MSS #016 Stop your mind running riot

MSS #016: And Pause. How to stop self-talk, mind chatter & repeating thoughts.

Read time: 1.8 minutes.

In a hurry? Cut straight to the 2 tools read from heading 2 tools to still your tongue– reduced read time 1.1 minutes

This week’s two tools are very easy and quick to use and slightly weird but effective.

These two tools will stop self-talk or mind chatter, to give yourself a well-earned break. In fact they stop any time of obsessive thinking.

Often, we convince ourselves we just have to put up with our thoughts and self-talk, definitely not.

Read on and in a short time, all will be revealed.

Tongue science!

No, you have not picked up a medical journal by mistake!

We are going to use our tongues to control our self-talk, I thought it best to explain how on earth these 2 tools work before I explain what to do. Ready?

Two bits of knowledge are required to understand why these tools work.

1. What happens when we have self-talk

When we engage in self-talk, our tongues imperceptibly move, mimicking the movements as if we were really talking. So, if we could keep our tongue still we could inhibit self-talk – neat trick.

2. Where two worlds collide – well nervous systems really

Two of the nervous systems we have in our bodies are

• Somatic nervous system (SNS) also known as the voluntary nervous system. This is the system we use to consciously send signals to move our muscles so we can do things like, sit, run, walk etc.

• Peripheral nervous system (PNS) also known as the automatic nervous system. This is the system that carries on regardless in the background controlling things like heart rate, breathing, digestion, blood pressure and sexual arousal.

Fascinating, I am sure you are saying. Why the hell do I need to know this?

It is well known the PNS has an incredible ability to calm us down with techniques such as breathing, it’s a built-in calming system. It turns out the tongue is connected to both nervous systems, so by keeping our tongue still, we are also sending a signal to our PNS to keep things calm.

Two reasons why keeping our tongue still, also stills the mind.

No let’s get into the two tools for keeping your tongue still, it won’t hurt, honestly.

2 tools to still your tongue

1^st tool

Place the tip of your tongue up into the roof of your mouth. Move it forwards so it sits right up against the inside of your upper teeth and keep it there for as long as you need peace and quiet!

Simple but effective.

2^nd tool

Imagine you have a tiny droplet of olive oil on the tip of your tongue. I really do mean imagine it, not just think about it.

Believe you have a droplet there and now try and move your tongue with small movements to keep the imagined droplet balanced in the middle of your tongue but close to the tip. This will keep you busy!

Now for the finale

If you want to, try and do both together. Tongue towards the roof of your mouth, balancing an imaginary droplet of olive oil. Voila!

So what?

Quick recap.

• You have 2 nervous systems the SNS (voluntary) and the PNS (automatic)

• Your tongue is the gateway to both nervous systems

• Your PNS has built in calming capabilities

• When we have self-talk we move our tongue a bit, as if we were talking out load. Keep your tongue still and you manage your self-talk

• Try doing both together

Want more? When you're ready, 3 ways I can help you:

1. Digital course - If you want to build amazing self-confidence, I'd recommend starting with an affordable course:

→ Nuclear Powered Resilience: will teach you a single golden habit, to give you an incredible inner strength and self-confidence,

2. Work with me 121 - I can coach you to

- implement any of the techniques I share or

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- be your business and mind coach helping you better manage those distracting thoughts that often get in our way.

3. Workshops and Speaking - I run workshops and speak. Book me if you choose, to help your team increase their productivity.

Nuclear Powered Resilience – learn one golden habit that gives incredible inner strength, comfort and support, that keeps growing by instilling Unconditional Love in your mind.

7 guiding principles to better thinking – what trips up our thinking and how to create different habitual responses.

What they should have taught you at school – awareness of how we think and how to get better results.

Vitamin C for the mind – how to feel and have more control in life, with simple techniques built into a habit.

Happy habits – simple habits to make you feel happier every day.

Send your enquiry to [email protected].

That's it for this week.

Thanks for reading, really hope this helped.

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Happy thinking.

29 April, 2023