Mental Fitness

Breathe in, breathe out and relax.  This is my new mantra.  I am finding a lot of satisfaction when I say this to myself and restore my awareness of the present and a feeling of relaxation in my body.  I have spent years learning and practicing how to nurture a healthy body.  Nurturing a healthy mind is somewhat new territory for me.  Sometimes it feels like I am trying to tame a wild horse.
All day long I catch my mind off day dreaming, thinking in circles, planning, analyzing, etc....When I catch myself, I practice breathe in, breathe out and relax.  This act of taking a conscious deep breath and feeling a tangible softening in my neck and shoulders centers me in my body and clears my mind.  I love it! 
I knew I was developing more mental prowess when a relative was in my face trying to convince me of his opinion and I could feel myself being pulled toward the debate.  I turned my attention away from him slightly, I didn't want to be rude, and practiced breathe in, breathe out and relax.  Seemingly miraculously, the conversation shifted.
On the other hand, I realize that certain situations require more mental muscle to remain centered, especially the ones where I am more emotionally invested.  I let myself get bent out of shape one night because of an inequity in household contributions.  I held on to my feeling of injustice for hours and not even once did it dawn on me to shift my awareness.  I was stuck in the muck. 
The thing about mental fitness is there is ample opportunity for training all day long.  The muscles of concentration, love, compassion, and acceptance grow stronger each time I train my brain to focus in the moment and let everything else come and go.