I’ve been aware for decades of how our society, regardless of the economic or lifestyle culture, is captive in a cumulative bubble of anxiety, overwhelm, and well, worry – about everything. You know, the “what-if…”; the “if I’d only…”; the “what would they think…” Shall I go on?
Mostly because we have an inner dialogue – like that person we all know that never stops talking. It’s all background noise, like the music when you’re on hold, loud children, the TV you’re not even watching, machinery, traffic. You name it, it’s distracting and annoying. How many times have we all said, I can’t even think?
Exactly! We can’t even think.
Why? Because of the mind noise – your constant inner monologue. Think not? Just try to stop it. We’ve all tried, right? What about holding your head in the middle of the night in frustration as if that would make your mind, shut up.
It’s a desperate plea to clear the mental clutter. It’s that moment when you’d give just about anything to clear the clutter and mess in your home with the snap of your finger or twitch of your nose, that is if your old enough to have watched Bewitched. The beloved TV program where the wife was gifted with the ability to pretty much do, eliminate, create anything she wanted, all without the knowledge of her husband. Is it any wonder that today it is a cherished memory and the wish of all that still dream of having that amazing power.
As we know, it’s not that simple, and clearing mental clutter isn’t as simple as eliminating a few things cluttering a physical space. It’s like a never-ending game of Whack-a-Mole, thoughts of worry or negativism have a way of popping back up as soon as you slap them down.
I chose the image Dear Thoughts for this post when I came across it in the middle of writing this. It is written by a very talented poet that I treasure, John Roedel.
So, I ask you, if looking into a perfect blue sky, or walking through a pristine garden of colors and scents is such a deep joy, then why don’t we make friends with those thoughts instead of the weeds, sickly plants, and unfiltered, random, unnecessary mind clutter.
It kind of goes without much thought. But what’s the cost?
The cost to your life and mine, and those we love, is that it causes us to totally miss so many valuable experiences. Here’s how it works. Most all our thoughts generate restlessness – an urgency to answer the what-if’s, agitation because we don’t have all the answers. All because we are projecting into the future or looking to the past, leaving us with no control over the present.
That creates a worry sandwich. Not sounding too tasty or satisfying. In fact, it poisons us with painful emotions, just like a bad friend. Oh, and we might just throw up actions and responses.
Here’s what I want you to know. You have immense power to impact your thoughts to a great extent that changes your quality of life and overall happiness in many profound ways.
Thinking seems to be automatic and uncontrollable, because thoughts become habitual patterns and, well, thoughtless. The truth is, you possess a “conscious self” that can step in with intention and thoughtfulness. You have far more control of your thoughts than you’ve ever realized.
Life becomes so much more when we stop trying to figure out what we can control, and instead figure out what is controlling us.
We can create a completely new reality that befriends creativity, inspiration, and brilliance, and it waits just beyond the clutter overrunning our mind with random, untamed thoughts.
So how do we disempower what we believed we had no control over?
What happens when we remove physical clutter? We create more “space.” So what if we create space in our mind? There is space for inner peace, space to enjoy the moments, the loving, deeply meaningful thoughts that we would term happiness. The best thing is, we now have space for wisdom and guidance that pushes the worry and anxt aside making way for that beautiful clear sky.
Just like a physical space, there may be a little corner that always beckons clutter, but now you understand that in the same way you declutter that little corner, you can clear that space in your head and easily prioritize what’s really most important.
The reason this is so important is that with a cluttered mind, we lose valuable time, ability to focus, and physical and mental energy because it’s used up with overthinking, worry, frustration and confusion – not to mention helplessness.
What that all spells is stress. And all we really want is peace and a natural ability to enjoy the gorgeous blue of the sky, the splendor as a sunset paints it’s magical color palette in a new creation every evening, the soothing smell of flowers, the calming of the ocean.
If you truly want to experience a simplified, calm mental life, then let’s talk about less is more. Most people think in terms of increase, but isn’t that how clutter appears in our home – more stuff? The only way to get rid of the worry clutter is to decrease. The more we hack away at the inessentials, the crawling-spider-worry-thoughts, the more space you create for friendly thoughts.
The thing about a cluttered space is it’s very much like claustrophobia. The more worry, the more closed in you feel. So, how does a mind get closed in, cluttered?
~As mentioned, an excessive amount of stress is the stuff that piles up and makes a hoarder out of our minds. It’s life overwhelm. It’s information overload, It’s like piles of paper that never get filed.
~Here’s another biggy, the paradox of endless choices. The freedom of choice is something to be treasured. I get to choose what I want to eat. I get to choose what I wear, what I spend my money on, whether I go here or there. I get to choose what I do with my time. We can argue “I don’t have a choice.” But it’s always a choice.
Here’s the paradox: Our culture has presented an indecision paralysis. At the grocery store, the minutia of bread alone can put you in zombie mode. We all wear jeans, but the plethora of choices from color, holes, skinny or baggy is enough to make me leave without buying anything. The shelves and shelves of beauty and cleaning products increases my heart rate figuring out the right one for the job.
Here’s the thing – our mental health is at stake. We are in a constant state of worry in a world of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, health problems and sleeplessness. When life becomes so intense and complicated, our psyches search out escape ramps. And we all know what they are.
Do not forget this: You have the power to protect your peace – and there is no peace without peace of mind.
Clutter is usually the small stuff; too many clothes to choose from, books we will never read, a table piled with junk, stuff, gadgets and toys that if on a grocery shelf would be long past expiration.
We have emails that will never be answered and texts and phone messages that scream it’s the end of the world if you don’t respond. All of it devours our time, and produces reactive, anxious, and negative thoughts – mind clutter.
Your power to protect your peace lies in the ability to distinguish the important from the urgent. Something can be important, but it doesn’t need to contribute to the mental and emotional exhaustion. Instead of worrying ourselves to the breaking point, we can befriend our innate wisdom to prioritize, organize our thoughts and do it in peace.
The constant voice and mind clutter is no longer in control. You’re recognizing true need and seeing the moment for what it is, not shadowed by the past or a CGI picture of the future. Your mind is no longer velcro for the clutter – negative, anxious thoughts.
Aren’t you glad you spent your valuable minutes to read this and gain the understanding that gives you the power to stop worrying about life?
Friending my thoughts,
If you would like to take this journey of befriending your thoughts, your first session is free. Just send me an email me. I’m currently running specials.