This is pretty epic! And I'm not just leaving a comment to make your day. (I mean, the day is almost over so that would be a waste anyway.) I really dug it.
Kevin, I really relate to this, thank you for writing this piece! I love what you said about the mean guy voice not being very effective, or maybe not as effective as we’d like to think. It’s so-so at motivating us, and when we do listen we do terrible, destructive stuff to ourselves and others. But the nice guy voice, oh what an under appreciated voice *that* voice is.
For me, yoga actually is the key to amplifying the nice voice. I set an intention for my practice, focus on breathing, and if all goes well, my mind goes quiet for the rest of the practice. But all does not go well. It never does. I hear from the mean guy in my head. I hear doubt. I hear criticism. I lose focus. I think about the clock. I think about getting lunch after yoga. I think about all my other stuff. But I always return to my breathing. Hint: it helps if your teacher keeps reminding the class to breath. Anyway, all of that stuff happens in my head when I practice, but there are also long stretches of silence, of presence, of listening only to my body. And all of that helps, mentally, physically, and spiritually. But at the end of the practice, the real magic happens. My teacher invites the voice to return, and she even gives him some dialogue. “Thank yourself for showing up to this practice.” And I do. Quietly in my head, the nice guy thanks me for showing up. And that sets me right for about 24 hours, unless there’s a clusterfuck at work. Or traffic. Or the piece I’m writing just isn’t working. But you get the idea. Thank you for sharing your nice guy voice, and I hope you keep doing yoga!
thank you so much for this comment Michael. Since I read it I have been considering the voice in my head when I do yoga. And notice how many times I look at the clock. haha. And I think I have been breathing better as I have been practicing. I am excited to get back to do a run WITH my nice guy voice. I appreciate your writing as well. Great to connect with another writer out there in the substack ether!
Thanks Kevin, I really relate to this. Every day I want to be GODS WARRIOR but also I want to take naps and watch the Vampire Diaries. Will heed your tale ❤️💪👼
I'm eager for the future when I get a Neuralink® implant, and my inner monologue can be customized to sound like Morgan Freeman. Your's sounds like Sam Kinison.
The time/levels of "devos" truly had me laughing! Been unpacking a lot of my religious upbringing, and it's shocking how much the theme of grown ups yelling at kids that we sucked keeps coming up again and again. Love that you are being kinder to yourself. I am trying too. We deserve it!
Wow thanks Grete. Glad you liked that part ha. It was a funny realization that I kinda made some of that stuff up myself. And very liberating to recognize it isn’t healthy or necessary. Hope you are well!!!
This is pretty epic! And I'm not just leaving a comment to make your day. (I mean, the day is almost over so that would be a waste anyway.) I really dug it.
thank you so much Josh. I appreciate that! Sorry it took me a few days to respond I was doing Yoga for the past 48 hours straight!
Kevin, I really relate to this, thank you for writing this piece! I love what you said about the mean guy voice not being very effective, or maybe not as effective as we’d like to think. It’s so-so at motivating us, and when we do listen we do terrible, destructive stuff to ourselves and others. But the nice guy voice, oh what an under appreciated voice *that* voice is.
For me, yoga actually is the key to amplifying the nice voice. I set an intention for my practice, focus on breathing, and if all goes well, my mind goes quiet for the rest of the practice. But all does not go well. It never does. I hear from the mean guy in my head. I hear doubt. I hear criticism. I lose focus. I think about the clock. I think about getting lunch after yoga. I think about all my other stuff. But I always return to my breathing. Hint: it helps if your teacher keeps reminding the class to breath. Anyway, all of that stuff happens in my head when I practice, but there are also long stretches of silence, of presence, of listening only to my body. And all of that helps, mentally, physically, and spiritually. But at the end of the practice, the real magic happens. My teacher invites the voice to return, and she even gives him some dialogue. “Thank yourself for showing up to this practice.” And I do. Quietly in my head, the nice guy thanks me for showing up. And that sets me right for about 24 hours, unless there’s a clusterfuck at work. Or traffic. Or the piece I’m writing just isn’t working. But you get the idea. Thank you for sharing your nice guy voice, and I hope you keep doing yoga!
thank you so much for this comment Michael. Since I read it I have been considering the voice in my head when I do yoga. And notice how many times I look at the clock. haha. And I think I have been breathing better as I have been practicing. I am excited to get back to do a run WITH my nice guy voice. I appreciate your writing as well. Great to connect with another writer out there in the substack ether!
Awesome bro! Namaste 🙏🏽
Namaste Ben! Thx for reading bro!
Thanks Kevin, I really relate to this. Every day I want to be GODS WARRIOR but also I want to take naps and watch the Vampire Diaries. Will heed your tale ❤️💪👼
Thank God we can be his WARRIOR and also be blessed with Naps and Vampire Diaries! thanks for the comment :)
I'm eager for the future when I get a Neuralink® implant, and my inner monologue can be customized to sound like Morgan Freeman. Your's sounds like Sam Kinison.
ya man I gotta upgrade my software!
Amen and Amen. 🙂.
Dad
😘love ya dad
The time/levels of "devos" truly had me laughing! Been unpacking a lot of my religious upbringing, and it's shocking how much the theme of grown ups yelling at kids that we sucked keeps coming up again and again. Love that you are being kinder to yourself. I am trying too. We deserve it!
Wow thanks Grete. Glad you liked that part ha. It was a funny realization that I kinda made some of that stuff up myself. And very liberating to recognize it isn’t healthy or necessary. Hope you are well!!!