Today’s blog post is about squatters, but not the physical kind—these are mental squatters, something many of us deal with. (I’m so guilty of it.) 🤦♀️
Let’s imagine our minds as a beautiful mansion filled with comfortable couches, sparkling chandeliers, a backyard with a pool, and a fridge stocked with your favorite food and snacks. Now picture someone casually wandering in, settling down on your favorite reclining couch, drinking all your best wine, and refusing to pay any rent. That alone might make you want to hang up a “No Trespassing” sign.
So Mental squatting is pretty much holding onto grudges, fixating on past mistakes, or ruminating over comments or actions from others, which can feel like letting unwanted tenants take up residence in your mind without any cost. This mental congestion can lead to negative effects on your health and peace of mind, increased stress, and decreased productivity. Eliminating these psychological squatters involves more than just letting go; it’s about restoring your peace and creating space for better thoughts and interactions. Below are MY 15 practical ways to rid yourself of these intrusive thoughts and regain control over your mental space.
Let’s begin.
Your mental palace isn’t a free-for-all. Make it clear who stays and who leaves. Remember, this is your space; you choose the rules.
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Practice Relaxation Through Meditation
Practicing meditation is like hiring security guards to guard your palace.
You’ll be able to maintain your mental celebration free of intruders with their assistance.
The best way to meditate is to try to relax by closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing.
How do you block the noise of people who come over without being asked? You plan a GREAT party. Do something you enjoy, like painting, singing, dancing, or baking. Or you could just take a bubble bath. Anything that tells your brain it’s time for fun, and these mental squatters aren’t allowed.
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SIMPLE ACT: Let Go of Grudges
Let’s be honest, grudges are like that person who you only wanted to see once and never left. Letting go of what someone did may be hard, but it is worth it.
Grudge-Gus, the Mental Squatter, will eat up all your mental pantry if you don’t let go of grudges.
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See a Therapist: The Optimal Eviction Agent
It’s time to bring in the big guns if squatters are unwilling to vacate the premises.
Get professional help. A mental health professional can serve as your mental sheriff, assisting you in getting rid of those persistent stragglers who simply will not leave.
Consider changing your thoughts as if giving your home a new coat of paint. By replacing pessimistic thoughts with optimistic ones, you can transform your mind into a serene sanctuary rather than a dreary attic.
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Start writing in a journal
Writing down your thoughts can be a very effective approach to processing and releasing them. If you find yourself obsessing over someone, try writing down your feelings. This can help you gain clarity and see patterns in your thinking that you can try to change.
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Avoid trying to understand people
How accurate do you think others would be if they tried to guess your thoughts or desires? They probably don’t know what’s truly going on in your head. So why bother trying to guess what other people are thinking? You’d probably be wrong, meaning all that thinking was pointless.
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You can’t go back in time
When we dwell on the past, it’s inevitable to wonder what we could have done differently to avoid a disastrous ending or fight. Reality is we have no control over events that occurred a week ago or those that occurred years ago. It makes no sense to waste energy dwelling on the past.
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Invite the Right people over
It’s YOUR party!
Make sure that the people you spend time with are those who bring Happiness, Love, and Positive energy into your life. Have a guest list of VIPs who are truly wonderful.
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Genuine Gratitude: The BEST Gift for a Housewarming Party
Being grateful makes your mental home happier. The greater your appreciation for what you possess, the less space there will be for those unwelcome freeloaders.
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Forgive for your own good
You don’t have to be loyal to your pain. We are so faithful to our pain that we “focus on the trauma of what happened to me.” Yes, it did happen. Yes, it was awful. But is that what makes you who you are? It’s not just for the other person that we forgive. We forgive so that we can stop feeling the intense pain that comes with holding on to the past. Please be loving to yourself and forgive yourself!
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Send them love and kindness
This has helped me many times.
When you can’t stop thinking about someone who wounded you or is driving you crazy, imagine sending them a beautiful ball of white light. Put them in that glowing ball. Keep that white light around them until your anger goes away. Give it a shot. This actually works.
We need to change the way we think before we can clear our thoughts. After 90 seconds, an emotion will rise and fall like a wave on the shore. You can change your mood, even if you’re frustrated, in just 90 seconds.
90 seconds is all it takes—approximately 15 deep breaths in and out—to not think about that person or situation. You’ve broken that cycle of thoughts and the power they held over you.
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Make Use of Your Imagination
Everyone has people who try to live rent-free in their mind mansion from time to time. But keep in mind that you own this property. You choose who gets VIP access and who needs to leave. So, fix your crown, clean up that eviction notice, and take back your mental kingdom. It’s a lot more enjoyable to be the king or queen of your own mind than to have to deal with uninvited guests. Have fun kicking out mental squatters once and for all!
I hope this blog post can help with Mental squatting.
You are welcome to share; leave your comments on how you deal with mental squatters.
WHAT I WISH FOR ME, I WISH FOR YOU!!
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