How to Stop the Monkey Chatter of Your Mind

I don't know about you, but all my life I had what I call "monkey chatter" constantly chattering away in my mind to the point of exhaustion. Did I realize at the time I was exhausted? No, I thought I was just a little stressed. Well, if I'm going to get really honest with you, I didn't even know I was stressed. I blamed my inability to focus on my self diagnosed ADD. You get to do that when you're a counselor, you know.
Not being able to find a resting place for my mind caused me to do a lot of searching in areas where I thought I could find the rest and peace I desperately needed.
I was having chronic sinus infections that were so constant the Doctors were afraid of giving me more antibiotics because of the frequency which I was using them. Little did I know this was all tied together.
Keeping busy was one way to distract myself. This was productive, but didn't really quiet the noise.
The elliptical, which was very productive, put me in a good mood so I could rise above all the chatter, for at least a little while.
My addiction to reading, which seemed to work best, helped, once I could find a good book.
The trouble with all that was nothing was permanent. It felt like a losing battle.
I think I believed that if I had to handle all that was going on in my life in any sane way, then I better go over it continually in my mind.  Maybe I felt I had some sort of control over it that way. 
Journaling also helped if I was struggling with any issues. That way I could settle them on paper and I felt some sort of release dumping everything out. I have since thrown out the journals. Why, you ask? Because they just sounded like the chatter it was. 

An Absurd Suggestion

One day, about twenty five years ago, a client brought me a book as a gift saying she felt "led" to give it to me.
That's "Christianese" lingo for being obedient to the Holy Spirit's intuitive direction.
This book was on Christian meditation, called Contemplative Prayer. What a joke, I laughed. Thinking to myself, you sure missed hearing God this time lady.
Can you imagine an extrovert being a contemplative? Ummm, No! That's a paradox if I ever heard one.

But, just because I really liked this lady, and wanted to show her I was open to new things, I read the book. I even tried the training exercises for a few minutes. 

Hooked and addicted

I was so amazed at what happened within me, at the peace I felt, even for just a few minutes, I found myself totally hooked. I read every book I could get my hands on and "practiced His presence" daily. I couldn't get enough of this new thing. I was addicted.

A new side of the brain.

You see I had tapped into a new side of me that had gone unexplored for most of my adult life.  My spiritual intuitive side.

Today I teach and train people how to tell their left side of the brain ( the monkey chatter) to "Be Still" and how to take a breath and "Drop Down" into that secret place within.
I have had such a life changing experience I decided to write my own book; 
"The Inward Journey to Healing and Wholeness"
which you can find on Amazon. I don't know if I'm supposed to self-promote on a blog, so forgive me if I broke any rules, I'll study more as I go along.

In fact my new favorite thing is to teach young children how to find their calm peaceful place within.

One of favorite tools for entering in to my quiet place within is to take the words from one of my favorite scriptures and picture them running like a ticker tape across the forefront of my mind.
Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God.

Each time you read it picture the last word dropping off and following your breath all the way down to your heart. When you are down to the final word "Be" you will be able to experience His word for yourself.
it will look like this:
Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am
Be still and know that I
Be still and know that
Be still and know
Be still and
Be still
Be

Be Blessed and Be Still, oh my soul.
Have a peaceful day.
Gayle