Here’s the deal…
We all experience mental chatter, that inner voice that’s constantly going on in our heads. Think of it as our internal monologue helping us navigate the world.
Most of us try to ignore it, fight it, or completely surrender to it, which is a BIG mistake 😬 because we construct most if not all, of our lives from this place: our mental chatter.
We also tend to label it as “bad,” especially when it gets loud. From what I’ve observed in myself, it tends to be loudest when I’m anxious, worried, or feeling insecure.
Think back to the last time you were worried…
Was your mental chatter louder, more extreme, and harder to control?
Probably.
But the truth is, our mental chatter isn’t good or bad. It’s not friend or foe. It simply is.
And one of our most important goals is learning how to tame it in the direction that we want to go, so we can live a more peaceful and contented life most of the time.
One of the best ways to do this is to observe our mental chatter and notice what types of thoughts either drain or energise us.
For example, when I’m inspired, my mental chatter can be loud but energising — full of ideas and creativity. On the other hand, when it’s driven by anxiety or worry, it can feel overwhelming and exhausting.
This, I believe, is part of what it means to live consciously:
To become aware of our mental chatter, aka our thoughts, and learn not to judge or react, but to observe and respond consciously.
Remember:
How we choose to respond, not react, is what truly matters.
This isn’t easy. It takes time, consistent effort, and conscious practice.
But what’s the alternative?
To believe every thought we think and let our inner voice run the show?
I don’t think so!
We can totally learn how to tame our mental chatter to create our lives. Time, consistent effort, and conscious practice are what it requires.
That’s why I’m a big believer in having some kind of meditative, reflective, or mindful practice.
This could be a walk in nature, a 10-minute evening meditation practice, or a daily journaling routine, anything that helps us to observe our mental chatter consciously and prove to ourselves that we CAN observe it without reacting or casting judgment. And, if we find ourselves doing that, we can observe our behaviour and learn a lot about ourselves.
That’s what’s so cool about it: learning to observe our mental chatter and notice what types of mental chatter drain our energy is a powerful self-understanding, self-discovery, and personal growth tool.
We live so unconsciously most of the time that just a small amount of intention and consciousness can massively change our trajectory and get us on the path toward living our best lives possible.
There’s a lot of food for thought here. So here’s a simplified takeaway:
Start observing your mental chatter and identify the types of thoughts that drain your energy by choosing a daily practice to help you observe, reflect, and respond rather than react.
Over time, this practice will start to “bleed” into the rest of your life, and you’ll respond more, react less, and live more mindfully to most things, including your own mental chatter.
You won’t be perfect (none of us are).
Perfection isn’t the goal. Progress is.
And, you’ll be better than you were yesterday.
That’s the end goal. 💫
REMINDERS
1.
Perfection isn’t the goal. Progress is.
Every step forward, no matter how small, moves you in the right direction. Either towards your goal or a learning opportunity. Aim for progress, not perfection.
2.
Your mental chatter isn’t good or bad. It’s not friend or foe. It simply is.
Mental chatter is natural and, if anything, is designed to help us navigate the world and keep us alive. Rather than labelling it, learn to observe it with curiosity and compassion.
3.
Don’t believe every thought that you think.
I’ve shared this one before, but it’s always worth remembering that not every thought we think is true. Most of them aren’t. Just because a thought shows up doesn’t mean we should think it, act or it, or believe it. Instead, pause, reflect, and respond consciously.