Hi Mamas, have you noticed what the "background noise" in your brain is made up of? I've noticed that when I'm doing something tedious that doesn't really require my full attention (like washing dishes or any other mundane task) I might find myself repeating a snippet of song or reminding myself of what I need to do next etc.
Most of the time we don't actually pay attention to these random thoughts, but recently I noticed that replacing them with something positive actually DID make me feel happier! For example (I honestly don't know why) for the last month or so I found myself "hearing" in my head; "If you want to make the world a better place take a look at yourself and make the change" (From the song "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson). When I actually took that advice (and stopped trying to control things outside of my control and started changing my own response/attitude to what was happening) it was like a huge weight had been taken off my shoulders! :)
Ok, the actual question is this; should I be concerned that I'm going nuts or is it normal (whatever "normal" means for you)! I hope to hear that a lot of you have got "random stuff" in your brains too! :S Thanks for sharing.
Thanks a million everyone. It's always nice to know that we're not alone in whatever we're trying to make sense of! :)
My "background noise" also varies from the "inspirational" to the "stupid" and the "I should have said THIS instead" to just a random snippet of music or song. Sometimes I even have "arguments" with myself! However, now that I've discovered that this "irritation" can be a force for positive change, I'm making more of an effort to be conscious of what I'm saying to myself and "changing the station" or "script" to something that keeps me learning and growing instead of rehashing old pain which keeps me fearful and "stuck". May the Force be with you All! :)
Absolutely!
You are self actualizing!
(Don't even ask me how long I had that horrid "Tom Sawyer" song by Rush hanging around in there!)
You're having a spiritual awakening :)
Even noticing those thoughts is a big deal for some. Controlling those thoughts - turning them positive - is a huge deal! Good for you!!! And yes, positive thoughts turn into positive actions / happenings in your life!
I often find myself having past arguments again only this time I am saying witty comebacks and winning them.
They are called thought loops and everyone does them. That is where most psychology starts. If you can change those thought loops to something, for example, positive affirmations then you are going to feel better about yourself like you did here.
In relaxation training we use phrases like I am calm, my breath is slow and deep, my shoulders are relaxed.....and so on. Once you get used to doing the stress management relaxation training you get used to hearing those comments when your mind is not being "used" and they play in the background more often.
It's a good thing. Some people will put on a christian radio station on low just to have white noise that your mind will work hard to hear. You may not be able to make it out but your brain is listening and those things you are hearing are effecting your conscious actions whether you realize it or not.
For instance, if you have on the radio and it's playing a nice soft classical music station. Do you think you'll feel more like a crazy person if the kids knock over milk or be more able to take it in stride.
It's background stuff that can make us feel differently. If some people have thought loops like mine then having an outside source of distraction is good. If they are like you where positive things are going on then the outside stuff isn't as needed.
I lost everything important to me because I didn't know what you put in parenthesis! :)
"and stopped trying to control things outside of my control and started changing my own response/attitude to what was happening"
In AA, we sometimes joke that AA is actually Life 101 - the remedial class. I had to go to meetings to learn that I don't control the world. Your brain sings it. :)
sistah! my monkey brain is at work ALL THE TIME. there is no such thing as silence in my head, ever. and yes, most of the time i'm not really paying attention, or there's a song or phrase on a repeat loop there right under the surface, and yes, sometimes it DOES affect what's going on up in my conscious brain.
i love that you deliberately take that background noise and make it into something positive. when i pay enough attention to do that, the results are always wonderful. you'd think that would be enough to make me do it all the time, but just as eating well makes me feel terrific, i still manage to get in my own way most of the time.
:) khairete
S.
Oh please! I wish my brain had a mute button! Dang its down right noisy and contentious in here some days! Some days I can get a lot of deep thinking done while I am accomplishing brainless tasks. Other days the noise is so loud I cant do thoughtless tasks otherwise I lose the argument on what channel my brain is on...
You are learning a seriously important lesson from Saint Michael. Lap it up.
Music that repeats in your head is called an ear worm. Since there is a term for it, you know you're not crazy. I am a musician. I get really stuck on songs. But I would rather have that than complete silence. I think that might be a sign of craziness there, not the other way around.... lol
I usually have a song of the day, week, moment that is constantly playing around in the back of my head. I will find myself humming/singing the tune nonstop especially while I am doing mundane chores or tasks - most commonly I've noticed while I'm paying bills. I find it kinda relaxing for the most part although that depends on the song that's on repeat. It might be a way of your subconcious to help you deal with stresses. I don't think that it's crazy. Keep up the mantras in your head - especially if it makes your day better. Unless the song that is on repeat is Chumbawumba. Maybe we don't need that one. :)
Completely normal. Breathe easy. :)
Oh yes. In fact, I've come to realize that when I am trying to go to sleep and I keep hearing a verse from a song over and over again in my head, I'm not going to sleep that night. Don't know what it is, but that's been the pattern. So, when I'm trying to go to sleep and I start to loop around on a song, I make a conscious effort to "change the station" and then I can get to sleep. Weird, huh?
You're not crazy. Everyone has random thoughts. Mine are usually prayers and people I want to pray for. I like to make all my work into a prayer. It makes the work more pleasant.
