Last night I didn’t sleep well. The monkey mind was very active, talking s*** in my head.
This morning I listened to the same 5 minute guided meditation three or four times because I couldn’t hear it because of the monkey mind talking in my head. Distracting
Sometimes I can control it, other times it seems I can’t. Is there any benefits of the monkey mind? Do you even know what it is? Is this voice, MY voice, chattering in my head. “You’re going to run out of gas” ” Nobody likes you.” “Don’t forget to pick up the gallon of milk on the way home” “you’re going to be fired today.”
it seems like the mind just wants to generate thoughts. That’s all it does, generate thoughts. It doesn’t care if it generates helpful thoughts or harmful thoughts, it just wants to generate thoughts. Endlessly. My job is to be aware that my thoughts are not me, and gradually learn to control my thoughts instead of letting my thoughts control me. That way we contain the monkey mind.
I always thought that Monkey Mind was my kids talking to me while I was trying to sleep. Then I realized they had grown up and weren’t in the room. Now I redirect strange ideas/thoughts in my head. When I can’t sleep, I put my mind to work designing my next knit or crochet project. I get deep into stitches and row counting and it works for me. Of course, designing anything that takes a little thought would work.
I hope you find peace with your irritating monkey!
Sometimes I hear your kids voices talking to me too!
I used to have trouble sleeping when I worked thirds. My mind would play the “If I go to sleep right now I can still get x number of hours before I have to get up” game.
Now I have trouble staying awake.
I had the exact same problem until I got rid of my bedside lit number alarm clock.