Friday Musings—18/08/23

If you haven't read it yet, in this week's post I share some reflections from Norwegian explorer Erling Kagge, whose book I recently finished. Kagge offers valuable insights on how to uncover our greatness, conquer our fears, and gracefully handle failures. If you decide to delve into his book, don't forget to share your key takeaways with us!

I'd also like to thank those who have been leaving comments to my posts and offering feedback, I really appreciate it 🫶🏼

Now onto my weekly musings 😎

Pay attention to your monkey brain

One of my students recently shared that he started meditating every day, which led us to discuss just how restless, wandering, and often chaotic our minds are. We agreed that being fully present can be remarkably challenging! My yoga teachers often refer to our ceaseless stream of thoughts as our "monkey brains". We spend most of our time tethered to either the past or the future—dwelling on past actions, or thinking about what lies ahead. Personally, even during my yoga sessions or on one of my walks in nature, I have to make a huge effort to actively ground myself in the present and simply be.

I've been meaning to start meditation for a while, so this conversation with my student might just be the nudge I needed to finally get started. He encouraged me by sharing that he found it rather challenging at first, but now he meditates for half an hour, twice a day, and the time passes so quickly. He also said it doesn't have to be complicated or daunting, and that he doesn't use fancy apps or anything else. He merely sits and observes his thoughts, gently steering his mind back to the present whenever his "monkey brain" takes over. Would any of you be interested in joining me as I set out on this meditation journey? Let me now if you do, and we can find a way to hold each other accountable!

Befriend your inner critic

As we begin paying closer attention to the constant stream of thoughts and commentary that runs through our minds at all times, we're also likely to become more attuned to our self-talk, including the critical voice within us. This inner critic often speaks loudly, always quick to criticize our choices and focus on our (perceived) flaws, mistakes, and shortcomings. It actually does so to protect us—preemptively shaming us before someone else might, and attempting to motivate us to strive for improvement.

However, over time, this unrelenting negative self-talk can significantly impact our well-being and undermine our confidence and relationships. I recommend reading this WP article that explains how we can quiet this harsh, judgmental voice within ourselves, and learn how to harness it for personal growth.

Quote of the week ✍️

"You are not your thoughts; you are the awareness behind them". (Eckhart Tolle)

That's all from me today, enjoy your weekend and TTYS

ML