No More Monkeys

This post is not as it seems. Monkeys are welcome here. In fact, I like monkeys.

Do you constantly feel stressed and worried about the future?

Do you feel you roam around aimlessly on autopilot?

If the answers are YES then this could mean you’re suffering from the ‘monkey mind’.

The monkey mind is restless and unfocused.

Behaviour patterns are subconsciously ingrained whereby a particular thought leads to a certain pattern of behaviour carried out on autopilot- meaning that its automatic and there is a lack of awareness to the task being performed.

For example, dinner time.. you sit at the dinner table and eat your dinner whilst chatting to your family and you’re finished however you don’t remember the taste, smell or look of the food in front of you. There is a lack of presence. A lack of state of MINDFULNESS.

This lack of mindfulness greatly contributes to stress resulting in higher levels of anxiety and depression among individuals and this impacts on our physical wellbeing also such as higher levels of obesity.

The ancient practice of mindfulness has been proven to reduce depression and anxiety by 50% as the ability to focus attention on the present removes the delusion of importance on the past or future.

If you are depressed you are living in the past,

If you are anxious you are living in the future,

If you are at peace you are living in the present– Lao Tzu.

Mindfulness can be practiced via short (1 minute) or long meditation (>1 hour) where breathing and quieting the mind results in rewiring of the mind leading to increased focus, less stress and greater positivity in your life.

A task for you (Read it first).

Sit in your chair.

Close your eyes.

Take a deep breathe in.

Take a deep breathe out.

Open your eyes.

Either out aloud or in your mind notice 5 objects in the room you are sitting.

Take another deep breathe.

Alternatively you may like to complete a guided meditation or imagine you are at the beach.

How do you feel? Do you feel calmer, less stressed?

Practising daily mindfulness does alleviate the ‘monkey mind’.

The awareness generated via mindfulness has been proven to physiologically use less ‘brain power’ than if you are stressed.

Also, it will allow YOU to learn more about yourself and your personal life goals. For example, is the lack of coffee in the cupboard really that important? Are you worried too much about whether there will be rain tomorrow? Greater awareness will create better perspective as you have a more focused mind.

The ability to remain calm, still and present in your mind will allow you to ENJOY LIFE and live to be the best you can be.

Take care and enjoy your journey.

Stephanie Rae Pritchard x