Everyone has an inner voice. What is this voice? Some say it is our consciousness talking to us, an inner guide, or self alarm system. Maybe, it is simply God’s voice providing us with what we need at that moment.
Many have a constant stormy chatter going on in their mind. In today’s world there is so much noise around that one can hardly hear them self think. The chatter can takeover, increasing stress, anxiety. It can cause confusion, making it difficult to think clearly, and prioritize what needs to be said or done.
Let me share a typical day of noise. In the morning I crawl out of bed after hitting the snooze alarm a zillion times. My husband makes attempts at intelligent and coherent conversation with me. Of course, I hear nothing as I step into the shower. Ahhh! Now there’s finally a little stirring within, my ears and eyes start to open, my speed picks up, and then I’m off to the races. The rat race, that is. I pack up my “Milli”, climb onto the seat, and drive her through the slow moving parking lot on the interstate.
What do I hear? What do I see? Folks are hitting their horns, screeching there tires, revving up their engines, and the bass of someone blaring their music is thundering through my chest. I see folks speeding by looking for the fastest moving lane, some are swerving back and forth while they apply their makeup as they drive, and someone is flipping off another driver who just slammed on their brakes. What lovely sounds and beautiful surroundings. NOT!!!
Walking the halls towards my office, sometimes feels like walking through a gauntlet, “Ms. Virginia this” or “Ms Virginia that”. Don’t misunderstand, I love the people I serve and work with in my clinic. There are many days where I hardly have a moment’s rest with the phone ringing, frequent chattering outside my door, office Skype blowing up my computer, and a coworker or patient is knocking on my door. At the end of the day, I return to the slow moving parking lot on the interstate, arriving home only to face plans for the evening.
With a day like this can hear them self think or be able to focus on the task at hand. The noise in our head is out of control.
It is time to take control, to silence the chatter, and declutter the mind. But how is this done in such a noisy world?
Turn off ALL the electronics, phone, computers, radio, tablets
Take time out for yourself, become invisible, and isolate yourself in a room, an office, a vehicle, the back porch, the barn loft, in a boat on a pond or lake, a river bank, sitting up in a tree, wherever for at least 15 minutes to an hour a day
Close your eyes, think of nothing, except to focus on your breathing, “breath, in 1-2-3, out 1-2-3, in 1-2-3, out 1-2-3…”, and when a distracting thought enters, go back and refocus on your breathing,
Pray and Meditate
Read scriptures
Write morning pages (from the chapter on Tools in “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron, this is basically an early morning “brain dump”)
Declutter the physical space around you, your office, home, bedroom, wherever you “nest”
Establish and think of a purposeful mantra saying it about 7 times or more if needed (example is when I am driving I say to myself, “It’s not how fast I get there, it’s that I get there safely”, when I am feeling pain I think, “this pain is nothing like Your (Jesus) pain”)
Now, enjoy the benefits of a quiet mind, such as improved
- Control of your thoughts
- Focus and clarity of thought
- Creativity
- Tranquility
- Sleep
- Joy and Happiness
- And, most importantly, be able to hear the voice of God.
I pray this is helpful for you. As you practice some, if not all of these tools to quiet your mind, keep a journal for at least a week, two weeks, or longer. Note what works, what doesn’t, and, what changes are you experiencing. As always, I invite you to leave a comment, concern, suggestions to share with others, or questions.
Until next time, peace to you always.