Do you notice your mind making complaints that make you unhappy?
I notice these things, too.
After feeling pretty good for a while, do you suddenly not feel that good anymore? If so, then take a look at what was just going on in your head and you may see why. I bet your mind has been busy complaining, resisting, and/or procrastinating. (Like my mind does…)
This morning on the way to the gym, I was feeling in good spirits. I had already done my morning mana gardening meditation. Then in the gym, I caught my head saying things like,
“I don’t want to be here…”
“Ugh. How fast can I get outta here?”
“Why do I always have to move the squat bar holders up a few notches?”
“Why can’t people put the bar cushion away in the right place?”
Felt my energy going downhill and my mood going south.
Noticing my complaining mind, I decided to do something different.
My intention was to switch my thoughts to change my focus from complaining to something higher that would feel better. The answer I recieved was really helpful, so I was guided to share it.
Asking Questions
First off, let me explain about questions. Many of us know this, yet our minds keep playing this game and we don’t always catch it as quickly as we would like.
If you ask a question, the universe works to answer it.
With that said, always (or at least as much as possible) ask questions you really want an answer to. Questions, that when you learn the answer, you feel good about.
Do NOT ask questions like:
- Why is there so much traffic?
- Why are people so huffy today?
- What is my problem?
- What is wrong with me?
- Why does this always happen to me?
Because you will get the answer at some point and it won’t feel good and it likely won’t serve you to know it anyway. Ok, so that’s the deal with questions. On with how to stop the complaining mind.
Here’s the Trick
Here’s a great trick when you notice complaints flowing.
Ask a NEW question.
Ask, “What do I LOVE about this?”
When I asked that question in the gym, my mind was flooded with positive, feel good answers!
—I loved that it’s summer and I rode my bike to the gym and simply took off my helmet and started working out. Loved that I didn’t have to wear 4 layers and head to the locker room to de-garb before working out. Loved that today, that part of my life felt easy.
—I loved that my muscles were building strength and I could feel it.
—I loved that my body could even do what I was asking of it, that I was healthy and feeling powerful.
—I loved that I could drink great tasting filtered water and not chlorinated water there.
—I loved that I was there and that others who were taking care of their bodies were there as well.
Then my mood/energy started to shift back up into the positive realm. This is because, instead of focusing on the answers to my complaints and negative questions, I was now focused on a really healthy plethora of awesome answers!
What a great question to ask!
The monkey mind is bananas (well actually it’s nuts!) and works hard to keep us in a negative space, so we have to have some tricks up our sleeves to help us stay true to highest nature. We have a right to be happy! Hope this trick helps you!
Next time you notice the mind complaining about something, just ask,
“What do I love about this?”
Or ask questions you really want the answers to and see what you get. Bet you will feel much better!
Namaste,
Michelle