Still life

7/16/2013

Most of us talk to ourselves - endless and uninterrupted chatter between our ears that we can’t seem to stop. We are always thinking: explaining, justifying, rationalizing, wishing or hoping. We tend to repeat our same thoughts and responses, over and over. It's exhausting and usually, in any case, highly predictable. This chatter, if not addressed, continues in circles doing little more than amplifying all that isn't quite right with our life.

Moving attention into the present
The quality of my life and of those I coach, is much improved when we seize the present moment and take a break from the chatter. Clients tell me that they get closer to knowing "what to do" when they find a bit of quiet - a bit of space to be still. They experience insight into the reality of what they are thinking and feeling. This leads inevitably to greater confidence about important decisions and to accept the things they do not like or which cannot be changed. You can, with a little practice, slow down the ticker-tape speed of thoughts and experience the serenity of the now. A short course in meditation may be a helpful tool in this regard.

Giving ourselves the chance to slow down, quiet our minds and be more still allows us to tune to an inner voice - the heart and soul of us. The inner voice is different from the chatter. It is directing and propelling us towards becoming more whole.

Imagine a clear, wide-rimmed drinking glass filled halfway with water that you rock from side to side, hard enough the water jiggles just to the point of splashing out of the glass. The water becomes agitated. Stop rocking the glass and let the water settle. The water returns to calm.
- Unknown Monk

Do you have any stories about how you deal with the endless and uninterrupted chatter? About being in the present?

Keep you posted,

Coach Minda

5 Comments

Coach Minda

Building and sustaining relationships is central to my life. It is important to see people and things as they really are. I enjoy lots of different people and enjoy free and open discussions. I thrive on helping people resolve problems, turn around difficult relationships and see an optimistic future when others are stuck.

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This video project below captures testimonies from mentors who participated in Concordia University activities for graduates. When filming, each mentor shared notable experiences in their professional journey and offered best practices that have defined their professional success.

Sophie

7/17/2013 08:32:55 am

I find the incessant chatter of my mind a real obstacle when I'm trying to do something creative. I've found that bringing my attention back to what is really there, really looking, instead of making assumptions or letting expectations get in the way, leads to stronger work.

Gabriella

7/23/2013 11:02:43 pm

I feel that there's a constant voice in my head that analyzing everything I do with thoughts that zoom with incredible speed
The way I deal with this is by taking a moment to breathe deeply-- only then do I realize that I've been holding my breathe all along. By focusing on the basic action of life everything because clearer and proportioned:)

7/23/2013 11:03:35 pm

*becomes

Alan Pope link

12/23/2017 07:48:04 am

Sometimes, we feel that our life is not moving. Yes, we start talking to ourselves. I think it happens only when someone is not clear about his future ambitions and objectives. At that time, we feel desperate to make something big. But most of us normally fails due to lack of desired motivation and inspiration. If I am not wrong, I think only a life coach can bring the liveliness into your life. He can make you able to realize where you now and where you would like to be and help in bridging the gap. Thus, I would like to suggest that, if anybody loses his life's direction, then he should hire a life coach to move forward by integrating vitality, self-esteem, and confidence into his life.

Minda

12/23/2017 10:12:38 am

Thank you Alan. I think the chatter isn't always a function of not having clear future ambitions and objectives. It can be sometimes. The chatter too, can be a poor response and bad habit to a general anxiety people have -- without good strategies to calm themselves and to stabilize their emotions. I agree a life coach can be very helpful but is not the only way to bring "liveliness" into one's life.

Still life