There’s more to the story I began in Part 1 and what better time than the start of a new decade to relate it?
I have a monkey. Those of you aware of your monkey minds know exactly what I mean.
But at this moment, “I have a monkey” means something more tangible. After giving it some thought, after going through struggle after exhausting struggle over all the negative chatter in my head, it was clear that I needed to change my strategy.
A quick Amazon search provided the result I needed: a gloriously soft, appropriately small, unbelievably cute plush monkey that would serve as my previously-maligned nemesis. It is a physical representation of my MonkeyMind (my little MoMi), but not one that I’d want to stay away from. This one begs for soft cuddles.
(To be clear, I bought a stuffed toy from the Amazon site, not an actual primate from the Amazon!)
How can something so darling be a nemesis? It shouldn’t be.
This is not about avoiding thoughts or wrestling my mind into submission, which I’d been trying to do. This is about acceptance of something that is a part of me.
Instead of tossing and turning at night, instead of succumbing to anxiety, instead of frantically trying not-to-think about what’s bothering me, I take that comfy manifestation of my worries and shower it with affection. I hold it gently, and then I hold my thoughts gently too.
The best part of this is that MoMi, a representation of that which upsets me, is actually so easy to hold and love.
What does my MonkeyMind need? The same thing this world needs a lot more of: LOVE.
May this New Year bring you lots of it.
Frantic Shanti 