Monkey Mind

Posted on by stilllearning2b

Taming the Monkey Mind: Taking the Monkey Back to School

Posted on by stilllearning2b
image from backyardfrontline

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but it’s been a bit since my last monkey mind post. This is my confession – I have been neglecting the monkey. Not so much that he has completely wasted away, but I have not paid sufficient attention to my synaptic simian as of late. And he’s starting to protest.

I could give you lots of excuses. Many of them are even valid. I’m 4 weeks into the start of the school year and my time and mental energies are spent lesson planning, grading papers, contacting parents, and sitting in endless meetings. Oh, and teaching. That happens for 5 + hours each day. On top of that, I’m training for my first (and only) marathon. I knew the time commitment ahead of time, but it is really becoming clear now as I spend 10 hours or so a week running and another couple hours stretching and foam rolling. And a few more hours yoga-ing. Then there’s the book – I wasn’t expecting so many people to request it in paper form so I added formatting to my work list the last few weeks. And let’s not forget my other job as a wellness coach. I spend several hours per week researching, writing my newsletter, and working with clients.

So, yeah, I’m busy.  So what?

I made a promise to myself to have balance in my life. For the most part, I have that. I’m happy, fulfilled, and passionate about what I’m doing and who I am with. But I’m still breaking that promise by neglecting my meditation practice. I realized today how much it really comes down to acclimation, commitment, and accountability.

I was sick this weekend and the illness derailed my running plans. I ran an easy 6 miles on Thursday and was planning on doing (a not-so-easy) 20 on Saturday. Instead, today was first run in 4 days. I barely made it 2 miles. How is it that I could have run 6 just a short time ago and today I struggled with 1/3 of it?

Acclimation.  We get used to doing what we do. I’ve moved my 20 miler to this weekend so I need to spend the week getting my body used to running again. Isaac willing.
I have my marathon training schedule posted on a corkboard in front of my computer. Tucked behind it are my hotel reservations for Savannah (where the race will be held). I have a constant visual reminder of my investment, in both time and money, in this race.

I also have a whiteboard calendar next to my desk where I record my daily and weekly mileage totals. It holds me accountable. I can see when I slack.

In contrast, after my initial 30 day challenge, I have made no tangible commitment to mediation. I do not track it or hold myself accountable and I allowed myself to become disacclimated (yeah, I know it’s not a word, but my monkey insisted I use it!). It’s no wonder I’m doing better at running than ohmming.

So, I’m taking my monkey back to meditation 101:

-I’m posting a reminder on my board next to the running schedule.

-I’ll track my practices on my calendar (hmmm…smiley faces don’t seem right, but it needs to be quick to draw).

-I’m restarting my 30 day challenge to re-acclimate.

That’s right, monkey. School’s back in! Hope you’re prepared:)

 

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Transistance

Posted on by stilllearning2b

transistance [tran′zis·təns]

(electronics)
The characteristic that makes possible the control of voltages or currents so as to accomplish gain or switching action in a circuit; examples of transistance occur in transistors, diodes, and saturable reactors.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

transistance [tran′zis·təns]

(psychology)

The characteristic of being resistant to transitions.

Me. Sometimes I feel the need to make up a new word or ascribe a new meaning to an established word in order to say what I want to say. This is one of those cases. Apologies in advance if that offends you.

Anyone involved with education is familiar with the enormous transitions from school to summer and then back again. As a teacher, I am involved with shutting down and then restarting an entire organization every year. It is a transition on a macro scale. Embedded within that transition, each person involved is also facing change. I see it in the rising freshmen in the spring and the incoming sixth graders in the fall. I see it on the faces of the parents as they witness their “babies” growing into maturity. I see it in the teachers as we adapt to new curriculum and new routines. It is an exciting and stressful time for all.

But why is it stressful? The coming of another school year and the aging of children are expected. Normal. So why the anxiety that bleeds into the buzz?

Transistance.

