Coping With My Mental Chatter

Do you suffer from monkey mind?

‘Monkey mind’ is when our minds swirl with racing thoughts. According to Jay Shetty’s list; Our mind complains, compares, criticizes, amplifies negatives and fears. We become self-centered and obsessed, we do whatever feels good. We are controlled by anger, worry, fear and we look for temporary fixes to make us feel better. It’s a washing machine head, that one is mine.

I’m a lot better than I used to be but I still get caught for a loop. Hands up if that’s you too?

We are living through an insane time in history. We are often left feeling out of sync with reality. The ‘new normal’ is far from normal, and there doesn’t seem to be an end date in sight. Trying to stay grounded as each day unfolds is a full time task.

Many forms of meditation have been scientifically proven to calm your mind and quiet the mental chatter.

One of the best ways to tackle racing thoughts is to be present with them. Recognize that the mind is simply doing what it does best: thinking. When we judge ourselves for the thoughts we have, we begin to obsess over them. Simply, bringing your presence and awareness to the mental noise, you become the witness. You are separating yourself from your thinking mind.

By consciously bringing your attention to your thoughts without engaging — you naturally calm the mind.

People who suffer from depression, myself included, will often find themselves in “negative feedback loops.” I will feel down, this leads me to think negative thoughts. These negative thoughts reinforce the original negative feeling, and off I go chattering insanely with that monkey of misery, doom, and gloom. I watched myself doing it last night.

Fortunately, I caught myself before it went too far, and I was able to separate. I brought my attention into my hands, then my feet and then into my entire body. I took attention away from my racing mind and into the present moment. Intentionally reframing this experience as something I could feel gratitude for. Our challenges and struggles help us grow far more quickly than constant comfort. I’m grateful for my monkey mind, it reminds me how good it is to have peace and serenity. I tell myself, “You are exactly where you need to be. This is part of the process. It’s ok to go a little crazy today, you can start again tomorrow.”

Notice, focus, and breath. ‘This too shall pass.’

YOU DO HAVE POWER!

Love,
Lizzie xxx

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