other organization subscribes.
Contact us for a team trial — or try it anytime on iPhone or Android.
