Pay Attention To Me

If your mind had a mantra, I think it would be:

“Pay attention to me!”

It’s a lot like a needy child.

The difference is, a child eventually grows up and learns to take care of itself.

Your mind?

Not so much.

It can be forever needy . . . constantly looking for your attention.

And if that doesn’t work, it can turn into a rebellious teenager.

It argues with you.
 Challenges your decisions.
 Reminds you of something embarrassing you did ten years ago.
 And sometimes it just makes stuff up.

All for one reason:

Pay attention to me!

And your mind doesn’t really care whether the attention is positive or negative.

It just wants your undivided attention.

So how do you get yourself unstuck from all that mental chatter?

Stop arguing with your mind.

Instead, start observing it.

Notice the thought without getting into a debate with the thought.

Your mind says, “You should have said this…”

And you simply notice:

There’s that thought.

Your mind says, “What if this happens?”

Again:

There’s that thought.

No arguing.
 No defending.
 No trying to win.

Just observing.

Because observing is paying attention.

And strangely enough, it’s the kind of attention that can quiet the mind rather than feed it.

So the next time your mind starts shouting,

“Pay attention to me!”

You can.

Just don’t talk into the microphone.

Notice the thought.

Let it be there.

And then let it pass.

Because when you stop wrestling with your thoughts, you may discover something underneath all that noise . . .

A little more peace of mind.

All the best,
 John