Lately, my thoughts have been all over the place. You know the term monkey mind? It’s the perfect visual—thoughts swinging from one idea to the next like monkeys grabbing for branches. No pause, no time for reflection, just one chaotic scene after another, like a movie spliced with commercials advertising every little thing in life that needs attention.
I was very proud of myself this morning. I got up at 5:30 and thought, I have ZERO excuse not to meditate today—a habit I’m insanely inconsistent with lately, and I’m definitely feeling the repercussions of not sticking to it. So, I sat down to meditate, thinking I could rein in the chaos of it all. Ha! My brain had other plans. I caught a moment of peace, a small glimpse of silence, and then—bam—another thought barged in. Some were lovely, some were practical, and some were complete nonsense (like wondering what to eat for breakfast). It felt like my brain was hosting a town hall meeting I didn’t RSVP to.
As a psychic medium and empath, I can’t help but analyze the why. A full moon this week? Check. Work deadlines? Yep. Unfinished creative projects? Absolutely. Add in the small stuff, like Trader Joe’s being out of my favorite coffee creamer (how rude! 😂), and you’ve got the perfect storm.
But here’s the thing: most of it wasn’t urgent or even important. It was just noise—thoughts piling up like a basket of laundry waiting to be folded.
Right when I was about to give up on meditation altogether, my spirit guides chimed in with a solution: “Focus on sound, not thought. Just listen.”
At first, I’ll admit, I kind of rolled my eyes (because, of course, it sounds simple when they say it), but I decided to try—no quitters here! I hit shuffle on my playlist, picked some music, and let the sound wash over me. The shift was almost immediate. My thoughts didn’t disappear completely (I’m human, after all), but they softened. The music became an anchor, pulling me into the present moment.
But let me tell you, sometimes your music choices need something a little stronger than calming waves, flutes, and birds chirping in the background. And this should tell you where my current mental state is lately—I’m needing the extra shot of espresso kind of level of zen (I do love a good coffee reference). For me, this morning, it was AC/DC’s Back in Black. The beat, the lyrics—it works. Believe it or not, it brings me back to the present. Crazy, right?
Here’s the thing, It worked, not because I fought the thoughts, but because I gave them permission to fade into the background. Did it last for long? Uhhm, no. “laughing” But it worked. And even if it was just for five minutes, those five minutes were glorious.
So, where’s the lesson here? Is there one? Why, yes, there is—and that’s why it’s a blog post. Haha. This experience reminded me of something we often forget: the monkey mind isn’t here to torment us; it’s simply part of being alive. It’s our brain’s way of trying (and often failing) to process the millions of inputs we face every day. Instead of wrestling it into submission, sometimes the best thing we can do is shift our focus and let it settle on its own.
For me, sound became the bridge to stillness. For you, it might be the rhythm of your breath, the feel of a cozy blanket, or even the hum of the dishwasher. Stilling the mind doesn’t have to mean sitting in lotus position (and, if you’re like me, losing all feeling in your legs). It’s about whatever keeps you in the present moment. Finding that anchor—whatever it may be—can help you stop swinging from branch to branch and simply be.
Life is full of monkey mind moments, but they don’t have to control us. Instead of fighting the chaos, find your anchor—whether it’s sound, breath, or a good cup of coffee (preferably with creamer, if Trader Joe’s isn’t sold out). I can’t help myself.
If you’re like me and your brain feels like it’s hosting a thought parade, remember this: you don’t need to fix it. You just need to pause, listen, and trust that stillness will find you. And if all else fails, there’s always music. Sometimes, a little rock music helps. There’s something about the guitar riffs and drums that make your head bob and your shoulders move—bringing you right back to center. 😂😉🎸