Clearly tuning into our feelings has been more challenging for all of us recently, because of what might be referred to as the age of bombardment. This is a time of technological advancement when your attentions can easily become overwhelmed by information, and an absorption and analysis dilemma. You might be experiencing an incessant barrage of input, and a feeling of being inundated. People often experience an unstoppable stream of thought that can be like a torrent and one that does not shut down even when you sleep. This can lead to over arousal and sleeplessness, and a never ending cycle of feeling overwhelmed.

Think of yourself standing near a park bench trying to drink from a fire hose, when it is a water fountain that you need, or consider an overreaction from a colleague, when a yes or no was all you required. A one hundred page report can be redundant when the information could easily be summarized in a single page. Some things seem impossible to turn off, or even to lessen, and your resulting feelings are often less than optimal.

When we are overwhelmed or experiencing conflicting feelings, we might reach for a headache tablet or a sleeping pill. We might sip a drink, or a have a bite to eat, all just in order to feel better. Each of these simple actions to improve feelings can lead to addiction, to drug use, to alcohol abuse, or overeating. This is why it is important to learn how to switch off the constant stream that may be continually flowing in your mind. Not only are you receiving and absorbing continual input, you are also attempting to process it.  Just as it is difficult to drink from a fire hose, it is not easy to think clearly when you are being confronted by multiple stimuli. In order to develop the ability to keep your orientation on what is important, and to maintain your thoughts on what matters, a dedicated effort and continual practice is required.