The mental noise is an activity of the mind that almost everyone experiences day and night, and which most people consider as a natural activity of the mind. Though it goes on all the time as a background noise, you usually become aware of it in an acute form, when there is a problem, worry or fear, and you find your mind thinking and thinking about it, until you feel it is about to explode from thinking.
The mental noise manifests as inner conversation, inner monologue and as a tendency to constantly think, analyze, compare and repeat thoughts in the mind. It is an involuntary activity, which prevents you from focusing the mind and concentrating on what you are doing. It causes distraction, never being in the present moment, and it wastes a lot of time and mental energy, which could have been use for better purposes.
Some, will not agree with me, and say that constant thinking is a sign of being alive and active, and that they prefer to be constantly thinking. They feel that life would be boring and lifeless without the constantly thinking. This is because they have never experienced any other state of consciousness, and constant thinking seems to them to be the natural state of consciousness.
When the mental noise is reduced, the five senses function better, the ability to concentrate grows, and there is calmness and self control. Nothing is lost in this process, there is only gain.
Here are two articles on the mental noise:
Mental noise is the constant chatter of the mind that never stops. It is the inner conversation or inner monologue that constantly goes on in the mind.
Many are unaware of this mental noise, because it has become a deeply embedded habit, and is considered as a natural and inseparable part of life.
This mental noise is like a background noise that never ceases, from the moment of waking up in the morning, to the moment of falling asleep at night. Often, it even prevents you from falling asleep. It is a sort of inner voice that constantly analyzes everything about our lives, surroundings and the people we know. It is a voice in the head that just keeps talking and talking!
The mind often repeats the same thought over and over again, like in a loop or like a record that got stuck. If this is a positive thought that’s fine, but too often this a negative thought or a negative mental images that just intensify stress, worry, anger or frustration. These are thoughts that you absolutely do not need.
2. How to Calm Down the Mental Noise
After reading the article on the mental noise, it is time to start doing something about it. As you now know, the mental noise is the inner dialogue and constant chatter that goes on in the mind almost all the time. Sometimes we are not aware of it, and at other times it is most disturbing and distracting the attention.
When do you become more aware of the mental noise and find it disturbing?
When you need to focus your mind on a certain activity, such as studying, reading, solving problems or anything else. At this time you become more aware of the buzz and constant flow of irrelevant, and often useless or distracting thoughts.
Peace of Mind in Daily Life
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Tags: concentration, Meditation, mental noise, mind
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June 17th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I have to say that my life has become so much more peaceful and fulfilling since I have been able to calm my own mental noise. In years gone by, when I lived in a constant state of ‘mind imprisonment,’ my existence was fraught with upset and franticness. In those days I would not have thought it possible to live in peace with my mind. But now, no matter what my circumstances, I am calm and I control the thoughts in my head- at least in so far as what to dwell on and for how long. This is a great place to be and life is much more pleasant. It takes time and practice, but it is do-able.
June 18th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Thank you Lorelei for your comment. It seems that many don’t even think that reducing the mental noise and attaining inner peace is a possibility, but you have proved to yourself that it is possible, and as you said, it is do-able.
June 18th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Our own mental noise is our worst enemy. Without conscious control, I doubt if we ever achieve our goals and aspirations. I doubt if we ever find peace and happiness. Someone once said that it is not we do not use our minds but that it uses us.
June 18th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
The mind becomes more powerful when it is peaceful. If thoughts keep running in the mind without our control or permission, it is difficult to concentrate the mind.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Thoughts would keep me distracted from concentrating on issues that really mattered. It would also keep me in fear and judgments of myself. And what kept me in check with these thinking patterns was the idea is to keep in mind that I am not losing control, and you’re not losing your memory or your mind. The imbalance has presented the opportunity to learn how to weather the effects. When you’re ready to seize control and take steps to be the happy person you know you can be, it appears!