Have you ever noticed your mind is racing with thoughts and you can’t seem to sit down and grasp one thought and follow through with it? Did you know this is completely normal? Studies have found that the average person has 6,200 thoughts a day. (Fun Fact: they named the beginning and end of a thought a ‘thought worm’). This constant chatter has been called “Monkey Mind” by Buddhists with a translation of: unsettled, restless, confused, indecisive and uncontrollable.
So, now that you know this is normal…how do you cope with it?
- You probably guessed it. It’s our go-to answer for so many things: Meditation. Meditation allows you to practice focusing on your breath and bringing your attention back to the breath as your mind starts to wander. Giving yourself a focal point to always come back to helps you to learn to redirect the attention outside of meditating.
- Focus on an Activity. Have you seen the adult coloring books? Something as simple as coloring can give your brain an activity to focus on instead of negative or racing thoughts. Whether your chosen activity is coloring, running or even just counting – find something that works for you.
- Talk with Somebody. Talking to yourself can send you in a spiral of thoughts. Change it up. Talk with a friend or family member which will help you organize thoughts and come to a conclusion to ease your mind.
- Help Others. Licensed psychologist Shannon Kolakowski said, “Monkey mind tends to be very self-absorbed, and if it’s possible to focus your mind on others, particularly at first, but it’s a great habit to develop.”
Get out of your head and get into a more positive thought process! Talk with Your Success Coach, Kim Dalius for a complimentary student consultation for help with your monkey mind.