We so easily fall into the trap of thinking that the way things are now is the way they are always going to be. We might plan for tomorrow yet we see it from the perspective of today. That creates a friction between our psyches and the “now” that results in a resistance to change. We know transitions are inevitable yet it is difficult to imagine the biting wind of a winter storm while baking in the summer sun.

The only thing constant is change. Heraclitus

I did not used to be as aware of the affect that transitions had on me. I would find that I didn’t sleep as well or that my mind felt scattered, but I never really dug down into it. I am trying to be more mindful of the transitory periods in my life so that approach them proactively. I make sure to take a little extra time to be quiet: yoga, meditation, or a solo hike or run. I do a better job listening to my body even it that means going to bed before 9:00 p.m. I remind myself that the stress of transition is also temporary and that a new normal will once again be reached. I still experience transistance. We all do. But now I can face it with a smile.

How about you? Have you experienced any transitions lately? Did you have transistance? How do you cope with transitions?

Taming the Monkey Mind: Taking the Monkey to the Gym

Posted on by stilllearning2b

I only began consciously meditating within the last couple of years.  I have actually been practicing mindfulness much longer than that, however please keep that a secret from my monkey mind. I have used weight training as a tool for bringing my focus to the moment since I was a teenager. I lift heavy, more to direct my thoughts rather than to build my frame. Lifting was a way to force my mind to rest.  I could stay within my comfort zone of strength training and yet flirt with the exotic (to me at the time) world of meditation behind the scenes. When executing a compound movement with heavy weight, my mind could not wander; the monkey that normally scurried around the folds of my cortex was silenced under the burden.  Breath was forced into the smallest bronchi, as the body demanded extra oxygen. Each flexion of muscle was accompanied by a relaxation of mind, a perfect partnership of mind and body.

Zen Habits beautifully explores his experiences with the meditative power of iron.

:zenhabits.

So, if your monkey mind resists the yoga mat or the meditation pillow as mine sometimes does, try taking your monkey to the gym and shut him down with some heavy weights!  Just don’t tell him that he’s actually meditating:)

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Taming the Monkey Mind: Embracing the Monkey

Posted on by stilllearning2b

Last Saturday, we took advantage of the annual Brew at the Zoo (a kid-free zoo!) and enjoyed an outing to the local menagerie.  I found myself drawn to the gorillas, who were quietly surveying their domain as they perched atop the hillside.  They seemed unimpressed and undisturbed by the commotion around them.  Their monkey minds appeared calm and peaceful.  Gorilla Zen.

It made me wish I had a different monkey.  My mind is more like the tamarins, running and jumping around their enclosure, chattering their opinions to all who pass by.  I wanted to trade my hyperactive beast for a calmer, more regal one.

English: cropped v of File:Tamarin.monkey.500p...

Luckily, I was at the zoo, surrounded by professional monkey-wranglers.  Little did I know, there was to be a lesson in store.

We made our way to the orangutan exhibit for feeding time.  The keeper was throwing apple slices to each ape in turn.  The guy hanging out in the ditch wanted to make sure he wasn’t forgotten.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I learned that the eldest male had been raised by a researcher and had learned over 200 signs.  He kept signaling “more” to attempt to encourage additional treats to be thrown his way.  His son, a precious little 1 1/2 old, was standing nearby.  The big guy never let him directly catch an apple, but he made sure to feed him bits from his own mouth from time to time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I watched the alpha male communicate various desires with the handlers, I inquired about the relative intelligence of orangutans and gorillas.  The handler responded with a chuckle, “Oh, the gorillas are smarter, but they’re too lazy to want to learn much.”

Lightbulb moment.

Those placid monkey minds that I was ready to exchange mine for had a downside.  They may be calm, but perhaps they are too calm.  I can call my monkey mind many things, but lazy is not one of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to model my monkey mind after the orangutans.  They were inquisitive, yet not anxious.  They are independent, yet social.  They are intelligent, yet playful.  So, maybe they are not as Zenlike as the gorillas,  but they fully embrace their nature.

It’s time for me to embrace my monkey mind too.  Even if he won’t stand still.

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