Mind Worms

Deep within your mind they borrow. They are relentless and in most cases incredibly annoying. Their only goal is to occupy your mind with useless information. What am I talking about? Those phrases and songs that play over and over in the back of your head. They can come from anywhere but in most cases from the radio, the television or our music player. It could be a few lines from a song or a snappy jingle from a repetitive commercial.

You have probably never given much thought to them. Well you should. They could be causing more damage than you think. Just like affirmations, repeating something over and over again has an effect on your psyche. Intention counts in affirmations but unlike affirmations some of these songs and phrases can be repeated a hundred times or more within a day. That's a lot, intent or not.

My latest worm is a song by the Jitters, Last of the Red Hot Fools. Now looking at the lyrics as a whole you wouldn't think much of them. But my mind doesn't remember the song from beginning to end as I'm sure yours doesn't when you're playing your songs. It picks out lines and beats. Like:

"Musta been crazy played it hot
shoulda played it cool
Now I'm just the last of the red hot fools
Now, I'm the last of the red hot fools."

So basically for the last two weeks I've been telling myself I'm a fool. Not good. I've been trying to break this cycle by purposefully catching myself in the act. I've developed a plan for combat against these mind worms.

* "Stop!" Use this as your first line of defence. When you notice the worm, either say to yourself or aloud, "stop!" Then go on with what you're doing. You may have to say it more than once. If it doesn't work go on to one of the next steps.
* Find an affirmation you like and use it to replace the words in the same tune.
* Listen to Kristie Agee's Red Hot Mama. It's catchy and positive.
* Journal about it.
* Count to 10 etc. I usually do this to the beat of skipping. 2, 4, 6, 8 -10. 2, 4, 6, 8 - 20. 2, 4, 6, 8 - 30 etc.
* Tell someone else about it. Sometimes talking about it totally sucks the idea out of your head that you might not even be able to recollect to tell them. Or you tell them and pass along the worm. Vicious I know but at least you don't have it anymore. My husband does this one with me all the time with a silly commercial about what we don't know but it has a song that repeats over "Hands in my pockets."

If you have some other suggestions for getting these silly but damaging mind worms out please pass them on. Visit the Large & Lovely forum thread on this topic.