Your Mind is a Strange Radio…
I was listening to a song in my car…I arrived at the trailhead in the catskill mountains… and then it was like the song was on constant repeat in my head through the whole 4 hour hike.
The radio that exists in our heads is a great metaphor for how to relate to our thoughts.
And because it was a song, I knew it was just my mind playing a radio station… and I knew not to believe, attach to, or follow any of the instructions from the song lyrics.
But so often, we obey our thoughts as if they are the truth.
When we do this we often get lost. Because, just like a radio station, our mind is simply playing on repeat the top 40 hits — those lyrics that may have had some meaning at one time but are now outdated and most likely irrelevant to your present life.
We can try to get the song out of our head, but how successful have you been at that?
During that hike, I could think of something else for a moment or two, but inevitably, before I even realized what I was doing, I would be singing along again to David Bowie’s version of “Wild is the Wind”.
The key is not to struggle harder to control the mind. The key is to remember the mind is just like a radio - playing the DJ’s favorite tunes (ie: your most ingrained thoughts and beliefs).
The mind is a strange radio. It doesn’t always allow us to control which station we’re listening to. We can only change the station dial by paying attention to it really hard… but that leaves us with very little energy to do anything else.
However, the volume dial is also peculiar. The more we focus on the radio, the louder the volume gets. But, It turns out, the more we open our awareness to the direction we’re going, the actions we’re taking, our bodily sensations, the environment, and the people around us, the volume of the radio turns down. It’s still playing, in the background… but it no longer takes over our experience and we no longer feel obliged to pay as much attention to it.
What song does your mind continually play?
Is it a reliable guide? Or is it time to open up to another way?
To learn more about “defusing” from the radio-mind and creating more effective skills for moving toward life satisfaction, book a Free Alignment Wayfinding Session.
We’ll talk about your current situation and discuss whether my coaching programs could fit your needs. I’ll be happy to answer any questions and offer suggestions toward what may be your best next step.
P.S. I posted a fun and silly Reel about this on Instagram. check it out !