Mindfulness has been a goal of mine, and many others, as a way to combat stress, and anxiety and to lead a calmer disposition. The idea and lifestyle of mindfulness aren’t new. Still, after the Covid-19 pandemic, the increase in social issues, and the hustle culture that surrounds many of us, there is a sharpened focus on mental health and the practices that can help improve it.
I was listening to a favorite podcast, The Skinny Confidential, and they had guest, Ethan Kross, on to talk about “how to learn to control and understand the voice in your head.” Listen here. At the time, I was going through a tough season of anxiety (read more here on that) and I wanted to learn more about tools I could use to combat it. I found this episode enlightening and ordered his book before finishing the podcast. I can tell you that the book changed my view of anxiety and overall has helped me immensely in my journey with it.
Chatter by Ethan Kross is a self-help book that explores how our inner voice, or "chatter," can either help or hinder us in our daily lives. Kross, a psychologist, and professor at the University of Michigan draw on his research and personal experience to offer practical advice on how to harness the power of our inner voice and turn it into a positive force.
The book is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different aspect of chatter. Part One explores the science of chatter, examining how it can affect our emotions, behavior, and decision-making. Part Two offers strategies for managing negative chatter, including mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal, and self-compassion. Part Three delves into the social aspects of chatter, examining how our relationships and social support systems can impact our inner voice. Overall, Chatter offers a compelling argument for the importance of understanding and managing our inner voice and provides readers with the tools they need to do so effectively.
I’ve personally found that anxiety and mental health is not a one-track, linear path. Sometimes it’s not around and you feel in control and then it hits out of nowhere. Or you are dealing with it every day waiting for relief. I’m not a doctor and I know a book won’t outright cure anything, but I wanted to share some things that have helped me take control of my chatter and keep my anxiety at bay in the hope that sharing helps someone else:
Journaling and using the morning pages technique of writing everything down that comes to mind with no filter. Even if you’re in front of the paper and thinking “I don’t know what to write…” write that down. I’ve found this to be really helpful in getting so many things off my mind. It’s also helpful to read back once you’re done writing and see what is bothering you, comes up more than once, or even might sound silly once you read it and think ‘why am I worried about that?’
Meditation and sleepcasts: I put off meditation for a long time thinking it was too wonky for me but after a few sessions of trying I've really started to enjoy how it made me feel. I downloaded the Headspace App and love their guided meditations in the morning and the sleepcasts at night to help me fall asleep. You can get 30 days free to try for yourself here.
Understanding my triggers and having people be in on what they are. You can read more about that in this blog post, but having my friends and family aware of things that bring me feelings of anxiety and how to help me has been such a relief and calmed a lot of any anxiety that may come up when they’re around.
Here are some other books I’ve loved that touch on mindfulness, habits, and anxiety:
Next on my reading list:
Let me know if y’all have any other suggestions or tips and tricks that help you in the comments. Thanks so much for reading!