Notice your Itty Bitty S#*&&y Committee

The vast majority of cells in your body work tirelessly around the clock to keep you healthy, happy and successful. But there is a small group of cells in our brains that seems to be committed to sabotaging our best efforts and sense of inner joy. “These are the cells in our verbal mind that are totally resourceful in their ability to run our loops of doom and gloom. These cells tap into our negative attributes of jealousy, fear, and rage. They thrive when they are whining, complaining, and sharing with everyone how awful everything is.” (Jill Bolte Taylor My Stroke of Insight) This group of cells has been called many names, including “The Itty Bitty S#*&&y Committee.” This week we will be paying specific attention to the activity of this Committee.

HOW-TO: During this week notice the complaining voice in your mind that likes to air out big and small grievances both in your daily life and during your yoga practice. Don’t do anything about it, just take note: “Here you are again. What are you dissatisfied with now?” Notice if you have recurring loops of grievances that keep coming up again and again, and notice how thinking like that makes you feel.

OPTIONAL: You can take it one step further and schedule your mental complaining. For example, you can tell your IBS Committee: “You can complain all you want between 8am and 8.30am, and then again between 8pm and 8.30pm.” Make it your mental (or verbal) complaining time and get it all out. If you miss that time – too bad, have to wait till the next allocated time slot.

And please tell us how it goes!