Clear mind or cloudy mind? How do you know if you are seeing things clearly or if your objectivity is being influenced and tainted by other things? Are you letting past experiences skew your thinking? Or is your child creating a bit of a stir and keeping you from seeing things clearly? Do you have such emotional reactions to things that you are having a hard time figuring out what to do? Sometimes, it is important to give yourself a time out and try to get out of the midst of the fog and clouds in order to get that thinking back on track…
Some of the things that can contribute to skewed thinking are: exhaustion, lack of exercise and healthy eating, extreme stress or emotional tensions, a change in routine and developmental changes that our child is going through. Sometimes, just acknowledging that big things are moving in your world that are keeping you from seeing things clearly can help you to realize that you need to slow down and put some care into shifting perspective. I don’t know about you but if I am overly tired or skip breakfast or drink too much coffee, I see the world through very different eyes than if I am well-rested and well-fed. Things that simple can have a big effect on me. Similarly, I learned years ago that when it comes to my children, I can be incredibly emotional, protective, and easily go into “mother bear” mode if I think they are being threatened or choosing unsafe behaviors. Sometimes if I can catch myself before I go off, I can get my mind straight and determine if they really are at risk, or if I am overreacting.
What sets you off? Are there circumstances or health issues that can keep you from thinking and seeing the world with a clear mind and sharp focus? Just knowing when you are starting to get a-skew can be an important step in stopping yourself before you do something you regret—or something that makes matters worse.
Also: What Does Exhaustion Do to You?