Think Past The Chatter

Have you ever had moments when you are desperately trying to focus but your mind just can’t seem to shut up? 

You’re in front of your laptop, a blank document is open, your fingers hovering above the keyboard, but nothing is coming out. You already know what to write about, but how? Do you start with a question? A metaphor? An anecdote? You ask yourself these all the while minutes and hours have passed and you still haven’t written anything. You might even end up wondering, “What was I going to say again?” and you’ll have to start from zero. 

Or you could be at the precipice of a plan, a huge business deal that could skyrocket to your goal, maybe even beyond that. But suddenly you can’t decide. Should you have done this or that? What should you avoid? Who should you talk to? While all these questions are important and valid in the decision-making process, you also can’t help but overthink it. You start to ask extra questions, segue into unnecessary anecdotes and memories, and your mind wanders and zones in on the tiny details around you. 

Sure, your mind is running but it’s just chasing its tail. 

There are times when our minds would be filled with information that don’t necessarily serve us. But we have the ability and the choice to stop the chatter of our brains when it’s becoming too noisy up there. Once we recognize that its neurons are starting to fire incessantly, it is the perfect opportunity to steamroll it and become its master.

Our brain is made up of complex systems and complicated parts that I have no idea how to talk about - I’m no scientist and I’m not going to pretend to be one. However, what I do know is this: the brain is loud. Not in the literal sense, but actually, it might as well be. We are constantly thinking and utilizing our brain no matter what we do -- yes, even if we’re doing nothing. It is always receiving information around us - the man wearing a bright red top in the cafe you’re in, how cold it is, and all the noise in the background. 

The first step is to acknowledge that you’re thinking too much again. When you catch yourself not moving forward, pause for a moment, and think: Which of these thoughts are directly involved with the problem I’m dealing with right now? How do they help me in solving it? And then you can filter your thoughts to the important ones.

The bottom line is that we have a choice - to think about the clutter in our heads or not. Our mind is something we can control. Is it difficult? Yes, especially when you’re so used to thinking about so many things all at the same time. But is it possible? Absolutely. 

Remember, you are the master of your own mind, not the other way around.