It all started when I started counting my steps going from my work to where I parked my car. I had to park about 4 blocks away, so somehow I thought counting the steps made it seem faster, like landmarks. I would count my steps up to 100, then start all over again.
Then I started counting the steps it took to do things, like getting dressed, for example: (1,2) for putting my legs in my pants. Then I went on to steps within putting on one item, for example: (1) pick up the shirt, (2) turn the shirt so the back is on top and put my arms in between the back and the front (3 and 4) put first one arm and the other in the sleeves of the shirt, (5) pulling the shirt down to straighten it around my hips.
This can get really out of hand. I would catch myself counting in the background of my mind all the time. I would notice I would be thinking 89,90, 91, 92,.... That was kind of frightening. So I tried to stop counting. I would try to tell myself silently to Stop Counting when I noticed myself doing it. That helped a little, but not much. Something that does help, though, is remembering that my body knows what it is doing. It's interesting to mentally step back and observe just how my body does each process on it's own, each little movement, twist of the hand, etc. has a purpose. I never realized how involved just simple processes can be.
Lately, the best thing I have tried is trying to notice things around me, like sounds, sights, people, etc. I call it being present in the moment. It seems to keep the numbers away more efficiently, and makes my life richer.
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