Eat, pray, love —
and change your Inner Talk
By Christine Gerzon
I recently read Elizabeth Gilbert's entertaining memoir Eat, Pray, Love which led her to a meditation ashram in India where she meets a witty, plain-talking Texan, Richard, who helps her on her journey of self-discovery. One day she complains to him about her chronic lack of focus during daily meditation. Each time she begins to meditate, she becomes frustrated by her habitual Inner Talk which distracts her with negative and often destructive thoughts. His response is simple.
"You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select what clothes you are gonna wear everyday. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you should be trying to control. Drop everything else but that. Because if you can't learn to master your thinking, you're in deep trouble forever."
Taking his advice (distilled from the wisdom of all spiritual teachers) she decides to ruthlessly monitor her thoughts. She repeats to herself over and over, I will not harbor unhealthy thoughts anymore.
As she becomes more aware of her habitual Inner Talk, she makes a deliberate decision to stop listening to it. She decides to talk back to these voices. Imagining her mind as a harbor with a small island she writes a letter to this toxic voice:
You may not come here anymore with your hard abusive thoughts, with your plague ships of thoughts, with your slave ship of thoughts, with your warship of thoughts -- all of these will be turned away. Likewise any thoughts that are filled with angry or starving exiles, with malcontents and pamphleteers, mutineers and violent assassins, desperate prostitutes, pimps and seditious stowaways- you may not come her anymore either. Cannibalistic thoughts, for obvious reasons, will no longer be received. Even missionaries will be screened carefully for sincerity. This is a peaceful harbor, the entryway to a fine and proud island that is only now beginning to cultivate tranquility. If you can abide by these new laws, my dear thoughts, then you are welcome in my mind -- otherwise, I shall turn you all back toward the sea from whence you came. That is my mission and it will never end.
Elizabeth has just taken the first step towards a more conscious and creative life by firing her toxic voice. She wisely decides that even those voices who appear to be helpful will be monitored for their sincerity. Now she can hire true voices of knowledge and wisdom, based on love and truth. Elizabeth finds that eliminating her fearful voice and listening to true voices empowers her to cultivate a deeper connection with her true self.
She continues her mission by making this practice a lifelong commitment. She recognizes that she alone can protect her true self from sabotage and finally lead a life of aliveness and tranquility. Her commitment to become more conscious of all her thoughts is the beginning of the life she has been seeking in her travels: a life filled with meaning and loving relationships. She recognizes that changing her Inner Talk is the key to changing her life!
Find out more about Robert Gerzon’s highly acclaimed book Finding Serenity in the Age of Anxiety.
Find out more about Robert Gerzon’s Counseling and Coaching Services.
Read more articles by Robert Gerzon online at:
http://www.gerzon.com
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