We have two voices in our head (some of us may have more!). We have what I call the ‘chattering mind’ and the ‘observing’ mind. The chattering mind never stops. It rarely exists in the present and spends most of the time thinking about the past and the future. It is our ego.
- It is where fear exists when you worry about the future
- It is where anxiety exists when you worry about the past
- It is where anger exists when someone annoys or insults you
- It is where hate exists when you see injustice in the world
- It is where impatience exists when you are full of yourself
Some religions or philosophies try to teach us how to quiet that voice. That is what meditation is all about. But we can’t. Maybe for a few brief moments.
If I ask you to not think about something, you will immediately start thinking about it.
On the other hand, our observing mind takes a different perspective. It is more focused on the ‘now’.
- It is where love exists and recognizes our ‘oneness’
- It is where compassion exists and recognizes our ‘oneness’
- It is where indifference exists and recognizes our ‘oneness’
- It is where awe exists and recognizes our ‘oneness’
It’s not that the chattering mind is bad. It has a purpose. It helps us plan. The problem is it can distract us with things that we have no control over. Worrying about things you have no control over is not healthy. Easier said than done. So, what do you do to quiet that voice?
Personally, what I find most helpful to quiet the chattering mind is sound (vibration!). Listen to music. Listen to the birds sing. Focus on the sound of your breath. The key (and it takes practice) is to recognize when you are entering a disquieting emotional state and then acknowledge it.
I also have a mantra I repeat over and over until the thought sinks in and the anxiety dissipates:
You are not in control, go with the flow. You are not in control, go with the flow.
Repeat until it sinks in! I guarantee it will work.
