Have you ever felt like your mind is full of static? Just attempting to make a simple decision can sometimes be a challenge because your own mind literally gets in the way. This struggle is often referred to as your monkey mind.
Your Monkey Mind
The concept of a “monkey mind” refers to a state of distraction, uncontrollable thought patterns and lack of clarity. It’s like having a mind that’s constantly jumping from one idea to another, similar to how a monkey swings from branch to branch without settling down. This term is often used to describe the mental chatter and incessant, unfocused activity in our heads that can make it difficult to concentrate or simply be present.
The origin of the “monkey mind” concept comes from Buddhist teachings. In Buddhism, the term is used to illustrate the difficulties of maintaining mental discipline and achieving a state of calm and focus. The mind’s natural tendency to be unsettled and easily distracted is likened to a monkey.
In our modern lives, the monkey mind is a common experience due to the constant barrage of information, notifications, and demands on our attention. Understanding and just being aware of this reality can help us to adopt practices that promote mental clarity.
Good decision making
One of the practices that I’ve used is documenting my thoughts in writing. It forces me to slow down and really clarify what’s going on in my head. It’s easy to get lost in your monkey mind, but stopping to write down my thoughts helps me sort through the mess so I can start to make sense of things.
I’ve never been to therapy. But therapists often suggest journaling because it can reveal patterns and triggers that aren’t obvious at first. Having a written record also allows me to track my progress over time too and be reminded of important conclusions that may have gradually slipped from my memory. I’ve never had a great memory and as I get older it’s not getting any better. So having a written record for myself is incredibly valuable.
Knowledge Sharing
Beyond my personal benefits, writing down my thoughts and advice will hopefully be a gift for others — including my children and future generations. I don’t want to be too ambitious, but imagine your great-grandchild reading your journal and learning about your life—your challenges, your beliefs, your successes. It’s a way to pass down advice and experiences that might otherwise be lost.
Therapy and mental health
For me, writing has been therapeutic and rewarding. It helps me process my experiences and emotions, providing clarity and relief from my monkey mind. It’s a form of self-care that doesn’t require much more than a computer keyboard. And the best part is, you don’t have to be a professional writer to benefit from it. You also don’t have to publish anything or even tell anyone. Just getting your thoughts out of your head and onto the page can be incredibly freeing. You simply do it for you.
I’ve personally elected to publish some of my thoughts here on my website. Not because I think that I have anything figured out. When it comes down to it, I’m no philospher and in the grand scheme of things, I’m just a person with opinions based on my own personal life and experiences. So take it all for what it’s worth. But, my writing has helped me to find clarity with so many things in life. Maybe it will help you too.