After I learned to delay my obsessive thoughts, the next challenge was to keep my mind from falling back into them.
That’s where the second step of my recovery began — learning to stay present in the moment.
I realized that whenever I got caught in the past or the future, my mind became the perfect ground for OCD to grow again.
So, I decided to train myself to return to the present moment — again and again — until it became natural.
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Focusing on the Present
Every time obsessive thoughts tried to take control, I gently told myself:
“Not now. I’ll think about you later — at the time I choose, not when you choose.”
Then I focused my attention on what I could see, hear, or feel right now.
The sound of the wind, the shape of my hands, or even the feeling of my heartbeat — anything that reminded me that I was here, in this very moment.
Over time, this practice became my anchor.
It kept me connected to the world around me and prevented my mind from being dragged into endless loops of thought.
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Focusing on Negative Feelings
One of the most powerful parts of my practice was focusing on negative emotions instead of running away from them.
At first, it felt uncomfortable — even scary — but I noticed something surprising:
when I allowed myself to truly feel my fear, sadness, or tension, they began to lose their power.
If I felt heaviness in my chest, I didn’t fight it.
Instead, I’d take a deep breath and say to myself:
“Okay, this feeling is here. Let it be.”
Negative feelings became a point of focus — like an anchor that helped me stay grounded in the present moment.
Each time I faced them, they no longer pulled me into obsessive thoughts.
Instead, they became a doorway back to peace.
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Conclusion
Learning to stay present was what allowed me to remain faithful to the “delaying” technique.
It helped me understand that I was not my thoughts or my emotions — I was the one observing them.
This second step made my recovery stronger and more stable.
It taught me that healing from OCD isn’t about fighting thoughts — it’s about changing where your attention lives.
In the next step, I’ll share how I turned this new awareness into daily habits that kept my mind balanced.
Continue to Step 3 – Staying Committed: Building strength through patience and trust.
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