Contents
The term Monkey Mind comes from one of the Buddhist principles, defining it as a mind that is unsettled, restless, or uncontrolled. This constant activity in our minds can keep us from experiencing many situations with a healthy, relaxed approach. There are ways in which we can control this, where we don’t feed the monkey mind we all have at some point.
How do you do that? Keep reading as this has proven to be one of our society’s current diseases. But the good news is that we can work on it.
Don’t feed the monkey mind
We have over at least 60000 thoughts every day, 85% of which keep coming back on and on. Every day. It is exhausting just reading about it.
What the Buddhists called the “Monkey Mind” is very much real and it is affecting a great number of people, especially in today’s society, where we live surrounded by constant stimulation, activity, and frenzy.
Fortunately, there are ways to switch off all that constant noise we digest every day. The way we drive our mind where we want has to do with a simple concept: staying present.
Be present, experience the “right now”
So how do we step out of this monkey mind? Although it may as simple as wanting to stay present, this can prove a difficult task at first. But not because it is difficult per se, only because most people who suffer from this have no practice in focusing the attention on the inner self.
As I said earlier, today’s society forces us to stay constantly active and process great amounts of information every hour. So to just go home, sit, relax, and quiet down all that noise inside our heads might be a little hard in the beginning.
But the good part is that we get better at it the more we practice.
How can you start?
It is easy, just make a small time every day to find somewhere in your house where you can sit back, in a comfortable posture, and just sit still for 5 minutes. Simple right?
You’ll immediately see how your mind keeps on going with its non-stop activity, hundreds of thoughts will come and go. Don’t panic, that’s normal, it doesn’t mind you are doing it wrong. It’s normal in the beginning, our minds are not used to being observed, looked at as spectators. That’s the key here.
Watch all those thoughts come and go as if you were watching a film where you are not taking part, you are only there looking.
Then, practice your active focus by looking at how you feel, scanning your body from head to toes and observing how every part feels, but not trying to change anything, just observing.
After that, pay attention to the noises you hear, the smells, or the touch you may feel. Your mind will drift away many times while you try this, but don’t worry, just bring the attention back to what you want.
Remember that your mind is used to doing whatever it wants most of the time so it will take some time for you to control all that frantic activity. It just takes a little time.
The key to mindfulness
This is what mindfulness is all about. Being in control of your mind, even if sometimes your thoughts are different from what you want. You’ll know that’s what the mind does sometimes, it wanders.
So if you want to stay more present you know what to do, don’t feed the monkey mind. Start small, but stick to it every day. You’ll be amazed by the benefits this meditation can bring to your life.
Don’t know how to start?
I am here to help you, so send me a message or book a call with me and I will be glad to help you start your road to mindfulness and a more present YOU.
