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:
- 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.
- You are human. Accept that you’re not perfect — that the taming process is far from an overnight fix. No hacks…
