Five Ways to Tame the Monkey Within

How to tackle your ego while giving it a cuddle

Meet the “Monkey Mind”, a euphemism for our untamed ego. Picture a relentless, chattering monkey, ceaselessly jumping from thought to thought, muddling our inner peace. This restless creature embodies our fears, doubts, and unchecked desires, often peddling tales that paint us in a better light or safeguard our pride. Without mindful management, our Monkey can thwart personal development, nurturing insecurity, stress, and impulsive behaviour. Still wondering about the signs of a rampant Monkey Mind? Look out for rampant overthinking, harsh self-criticism, persistent worry, and an inability to live in the present moment. We’ve all got one. The only question is: who’s driving your Earth Rover? Conscious, or your well-meaning, hairy-handed friend? Taming Monkey is no easy feat, but with mindful awareness, it’s possible to keep this capricious creature in check.

So with that in mind (see what I did there?), here are five ways to tame the monkey within:

1. Learn to notice and observe your feelings. When you see that you’re feeling angry, neglected, marginalised, defensive, etc., stop whatever you’re doing and simply breathe.
2. You are human. Accept that you’re not perfect — that the taming process is far from an overnight fix. No hacks…