Are you 'in your head' a lot? In that constant, incessant thinking, chatter, noise?
Isn't it exhausting?
And then... what do we do? We often try to escape our thoughts by turning to something else - our phone, eating, online shopping, alcohol, drugs, social media ... anything we can do do distract ourselves from our own thinking.
This type of ruminative thinking is related to the default mode network, and something i call the 'me-me-me network'.
The me-me-me network is connected to 'self-referential' thinking and things like our past, our future, what we think someone else is thinking, assessing and judging our emotions, and other stuff.
Does that sound familiar as to where you 'go' in your own head?
The tricky thing with just trying to avoid 'being in our head' is that we don't actually do anything to soften the me-me-me network. We need to actively work other brain circuits that will compete with it.
The way I hear people describe what they're doing to 'not think so much' is trying to leave their brain-body by altering their state - either with substances, or by using technology, among other things.
I'm suggesting that we stop trying to leave the mind-brain-body, and we actually fully enter into it.
We can do this by bringing awareness back to our senses. This includes our five senses and our visceral senses. Both of these bring us back into exactly what is happening right now, but without creating an assessment or judgment about it (which is what the me-me-me network tries to do all the time).
These 5 strategies can help you release yourself from the grip of the me-me-me network, which ultimately helps you feel more engaged in life and less trapped in your own thinking.
After you've watched, let me know in the comments... (go here to add the comment on Youtube) what is one of your strategies for getting out of that mental noise, and what do you notice about 'being in your head'? When does it usually happen, and where do you thoughts tend to go? Is your strategy healthy or would you rather find different ones?
I think it will be helpful for others to hear about how common this is and what others do to find some relief in their own mind.
Hey! I’ve reached out to you before. I love your work. It’s been awhile since I’ve done some listening but I’m not feeling well so I have the time to lounge and listen. I’ve done a lot of head work this past year and it’s interesting to listen to this because it validates a lot of the good work. A lot of what you say lines up with scripture which has been the main source of my work. I have disciplined my self to just fall hard into Jesus, trust Him and pour more of His words into my head space. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8 ESV
In particular, I believe your work aligns with this scripture. It’s incredibly refreshing to see neurobiology aligned with scripture. I just recent finished “Get out of your head” by Jennie Allen… I think y’all would be friends. Anyway.. it was incredible. Continue your awesome work! I will try to pick back up on following your work again. I love everything I’ve learned from you – it makes me a better person and educator!
Kathleen King