There was a time in my life when my mind felt like an uncontrollable monkey. Thoughts would race through my head constantly—jumping from one to another with no rhyme or reason. I could never find peace, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make it stop. It was overwhelming, exhausting, and it felt like my mind was always one step ahead of me.
I would try to focus on one thing, but before I knew it, my thoughts would swing in a completely different direction. What’s for dinner? Did I send that email? Am I doing enough with my life? Should I quit my fitness classes? It was like an endless loop of distractions that never gave me a moment of clarity.
One day, a friend shared a story with me that changed everything. It was about a person trying to tame a wild monkey. At first, the monkey was chaotic—jumping from tree to tree, screeching, and pulling in every direction. Every time the person tried to control it, the monkey resisted even more. But the person didn’t give up. Instead, he stopped trying to force the monkey into submission. He began to observe it, to understand its patterns. With time, the monkey became less frantic, trusting the person, and finally, it became calm enough to sit peacefully by his side.
As I listened to this story, I had a sudden realization: my mind was that monkey. I had been fighting it for so long, trying to control every thought, every worry, every distraction. And the more I fought, the wilder it became. What I needed to do wasn’t control it—but understand it. ” TAMING THE MONKEY IN MY MIND”
So, I started to take small steps.
I began practicing mindfulness, not to stop my thoughts, but to observe them without judgment.
I would acknowledge each thought, let it pass, and bring my focus back gently to the present moment. At first, it wasn’t easy. The monkey would try to pull me away, but little by little, I learned how to return my focus without frustration.
Over time, I began to see change. My mind didn’t feel as chaotic anymore. It was still busy at times, but I no longer felt overwhelmed by it. I could sit with my thoughts, not trying to force them into silence but allowing them to come and go like waves.
I began to realize that taming my mind wasn’t about fighting against it—it was about creating space for it to settle naturally.
Now, when my mind starts to race, I remind myself of that story. I no longer try to force it into silence. Instead, I simply acknowledge the monkey inside me, guide it gently back to stillness, and trust that peace will come with time.
Taming the mind isn’t about control—it’s about understanding, patience, and letting things unfold naturally.