“Silence is of the gods; only monkeys chatter.”
― Buster Keaton
Religions of Indian origin like Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism give lot of importance to mindfulness. A ideal person is one who has conquered monkey chatter and attained wisdom. Monkey chatter is collection of thoughts which occupy mind, but serve no useful purpose. These thoughts are either of no significance to person and are they are negative. Monkey chatter drains mind and mind is unable to concentrate on positive or energetic.
“In looking for the right places to make these tiny changes, there are three broad areas of opportunity. You can tweak your beliefs—or what psychologists call your mindset; you can tweak your motivations; and you can tweak your habits. When we learn how to make small changes in each of these areas, we set ourselves up to make profound, lasting change over the course of our lives.”
― Susan David, Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life
Susan David in her book Emotional Agility has come with 4 steps to overcome this monkey chatter. These four steps are
- Showing Up: Instead of ignoring difficult thoughts and emotions or overemphasizing ‘positive thinking’, facing into your thoughts, emotions and behaviors willingly, with curiosity and kindness.
- Stepping Out: Detaching from, and observing your thoughts and emotions to see them for what they are—just thoughts, just emotions. Essentially, learning to see yourself as the chessboard, filled with possibilities, rather than as any one piece on the board, confined to certain preordained moves.
- Walking Your Why: Your core values provide the compass that keeps you moving in the right direction. Rather than being abstract ideas, these values are the true path to willpower, resilience and effectiveness.
- Moving On: Small deliberate tweaks to your mindset, motivation, and habits – in ways that are infused with your values, can make a powerful difference in your life. The idea is to find the balance between challenge and competence, so that you’re neither complacent nor overwhelmed. You’re excited, enthusiastic, invigorated.
“Remember that this is the first of four days of writing. In today’s writing, your goal is to write about your deepest thoughts and feelings about the trauma or emotional upheaval that has been influencing your life the most. In your writing, really let go and explore this event and how it has affected you.
Today, it may be beneficial to simply write about the event itself, how you felt when it was occurring, and how you feel now. As you write about this upheaval, you might begin to tie it to other parts of your life. For example, how is it related to your childhood and your relationships with your parents and close family? How is the event connected to those people you have most loved, feared, or been angry with? How is this upheaval related to your current life — your friends and family, your work, and your place in life? And above all, how is this event related to who you have been in the past, who you would like to be in the future, and who you are now?
In today’s writing, it is particularly important that you really let go and examine your deepest emotions and thoughts surrounding this upheaval in your life.”
― James W. Pennebaker, Expressive Writing: Words That Heal
One more action that can help you to control monkey chatter is suggested by American psychologist James Pennebaker. He advises people to write down their thoughts, emotions, stress factors. This activity of writing down helps person to overcome his/her negative thoughts.
Viv•i•fy : ( verb) : to endow with renewed life 