giving the mind power it was never meant to have

The inside of your mind is an economy—a relationship—like a family or a dog pack or a workplace or a team. If there isn't balanced leadership, then any old thought (and usually it is the most disruptive, troublesome, obsessive ones) can get into a position of control.

In most of our minds there is an incessant internal commentary occurring—incessant internal verbalization. Sometimes this commentary is harmless or even qualitatively uplifting, but most of the time it is judgmental, defensive and obsessively attentive to the past and future.

When we give attention to the internal commentary it can do one of two things, depending on the kind of attention we give it. There are two kinds of attention: identification and awareness.

Identification means that as you turn your attention to the internal commentary, you are believing it. You are saying "this is me" to it. You are feeling that it is speaking the truth from you and for you. You and the internal commentary are one.

Awareness means that you are standing away from the internal commentary. You are observing it, rather than believing it or identifying with it. You are neutral, just observing. You do not feel that it is "you."

Giving the internal commentary identification will intensify it. Identification is like rocket fuel for the internal dialogue. It comes alive and feels "true." It begins to plan and spin out and it takes over the body and gets into a position of leadership. You have given it this power—power it is not meant to have.

Giving the internal commentary awareness will slow it down. It becomes calmer and more transparent. Awareness stands back and watches the inner dialogue and, as it watches, the inner dialogue begins to fade, dissolve, lose power. Awareness keeps power where it should be. The inner dialogue is never meant to be in control.

Comments

[Roia]

Boy, you said it. And it's high time my mind quieted down. Humph!

Thanks for saying it!

[Aileen]

I love the way you say it with such succinct simplicity, Marian. Thanks!

[Simon]

Succinct simplicity, indeed.

I love the quiet times when my mind has turned much more to awareness than identification. It feels so much more like a natural state.