What Is Your Monkey Mind Saying?

We all have that inner voice that is persistent, critical, and often misleading. It’s what I call the "monkey mind." This chatter in your head sows doubt and second-guesses your every move. For high-achieving professionals, this voice can be particularly disruptive. It can keep you stuck in patterns of self-doubt and hesitation, despite your outward success.

This is something I see often in my coaching clients, and if I’m being completely transparent, it’s something I experience as well. The reality is, no one is immune to the monkey mind. But rather than allowing it to control the narrative, I’ve found a way to bring it into the open, confront it, and begin to shift the way it influences your actions.

Observing the Monkey Mind in Action

Here’s a practical tool I use both for myself and with my clients. This simple exercise helps you observe your monkey mind in action and start uncovering the limiting beliefs that might be holding you back.

Step 1: Choose a Positive Affirmation
Start by selecting a statement that affirms your skills, talents, or achievements. It should resonate with you on some level, even if it feels slightly aspirational. For example, "I am a brilliant and talented consultant and coach."

Step 2: Write It Down
Grab your journal and write down this affirmation. As you do, pay close attention to the thoughts that bubble up in response. These are the voices of your monkey mind, challenging or contradicting the positive statement you’ve made.

Step 3: Listen to What Your Monkey Mind Says
This is where the exercise gets revealing. As you repeat your affirmation, note the specific doubts and critiques that arise. For instance, when I say, "I am a brilliant and talented consultant and coach," my monkey mind might respond with:

• "There are much better people out there than me."
• "Who says so? You! That doesn’t count."
• "You’ve got to do your time. Who do you think you are?"
• "I’m not as good as other people I know."
• "But I’m not a registered psychologist."
• "You're kidding, you need more knowledge. Keep studying."

These thoughts might feel embarrassing or even ridiculous, but they’re not unusual. This exercise isn’t about judging yourself. It’s about becoming aware of the internal dialogue that’s shaping your self-perception and influencing your decisions.

Understanding and Challenging These Beliefs

Awareness is just the beginning. Once you’ve identified these limiting beliefs, the next step is to challenge them. These thoughts often stem from deep-seated fears, past experiences, or societal expectations that have conditioned you to question your worth.

Rather than accepting these thoughts at face value, start to question their validity. For example, instead of agreeing with the thought, "There are much better people out there than me," you might counter it with, "I bring a unique set of skills and experiences that are invaluable to my clients."

This isn’t about silencing the monkey mind entirely. It’s about reframing the conversation, so those negative thoughts don’t dictate your actions or hold you back.

Integrating This Work into Your Growth Journey

This process of observing, understanding, and challenging your monkey mind is central to my coaching approach. It’s about going beyond surface-level affirmations and diving into the mindset that drives your behaviour. When you begin to shift these deep-seated beliefs, you open up the possibility for greater confidence, clarity, and purpose in your work and life.

The next time your monkey mind starts to chatter, don’t ignore it. Instead, engage with it. Write down what it says, examine those thoughts, and then decide how you want to respond. This practice will help you regain control of your narrative and empower you to make decisions that align with your true potential, not the limitations your monkey mind tries to impose.

What does your monkey mind say when you affirm your brilliance? Try this exercise, and you might be surprised by what you discover. More importantly, you’ll start to see just how much power you have to reshape your inner dialogue and, in turn, your life.

Want to keep your monkey mind in check and stay on top of your game?

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