Learning to calm our monkey minds leads to a better life. This is a major principle in yoga, and it’s way easier said than done. Trust me, I know.
The pressure, noise, responsibilities and often relentless stress coming at us in this wild life is rivaled only by the turmoil many of us maintain within. The constant inner chatter. Our erratic thoughts and beliefs. The comparison-oriented, problem-seeking, constantly critiquing, obsessive nature of our unchecked minds is a barrier to equanimity and every aspect of well-being.
But how does one calm all that down? Is it possible to turn it off? Do we even want to?
These are the questions I love to grapple, and while I certainly can’t claim to have it all figured out, I have a few ideas.
After years of studying these topics both formally and inwardly, I conceptualize the aforementioned “monkey mind” as somewhat of a superficial default. It’s not bad, and I don’t think it serves us to try to shut it down. But there is something else, something richer and sweeter, just under the surface.
The way I feel it is this: Underneath the noise, there’s a stillness, a spaciousness, a peaceful eye. It’s where answers arise and inspiration resides. It’s a graceful zone that doesn’t require forcefully clearing our minds or trying to stop all thought.
We can tap into this space in many ways. I’ll share a few that work for me.
For one, simply noticing what’s happening inside our heads is powerful. Observing thoughts automatically drops our attention beneath the chatter. Then, meditative practices, like deep breathing or tuning into sensation in the body can help one step back further into a sense of openness and calm.
Other possibilities involve steps to help the chatter fade.
Exercise is a biggie for me. It works off tension and helps me mentally chill out. This is a major theme behind the physical practice of yoga, too. We exert ourselves on the mat to bring up and work through frenetic energy and resistance, so we’re more clearheaded and still for Savasana at the end.
Journaling helps get stuff out as well. Same with talking to someone. Saying what needs to be said can clear the air and some of our static upstairs. This needs to be done intentionally, though. Complaining and venting can feel good in the moment, but anything that causes more disruption and agitation on the back side is not doing the trick.
This all involves some trial and error, but I think it’s worth exploring: What works for you? What works for you to step into more stillness?
Does it involve art? Could it be as simple as turning off the TV? Making room for silence? Taking a walk? What helps your noise subside and this deeper space, this stillness, to become more familiar terrain?
It’s certainly not something to overthink. This is mostly a matter of following what feels good and knowing it’s always possible to step back from the stories our heads spin.
Calming the monkey comes with seeing stillness as an option and tapping into it in whatever useful ways can. Something sweet is right there.