Online MBCT/MBSR Lesson 4

Home Practice Review: Doing Mode/Being Mode II

Let's recap two main issues that can arise when we operate out of doing mode:

• Spending too much time operating out of doing mode is stressful and drains our mental energy, making it more likely we start to feel overwhelmed and find it difficult to cope with things.
 
• When we operate out of doing mode in order to try to problem solve our emotions or try to think our way out of how we're feeling, not only isn't this effective, it encourages worrying, dwelling on things, rumination, and other sorts of unproductive over-thinking and over-analyzing.

Although doing mode is important in many situations and for many of the things we do throughout our day, a key theme throughout this program is that we rely on doing mode too much. By learning to step out of our heads and take a step back from our thoughts and from thinking all the time, we become more mindful, less stressed, better able to manage our feelings and emotions, and avoid the pitfalls that come with over-thinking and relying on our thoughts too much.

As noted last session, we're used to operating out of doing mode by default and out of habit, and it takes some time and practice to be able to spend more time operating from being mode, and to be able to shift ourselves out of doing mode when we don't need it. You probably found this difficult to do last week and weren't always successful, and you'll probably find it difficult this week as well.

As long as you continue:

1. being aware when you're operating out of doing mode
2. recognizing when it's not appropriate or helpful
3. as best you can, interrupting doing mode, stepping into being mode for a while, and then continuing on with your day from a more mindful perspective

you'll find you'll start to break the habit of automatically operating out of doing mode, you'll naturally spend more time in being mode, and you'll be able to switch out of doing mode and give yourself a break and chance to recharge when you do start feeling drained and overwhelmed.

Just asking yourself the simple questions:

1. Am I operating out of doing mode right now?
2. Do I need to be operating out of doing mode right now?

is enough to increase your awareness and allow you to step out of your head and out of doing mode for a few moments, rather than just allowing the doing mode train to run unchecked and gather momentum. As this program continues, you'll develop more skills and learn more practices that will help you spend less time in doing mode, starting with the mindful walking practice we'll be doing at the end of this session.