3 Steps to Clear Your Mind of Unwanted Thoughts

Try this: clear your mind. Try to think of absolutely nothing. 

It’s not as easy as it seems, is it? And chances are, you were probably thinking of something — like what put your toddler in “tantrum” mode this time, is that Hanson’s MMMbop playing on the radio?, or maybe even of how not to think of anything.

It’s perfectly normal; this is just how we humans are wired. Science shows the brain never actually stops “thinking,” even in a subconscious state, like when you sleep.

And because your mind is constantly on the go, it’s susceptible to picking up unwanted, messy thoughts.

How Your Mind Gets Messy

Imagine this: you post a picture of yourself on your Bali beach vacay that you love. Your “like” count starts racking up and comments start pouring in, like “Gorgeous!” and “I’m so jealous. Have a great time!” 

But then, ding! — a snarky one: “You’ve put on weight too, I see!” Even though you’ve received so much love from your followers, you can’t help but fret over that one negative comment. Why is that?

It seems, when your brain believes you’re in danger, it releases the chemical cortisol, which is related to your hormones and stress levels. It gives you the “worse case scenario” thoughts that can be super helpful when there’s an imminent threat, like if you’re stuck in a burning house.

And once you’re out of the danger zone, your brain is able to adjust the levels of cortisol and balance everything back out. 

However, when you’re constantly under stress, your cortisol levels are always high, and your mind defaults to the negative, it can have an impact on your wellbeing, including:

• Anxiety and depression
• Headaches
• Memory and concentration problems
• Trouble sleeping
• Weight gain

A study by the University of Reading shows “the longer your brain holds on to a negative event, or stimuli, the unhappier you report being.”

So when your mind starts making a mess, you should highly consider clearing it.

How to Clear Your Mind

When you can’t stop thinking about the past, you’re worried about the future, you allow others’ criticisms to narrate your life, it opens the gates to a highway of unwanted thoughts.

So how do you push through and keep going? Energy healer Jeffrey Allen, who is also the author of Mindvalley’s Duality Quest, suggests taking these three simple steps to clear your mind of distractions.

Step #1: Focus your attention

Focusing your attention on the present moment is no easy task. It forces you into your discomfort zone so you can come to peace with not only external triggers but your internal ones as well.

Jeffrey suggests turning your focus inward to the area behind your eyes and between your ears.

Having a location for your awareness is really helpful because most people don’t know where their energy and awareness is, so knowing where you are helps you be more present.

— Jeffrey Allen, author of Mindvalley’s Duality Quest

And, according to productivity expert Maura Thomas, by controlling your attention, “you choose where you direct your attention at any given moment, based on an understanding of your priorities and goals.”

What to do:

1. Move your awareness to the center of your head — the area behind your eyes and between your ears.
2. Sit there for a few minutes.
3. Notice how it feels.

Step #2: Turn down the noise

We don’t always notice it, but we, as humans, have evolved into multitaskers. We could be driving while listening to The Mindvalley Podcast or texting during a movie.

But there’s research that shows we’re not actually multitasking, but more of switching between one task and another. You can imagine how exhausting it must be for our brain to switch between thinking to being logical to use our analytical skills.

So, it’s time to turn down the noise and give your brain a break.

What to do:

1. Turn down your analyzer. Close your eyes and notice how active your mind is. Imagine there’s a dial switch and turn it down slowly like a light dimmer. Then notice how much more quiet your mind is.
2. Move your awareness to the higher mind (behind the Third Eye, near to the back of your head).
3. Observe the calm, clear, and peace in your awareness.

Step #3: Tune in to your intuition

Call it “gut feeling” or “sixth sense,” intuition is a feeling that guides you to act a certain way or know something without fully understanding why according to our friends at Merriam-Webster.

When you’re tapped into your intuitive self, you start vibrating at a higher level and become more magnetic to positive people, opportunities, and the answers you seek.

You don’t need to chase [the answers] or ask, ask, ask. Just be patient and let it come to you.

— Jeffrey Allen, author of Mindvalley’s Duality Quest

A 2016 study was put together to show how much intuition can inform and improve our decision-making. A psychological scientist on the research team, Joel Pearson explains that intuition can “help guide us through life, to enable better decisions, faster decisions, and be more confident in the decisions we make.”

So instead of thinking about the answers you seek, just let them come to you.

What to do:

1. Let your mind be curious and wander.
2. Be patient. If any distractions come in, practice letting them go.
3. Let the answers and insights come to you.

Awaken Your Mind

It’s such an incredible feeling when your mind is free from clutter. You’re able to manage stress, reduce burnout, and increase your resilience.

If you’d like to master becoming more present, eliminating energy blocks, magnifying your intuition, awakening your natural healing abilities, and amplifying your abundance, head over to Mindvalley where you’ll find incredible teachers just like Jeffrey Allen accompanied by their month-long spiritual growth programs.

So set your intention to clear your mind of unwanted thoughts, raise your vibrations, and discover your unique role in humanity’s collective consciousness. The world of energy is waiting for you.