Managing Mental Chatter

“Interrupt your negative chains of thought by forcing yourself to visualize the crazy sweet adventures you plan to enjoy someday.” -Robert Anton Wilson

Mental chatter, also known as inner monologue or self-talk, is the constant (and often negative) stream of thoughts that goes on in everyone’s minds. It’s a natural part of being human and can be either helpful or detrimental to our well-being. Managing mental chatter is important because it can impact our relationships, ability to focus, mood, financial situations, overall productivity, confidence, decision-making and overall health.

The first and most important step in managing mental chatter is to become aware of it. If you are not aware of it, you are caught up in it like a prisoner in chains. This alone is a very stressful experience. Take note of the thoughts that run through your mind. Become self-aware (even if just for a minute). Are your thoughts positive, negative, or neutral? Are they productive or unproductive? Being willing to analyze your mental chatter in this way can help you to identify patterns in your thinking, which can then be addressed.

Another strategy for managing mental chatter is to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness involves focusing our attention on purpose in the present moment and letting go of judgments, worries, fears and distractions. By practicing mindfulness, we can become more aware of our thoughts without becoming chained to them. This means we can better observe our mental chatter, which then gives us the ability to do something about it.

Another technique I have been experimenting with to help manage my own mental chatter is to challenge my negative thoughts. Negative self-talk is a common form of mental chatter that can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation and low self-esteem. When negative thoughts arise, I try to ask myself if what I am thinking about is really true or if it is just a personal judgement? I try to find some evidence to support that what I am thinking about. If there isn’t any evidence, I try to replace these thoughts with something more positive and realistic.

In addition to these strategies, it’s important to take care of our physical health as well. There is plenty of research to support just how damaging chronic mental chatter is for our health. Some argue that uncontrolled mental chatter is worse for our health than not exercising. I would say that mental chatter can lead to a lack of exercise, since the individual is spending more time in their head. Exercise, getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet can all help to reduce stress and improve our mental well-being. When our bodies are in better shape, when we learn how to take better care of ourselves, our minds are better equipped to manage mental chatter.

Managing mental chatter is an often underrated and important part of maintaining our mental, physical and emotional health. By becoming aware of our thoughts, practicing mindfulness, challenging negative self-talk, and taking care of our physical health, we can learn to better manage our mental chatter. It is far from impossible to do this. Just requires some effort on our part (as do all forms of self-care). Ultimately, making this effort can lead to greater feelings of well-being, healthier relationships and an increased sense of control over our thoughts and emotions. I think it is worth the investment.

Be Here Now

In our fast-paced world filled with constant distractions and stressors, it can be challenging to stay present and focused in the moment. It's easy to get caught up in worries about the future, regrets about the past or simply to let our minds wander off to anything and everything except for what is happening right in front of us.

In the midst of this, there is a powerful idea that has gained popularity over the past several decades: "Be here now." This simple phrase encapsulates the idea that the present moment is all we have, and that we should focus our attention and energy on being fully present in the here and now. I don’t know about you but I’ve never been to the future or the past- but the present moment is always right where I am.

At its core, the concept of "Be here now" is about mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention, on purpose, to the present moment without judgment. It involves being fully engaged with our current experience, whether that's watching a sunset, having a conversation, driving in traffic or noticing the various physical sensations in our body.

One of the benefits of mindfulness is that it can help us to reduce stress and anxiety. I like to think of mindfulness as natural anxiety medication. When we're focused on the present moment, we're not worrying about the future or dwelling on the past. We're simply experiencing what is happening right now. That’s it. This can be incredibly calming and grounding, especially in moments where we feel overwhelmed or anxious.

In addition to reducing stress, mindfulness can also help us to be more productive and effective in our daily lives. When we're focused on the present moment, we're less likely to be distracted by other things. We're able to fully engage with the task at hand, whether that's work, driving, learning or engaging in a hobby.

Of course, being present in the moment is easier said than done. Our minds are wired to constantly search for new experiences and stimulation, and it can be difficult to resist the urge to check our phones, scroll through social media or think about anything other than what's happening right now.

But mindfulness is a skill that can be developed with practice. There are many different techniques and exercises that can help us to cultivate mindfulness, from simply becoming aware of your breathing when you are walking, showering, working or driving to more structured meditations. Whatever method you choose, the key is to make a commitment to being present in the moment and to intentionally direct your attention to what's happening right here and right now. Can you feel your foot on the ground?

The idea of "Be here now" is one that I have found helpful ever since reading Ram Dass’s book by the same title. It is a simple but powerful concept that can help us to live more fulfilling and mindful lives. By focusing our attention on the present moment and intentionally practicing mindfulness, we can reduce stress, improve productivity, combat anxiety and depression and bring a sense of mental health to our lives.

The Law of Hedonic Adaptation

The Law of Hedonic Adaptation is a psychological theory that suggests individuals have a natural tendency to return to a stable level of happiness after experiencing either positive or negative life events. This law can be applied to various aspects of our lives, including happiness, relationships, and material possessions. If you are at all interested in mental health, The Law of Hedonic Adaptation is an important concept to understand. It can help you to better understand your own experiences and help you to make more informed decisions going forwards.

In the context of happiness, the Law of Hedonic Adaptation suggests that an individual's happiness levels will adapt and settle into a certain range over time, even after significant positive or negative life events. For example, winning the lottery may initially bring feelings of extreme happiness, but over time, the individual's happiness levels do tend to return to their baseline.

Similarly, in relationships, the Law of Hedonic Adaptation suggests that individuals will adapt to the presence (or absence) of a romantic partner, and their happiness levels will return to a natural baseline, regardless of the initial level of happiness or satisfaction in the relationship.

In terms of material possessions, the Law of Hedonic Adaptation suggests that individuals will adapt to owning new items or experiences, and their resulting happiness levels will eventually return to baseline. For example, purchasing a new car or upgrading to a larger home may initially bring feelings of happiness, but over time, those feelings will tend to dissipate as the individual becomes accustomed to these possessions.

It is important to note that the Law of Hedonic Adaptation does not suggest that individuals cannot experience long-term happiness or satisfaction. Rather, it suggests that individuals will always have a baseline level of happiness to which they will return, regardless of outside circumstances.

This is The Law of Hedonic Adaptation in a nutshell. It’s a good concept to keep in mind. It can help us to make more informed decisions about major life events, such as purchasing a new home, leaving or starting a relationship, buying a new car, moving or changing careers. It can also help us to better understand our own emotional experiences (why we feel the way we do) and manage our own expectations accordingly.