Exercise Twenty-Five: Cope Ahead for Turning the Mind

“This exercise will help you plan ahead for how you might Turn the Mind when you’re nonaccepting. Coping Ahead will increase the likelihood that you act willingly and practice Radical Acceptance . It will help you feel a greater sense of mastery over dealing with the unavoidable pains in your life.”

Is my mind for turning? Not sure, but I have to try. Here goes – 

1)”First, choose something that you anticipate finding difficult to accept. This might be something you repeatedly struggle with accepting, or it might be something you anticipate happening in the future.

I already know what my choice here will be – stuffy offices and anywhere, in fact, that’s too warm for my liking.

2) “Describe what you expect to be able to notice in a moment when you are not accepting. Will you have certain emotions, sensations, or judgemental thoughts? How does it look when you fight, deny, or avoid this reality?

Yes, in hot moments with little hope of fresh air, I can lose it. I curse those who would deny me my basic right to a blast of cool air.

3)”Identify how you can Turn the Mind. How will you turn towards acceptance? You could say aloud “ I will choose to radically accept this,” or remind yourself of the pros and cons of accepting versus rejecting reality.”

Let me consider my options here. I already have a neck fan. Maybe I need an all-body cooling device. Online research reveals fans you wear round your waist (which probably sound like hairdryers on a low speed). I’d then become the office whirring dervish. But, thinking about acceptance, who wants to be too hot?

4) “Identify how you could practice Radical Acceptance.  You could Nonjudgementally Describe the facts you need to accept, or practice Paced Breathing, relaxation techniques, Half-Smiling, or Willing Hands.”

I could do all these things. I’m just not sure how when I’m feeling hot. But I’m cool right now, and am already considering buying more fans to put on before I even get within sight of anywhere overheated. Windows may stay closed, but they can’t stop me whirring. Does my planning count as Coping Ahead for Turning the Mind?