Seen-Stealers

March 2020 was the beginning of what was probably the weirdest and most surreal experience anyone alive today had been through up until that point. It may still rank number one on the weirdness scale for some, despite us being a few years down the line.

Yep. Lockdown.

Like everything in life, lockdown came with the good, the bad and everything in between. On the good aspect, being forced to be at home much more and forgo many everyday distractions did wonders for my mindfulness. I chose that time to actively refocus and, while browsing YouTube, a video came up in my suggestions:

How To BRAINWASH Yourself For Success & Destroy NEGATIVE THOUGHTS! Dr. Joe Dispenza   

Now, I haven't a clue why seeing the words 'brainwash', 'success' and 'destroy' evoked cut-throat, corporate-style, motivational tough-love video imagery, which would ordinarily put me off. I remember being strangely attracted to the idea of watching this, and I'm so glad I did. Cheers, Tom Bilyeu and thank you, Joe Dispenza!

Why has this video been so influential on me? I've watched a lot of mindfulness stuff, all awesome, but this clip just clicks very precisely with my own experiences. Its bottom line, change your thoughts to change your life, didn't come off as airy-fairy. The science-y parts about biochemistry, hormones and the like appealed to the geek me from the get-go. I was also excited that these bits reiterated some of what I had learned as a Biomed undergraduate. Additionally, there's no wiggle room for anyone's self-pity party. The encouragement to be fully accountable for your outcomes might make some people squirm a little, but it's the kind of tough love I'm all for: a firm kick up the behind and a call to immediate action to make life better for yourself right Now.

So, this is my desert island mindfulness video, the one I absolutely watch over and over, especially when nonproductive thinking rears its ugly head. It sets me straight in 30 minutes, and, at the time of writing this, the last time I watched it was whilst I was mopping the living room floor... Not the most zen way to take in a mindfulness video, I know, but the floor was sparkling, and I did feel amazing (about both myself and the floor). Best mopping sesh of my life. A half-hour well spent.

The video stands out for me as a great tool for refocusing my mind on what's in front of me right Now, the so-called 'seen', hence my coinage 'seen-stealer'. I'm looking forward to adding more recommendations here when good fortune allows me to stumble upon them. 

As you read this, I wish you the best of luck finding your seen-stealer if you haven't already. Or perhaps, just let it find you :)