Noticing Your Inner Chatter
Have you ever noticed that no matter what you’re doing - mowing the grass, answering emails, perusing social media, taking a walk, even carrying on a conversation - there’s a near constant stream of thoughts running in the back of your mind?
Sometimes, this stream of ponderings is like the low hum of the refrigerator; quiet background noise you almost don’t notice. Other times, our minds can produce what feels like a relentless storm of thoughts that sweep us away, making it difficult to focus on anything else. As naturally as we breathe, we drift mostly unaware from the here and now - our brains transporting us to past events, playing out imagined scenarios, and churning other internal musings.
Sometimes, this stream of ponderings is like the low hum of the refrigerator; quiet background noise you almost don’t notice. Other times, our minds can produce what feels like a relentless storm of thoughts that sweep us away, making it difficult to focus on anything else. As naturally as we breathe, we drift mostly unaware from the here and now - our brains transporting us to past events, playing out imagined scenarios, and churning other internal musings.
This inner ping pong ball of mental activity works seamlessly much of the time, planning essential tasks, engaging in complex problem solving, anticipating future needs. A veritable whirlwind of mental rehearsal and self-reflection! An essential element of the mind, this internal flexibility can help us navigate the complexities of our home and work life, and the dynamic and ever-evolving world around us.
