Taming my monkey mind is a full-time job.
Tara Brach, PhD, meditation teacher
Here’s a social post I saw over Labor Day. “Summer isn’t over yet. So sit your happy Halloween pumpkin spice butt down until I finish drinking my margaritas!” LOL
Oh my! Summer isn’t officially over until 9:03pm on September 22. Plenty of time right? My monkey-mind howled: What about the stuff on your summer project list you didn’t do, the things you should have done, all the wasted time? Oops! I just lost my mindfulness.
Here’s how I can recover it in four steps.
Stop: Time for a little self-compassion. Give myself the gift of at least half-hour of meditation each day, or maybe take a healing walk outdoors. Cleansing breaths can calm the mind.
Look: Recognize my log jam. Time for some self-compassion. If I created it, I can de-create it.
Listen: Hear the annoying chatter, the rapid thoughts, and turn down the volume.
Choose: Stop working with my monkey, and give my mind a vacation.
Rule your mind or it will rule you.
Buddha: