Get Out of Your Head
Get Out of Your Head
A large portion of our perceived problems reside in our heads. In other words, they are imagined. Not based in reality! What if you can learn to ‘get out of your head’? What kind of relief from the pressures of life would you experience? I believe if we can learn to quiet that nagging voice, that judgmental voice, we will lighten our load and live a more stress-free existence. But, first, we have to learn to get out of our heads.
Two Types of ‘In Your Head’
Let’s start with talking about being able to differentiate between ‘being in your head’, where you overthink and overanalyze everything, and ‘being in your head’, where you allow yourself to be still and silent in an otherwise noisy world. These two are vastly different, and being able to distinguish between them is the first step in helping yourself understand which one we need to manage and which one we need to tune in to.
The first is the overthinking brain. It’s a nuisance. A persistent (usually negative) voice that always has something to contribute to any situation. I almost see this voice as the voice of society. The pressure’s that are imposed on us, the expectations. It’s in our head but in a way it’s not actually our own voice. We’ve come to view it as our own but actually it’s not.
The second is not actually ‘in your head’ but can feel like it. It is a connection to your soul. A quietness that may feel like it is in your head but is really the source of who you are. This ‘in your head’ is peaceful and loving. It does not berate you or belittle you in any way. Rather, it guides you and keeps you centered. It is always loving and calm.
Two Types of Nagging Voice
Again, being able to distinguish between these two is so important. While they are both pretty good at nagging, the first nags in a negative way. It is that voice that nags you to ‘push your shoulders back’, ‘keep your opinion to yourself’, or ‘come on, you can do better than that’. It is not uplifting or particularly friendly. It is judging your every move, pulling you up on every tiny mistake.
The second voice is so quiet it feels more like a nudge than a voice. But, it’s also persistent and naggy! This is the voice you need to listen to. This is your gut, your intuition. This voice is like an energy that responds to your environment with a ‘hell yes’ or a ‘hell no’. It is the voice that guides you to change course and pick a different coffee shop or makes you pick up a magazine only to discover an article on exactly what you needed to read (something like stumbling across this post!)
Once we realize that there are two separate voices, one negative and usually a bold faced liar and the other the quiet one waiting patiently to be heard above the noise, we can decide which one deserves our time.
Who Are You Going to Listen To?
Once we realize a) that there are two ‘voices’, and b) we can actually choose which one we listen to, now you can take the power into your own hands. You can actively choose not to listen to the voice that is constantly putting you down or making you question yourself. And, you can choose to tune in to that gentle voice that is trying to show you the path that is best for you in life.
The lesson here is to stop pushing against our instincts and natural guidance system and learn to work with it. Push against the lies and negativity instead! Push against that voice that lies and puts you down.
The wonderful thing about becoming the observer is you are able to put things into perspective properly. When you’re ‘in your head’ you feel like you are under threat, being attacked by this cruel, invisible force. When you observe this happening to you, though, you can see that there is ALWAYS the option to shut down this voice. You can see that the voice isn’t telling undeniable truths at all! In fact these limiting beliefs are fabricated out of fear and not out of fact.
Tools to Help Get out of Your Head
You will probably never be able to completely rid yourself of that negative voice, but there are ways to help you quieten it down or put it in its place. In my routine I have found tools that help me do this. I believe these tools, if applied daily, can help you get out of your head too. Here are my top 4:
Meditation
By far the most impactful for me has been meditation. Meditation has the power to totally disconnect you from your worries and your obsessive overthinking. It allows you to find stillness in a manic world (and head). It teaches you mindfulness which in turn teaches you to spot what’s important and what isn’t. For tips on meditation head over and read Top 10 Meditation Tips for Beginners
Journaling
When you have too much in your head, the best way to release it is onto paper. Journaling before your meditation is even better because you go through the process of purging all those extra thoughts before starting your practice. Journaling has always been a powerful way for me to connect with my emotions and work through them. When you have too much on your mind it is a wonderful way to help you process where the thoughts are coming from, and if they are even justified!
Connecting with Nature
Unless you’re caught in a lion chase nature is the ultimate in calm. Nature just is, it just does its thing without overcomplicating everything. You sense this ‘just isness’ as soon as you step out into nature. You feel present, still and at home. It is a comforting, supportive feeling. And, it is a wonderful way to ‘get out of your head’. There is no obsessing over being late for a meeting while you’re sitting, feet in sand, on the beach. It is a feeling of release (similar to the journal!).
Do Something you Love
In other words, get inspired! What better way to distract yourself from overthinking than to get creative. Immerse yourself in something you love, something that gets the creative juices flowing. Go out kayaking, or pick up a paintbrush. Anything creative is an outlet for your emotions. Expressing yourself is a way to release that energy.
A Question of Release
A common theme in these tools is release. It’s a letting go of the extra stress, thoughts and pressures. It’s a coming home to the peace that is at your core. Getting out of your head is necessary for this very reason. You are not your thoughts. You are a soul, and your essence is not the rushed busyness of your brain. Your essence is peaceful and calm. Learning to get out of your head allows you to reconnect with your truth.
Remember, any (I mean ANY) negative thoughts that are plaguing you are not the truth of the beautiful soul that you are. Choose to listen to the quiet, peaceful voice that is guiding you to joy and harmony and shut out the negative voice. Get out of your head in any way that you can when you hear that voice, because it is not your truth!
Steph x
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