How to Maintain Zen pt. 1

Accept what is happening by acknowledging your own presence and situation. Be aware of your own feelings without judging them or the feelings of others. Acknowledge your feelings without trying t o change them: for changing them would mean finding fault and finding fault would mean you have judged. Acknowledgement of the feeling. Ezra Bayda (I think that is the last name) says to keep your consciousness for at least three breaths, at least to start off, and then if you cannot resist it, allow yourself to go back into the "phased out self" (that's what I call it when you go back into auto mode - you know, when you're not paying attention to anything/one.)

The "Phased Out Self" is the mind's way of self-protection from over-stimulation. So automatically you shut yourself off from the outside world in order to keep functioning. Ironically at this point the mind over floods itself with many thoughts at once so that there is no focus on any particular matter. And on a contradictory note, you would go to classes like yoga or pilates to learn how to shut those "voices" or random thoughts out and be present in the moment.