Feel Good Zone – living a simpler life

Chatter chatter chatter like a train gathering momentum, on a journey to this way and that.

Now re-read this and hear the rhythm, does it remind you of how your mind can chug along, thoughts spewing. Sometimes gathering
momentum like a steam train on a straight run. Other times slowing down as you approve a
stopping point (station). A pause, as I like to call it. Here the ‘pause’ is swirling thoughts on the same spot, such deliciously rascal-like thoughts. Taunting a response, then continuing the journey onward to who knows where!

I’ve glanced at the clock, can it really be only 30 minutes since I awoke, lying here, now mentally tired out, yet physically all too ready to return to slumbers. Brain hurts, brain clogged up with that ‘chattering monkey mind’ (meditation term for a busy mind).

Here’s my interpretation of using this wonderful visualisation meditation aid. It is used to reduce or stop the busy mind chatter that can so often arise when one sits/lays quietly trying to still the mind, during meditation or when going to sleep, if awake during the night.

VISUALISATION to aid sleep and awake refreshed, revitalised

• Imagine some friendly monkeys. You choose whatever colour, size, species you want. If you are a bit afraid of real monkeys then see them as pink and fluffy with sequins! Your monkeys love your chattering thoughts, they allow you to sleep. They help you wake up refreshed, revitalised.
• Imagine a sturdy tree planted near to you with those monkeys up in the branches. Waiting.
• They monkeys are happily waiting for you to gift/give them your chattering thoughts.
• When you mind starts racing here and there with different thoughts, maybe repeated words, ideas, tunes, anxieties etc then imagine you sending them over to the monkeys. Perhaps you see the thoughts as a bundle like a gift. The monkeys are keen to receive them all.
• The monkeys are now chattering away up in the tree amongst themselves, away from you and your mind is now clear of those niggling, disturbing chitter chatter.
• Now you can simply move away from the tree so distancing your self even more from the chattering monkeys.

Quiet, peaceful mind, ready to drift into slumbers, zzzz.

It can be a habit we’ve learned to ‘chatter’, so by practising this visualisation frequently we re-educate, relearn a new mental pattern or  habit, ready for gentle, nurturing sleep.

Feel Good Zone says ‘Sleep Well’