Are you self-talking in the head? In this video, Eckhart Tolle says the key to stopping self-talk in the head is to have a glimpse of awareness.
There are of course barriers to practicing mindfulness meditations at certain times of the day, such as when we have a job to perform or a baby to look after; however, the biggest barrier to practicing mindfulness comes from the mind. Once we gain awareness of some of the ways the mind intervenes with our best efforts, we slowly begin to realize that mindfulness can be the lens through which we see any and all moments in life, whether at work, with a baby, or in solitude.
While this is not an exhaustive list, some of the common ways the mind intervenes to distract us from mindfulness include:
Stopping self-talk
Preconceived notions about what mindfulness is “supposed” to look like stand in the way of our fully embracing the present moment. Negative self-talk might intervene to berate us for not “doing it right,” but the present moment can be accepted as it is. We can become mindful of even the inner critic, loosening its hold on our next steps. Tolle’s approach is a contemplative teaching, not a clinical technique. If your inner critic feels overwhelming or is tied to anxiety or low mood, mindfulness can complement support from a therapist or doctor but does not replace it.
