“Worry is a misuse of imagination.”
~Dan Zadra
One of my yoga instructors asks us to “clear our monkey minds” when attending her class. It’s a great image to use! Imagining mental chatter as a bunch of wild monkeys taking over my mind started to make sense as I realized how much noise was going on in my head at any given moment.
The benefits of quieting your mind are numerous from increased creativity to decreased stress. Here are some additional ideas to tell the monkey’s to take a hike!
1. Meditate. One thing I hear people say when the topic of mediation comes up is, “I am so not good at it!” I would counter that by saying, “That’s why it’s called the PRACTICE of mediation!” Don’t try to be perfect. Just do your best. If this means one minute, 5 minutes or 30 minutes. Do what feels right and keep up the practice until it becomes a habit.
2. Nurture with nature! Getting out of your home, office, and electrical devices for even 20 minutes a day gives you an opportunity to decompress and rejuvenate.
3. Chillax! Faced with a tough decision? Tossing and turning because you can’t figure out what to do? Give your mind a rest with taking a nap, changing your environment, reading, or doing something for someone else. Chances are, the answer will make itself evident once you chill and relax=chillax!
4. Journal. A great way to hop off the worry wheel is to write it down through journaling. It’s very interesting to go back a few months and read what was troubling you. Chances are you won’t remember your worries, and if so, they’ve worked out on their own.
5. Worry Box. This is a great tool for those who are more into the cliff note version of journaling! When you have a concern come up… give up it up to spirit, God, higher source… whatever works for you. I have a box in my office called the God Box. When I have worries or concerns I am mulling over as well as goals/wishes for my future, I simply write them down on a small piece of paper, fold them up, and drop them in the box. The benefits of this practice has impressed upon me benefits of letting go what pins us down so that we may be free to soar!
All my best,
Meg
