Quiet Your Mind and Improve Your Life!

Most of us go through each day tolerating a running chatter in our minds. Although it is unique to each of us, this mental chatter often takes the form of imaginary arguments, ceaseless catch phrases, parts of songs, fear based scenarios, and an unlimited number of other habitual thought patterns.

The problem with tolerating this type of chatter is it drains our energy and, most importantly, clouds our focus and concentration. This can lead to mistakes, confusion, misunderstandings about the self and others, and emotional extremes.

Yet, there are techniques that effectively Quiet the Mind and clear the mental clutter. These are not esoteric, mysterious, unreachable, or complicated, but are simple and powerful! These techniques have been around for centuries and are inherent to our true nature. They are also flexible and customizable to each person who employs them. The key to developing a truly Quiet Mind, however, is consistency.

What is the Quiet Mind and why would anyone be interested in pursuing it?

First, to Quiet the Mind is to take the everyday chatter that streams through our conscious thoughts and tone it down. Way down! The benefits of toning down this "clutter" are universal. The processes of our imaginative and inspirational thinking are integral to the unique expression of who we are and what we create, both as individuals and groups in our cultures. However, habitual, repetitive, senseless mental chatter (clutter) is not productive to this process!

Mental chatter pushes away the fresh thinking unique to each of us and contributes greatly to poor decisions and physical and mental agitation that results in energy drain and frustration.

What is the source of this habitual, ceaseless noise? What causes us to hold onto meaningless, repetitive, and often nauseating mental chatter?

Simply put, this type of frustrating mental chatter is the result of a lifetime of habitually thinking about what we wish for in the next moment (or minutes, hours, days, months, or years in the future), instead of focusing on where we are and what we have right NOW.

In the "present moment" (now) is where we hold and exercise our real power. Focusing on something or someone that has not materialized yet causes us to mentally and emotionally react to a projection, a hoped for future, forgetting that the "present moment" is what needs our attention.

TRY THIS EXPERIMENT: during your day, begin watching the people around you. Be discreet, of course. Notice if they appear to be mentally somewhere else. Notice if they are distracted, unhappy, spacey, frowning, inattentive, or bored.

This is an eye-opening exercise and a personally powerful observation. After watching others, begin to watch yourself. Observe how often you are mentally somewhere other than in the "present moment" and then bring yourself back by refocusing on what is right in front of you.

What are you thinking as you go through your morning routine of getting dressed, shaving, or putting on makeup? Are you watching the blade slide across your face or mentally arguing with someone? Or dreaming of the weekend to come? Or planning your morning schedule?

Watch yourself! Become aware of where you are mentally and emotionally as you move through the day and, when you realize you've drifted out of the "present moment", bring yourself back by looking around at what is right there in front of you. You'll be amazed!

By developing a clearer awareness of yourself, you will develop a clearer assessment of others. Most importantly, you will be taking the first steps in a wonderful process of Quieting Your Mind and Improving Your Life!

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