Inner Space

We’ve all experienced the monkey mind, the thought patterns that bring us feelings of overwhelm and chaos. It can be increasingly difficult to navigate mindful thinking when we succumb to the monkey mind. Trust me when I say I try to pause multiple times a day and check in with my mind, heart rate, and thought patterns; I’ve learned that I can run marathons in my brain if I don’t. When we experience the chaos of a racing mind, one of the most beneficial practices we can do is give our thoughts inner space to roam.

How can we give our thoughts room to roam?

In those moments of feeling overwhelmed, it can be hard to remember to pause. It can be even more difficult to push ourselves to pause, but when we do, even for just a moment, our conscious, curious, compassionate selves can come forward and ease the chaos in our minds. One of my favorite daily rituals is morning meditation; I find it even more impactful when I wake up with feelings of anxiety or coming off of a bad night’s sleep. We all know that meditating is a beneficial practice, but what if we’re in a moment where sitting down for a meditation can’t be done? By consciously visualizing inner space in our minds, we can cultivate a softness in the body.

“The best way to control cows and sheep is to give them a big grazing field.” - Suzuki Roshi

It’s a metaphor for our thoughts and feelings. When we suppress our thoughts or try to change them, we end up moving towards panic. If we can allow our thoughts to roam, we’ll notice how often they come and go and, more importantly, how much more in control we can feel.

You can absolutely find me creating more moments to support my nervous system, and a large piece of that puzzle is allowing my inner critic is soften and give permission for my thoughts and experiences to be just as they are.