 “Bill had just returned home from work. His face was tense and appeared engrossed in thoughts. He did not seem to note the presence of others around him. He tried exchanging pleasantries but appeared totally absent-minded.”
“Lisa just saw her boyfriend for the last time before turning into an “ex”. Her mind was playing the events of last few days over and over again. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she could not notice the calls on her cell phone. She went out shopping forgetting the keys inside.”
“Frank was fired last month. Since then he has been in acute stress. He just can’t stop thinking about the manner he was asked to leave due to a small misunderstanding. Every thought of his unjust ex-boss leaves him seething in anger.”
Introducing 24X7 Mental Radio
Bill, Lisa and Frank, all share one thing in common – an incessant mental talking. All three are victims of obsessive mental talk. They just can’t clear the mind whether they are working, reading, watching TV, walking, eating, or doing nothing.
All three have another thing in common. They are carrying a heavy load inside their head. They are re-enacting the whole scene in their minds over and over again, each time mentally trying to do what they should have done better but could not do!
When we hear people talking aloud with themselves we consider it weird. But the voiceless talking that goes inside practically everyone is no less bizarre. As long as you don’t end up verbalizing what is going on inside your head you are sane, at least in the eyes of people around you.
But just think about it. Why can’t you drop the mental load? You may like to read this inspiring story on dropping the mental baggage.
Uncontrolled Chatter can Turn into a Pressure Bomb
When the thought spinner goes on overdrive it can drive you crazy and make you feel as if you are a pressure bomb. This is the situation when you are literally an explosive device waiting to be triggered at the slightest provocation. You are no less dangerous than a fully pressurized cooker still kept on the stove burning at the full capacity.
It is this situation that forces people to look for a safety outlet in shouting, throwing tantrum, smoking, drinking, compulsive eating, drugs or any other such act. All these are coping mechanisms that no one considers healthy, but even the wisest soul would find difficult not to fall for. Often people spend hours possessed by negative and destructive inner dialogues.
This neurotic inner broadcast wastes a lot of energy, time and attention. It is a destructive force that feeds itself. The more it engages the mind the stronger it gets and the weaker you become. It surely affects your behavior, judgment, and performance.
You can clear your mind if you develop mental detachment. You can learn to be detached from your mental conversation by practicing mindfulness that is the only way to switch off the mental broadcast. Learn how mindfulness helps you control mental chatter.
More Resources
Quiet Your Mind
Clear Mental Chatter in an Instant |
