Releasing Your Mental Monkey Trap

Sometimes old beliefs and stories create a cycle of stress, overwhelm and anxiety. They keep us fearful. We feel stuck; even trapped. Using the tale of the Monkey Trap, we will begin to free ourselves from old beliefs and stories that do not serve our highest good.

Transcript

Hi there,

This is Mary from River Shurney Wellness.

I'm so grateful you have chosen to spend time with me in guided meditation.

Today we are working on the practice of letting go,

Releasing yourself from your mental monkey trap,

Focusing on the sources of our fears.

Let's take a minute to begin to settle the mind and calm the body.

Getting comfortable,

Allow the eyelids to close gently.

Begin taking deep cleansing breaths.

Taking a full inhale and then completely releasing the breath.

Drawing in fresh new energy and completely releasing any stagnant energy.

Continue breathing at a slow and mindful pace.

Allow all the tension you've been holding in your forehead and temples to begin to release.

Relaxing the face,

Relaxing the jaw,

Relaxing the neck,

Dropping the shoulders into a more naturally relaxed position.

Allow the tension to release throughout the back and chest,

Softening the belly.

Allow the tension to release from the arms and out through the fingertips.

Allow the tension to release from the hips,

Down the legs and out the feet.

If your feet are on the ground,

Feel the solid firmness of the floor.

If you are laying down,

Feel the pressure of your body on your bed or cushions.

Beginning to ground and return to your center.

With each breath feeling more relaxed,

Feeling comfortable,

Feeling safe.

Gently pushing aside other thoughts as they arise,

Knowing this time is just for you.

Have you heard the story of the monkey trap?

The story's origins are murky,

But variations of the story have made the rounds for hundreds of years.

It goes like this.

Monkey trappers would cut a hole in a coconut or gourd and insert a small treat like a piece of fruit inside.

The coconut would then be chained down or tied to a tree.

The hole would be large enough for the monkey to stick his hand into the coconut.

However,

If the monkey wrapped its hand around the treat,

The hole would be too small for him to pull out his closed fist.

The monkey would be trapped by his desire for that found treat.

A desire to not let go of his treat.

He was trapped and would be caught.

If the monkey would simply let go of the treat as the trapper approached,

He would be free to run away.

But his mind was stuck to the idea of keeping his treat.

The mental grip of holding onto the idea of what he thought he wanted,

Maybe even thought he needed,

Kept him trapped.

Today we will begin practicing to release yourself from the monkey trap of your mind.

We all have experienced mental monkey traps,

Strongly held stories or beliefs that keep us trapped,

Usually not logical or rational and often fear based.

Examples like,

I'm too old to pivot in my career.

I need to avoid embarrassment or failure at all costs.

Wanting a raise or wanting more money is greedy.

It's better to be in a rotten relationship than to be alone.

I could never stick to healthy habits.

Take a moment to notice your monkey trap.

Without judgment or criticism,

Simply be aware of the story or belief that is keeping you trapped.

Can you remember a time that you were not trapped by this story or belief?

Take a moment to recall what brought you to this story or belief.

Was it an event?

Experience?

Something a parent,

Teacher or other adult told you?

Whose voice do you hear when you repeat this monkey trap to yourself now?

Take a deep breath into your heart center,

Allowing fresh energy to flow from your heart all the way to your feet.

You are still grounded and always in control of yourself,

Simply observing the mental trap.

Take another deep breath in and shift your focus to your body and its sensations.

Where do you feel the stress of your monkey trap in your body?

On your next inhale,

Draw in fresh,

Healing and purifying energy like a ball of brilliant violet light,

So pure and radiant,

So powerful it can absorb and transform any other lower frequency energies.

Imagine that ball of violet light filling the area of your body where you felt the stress of the monkey trap,

Leaving nothing but warmth and relaxation where the stress was just moments ago.

Take a deep breath in again,

Allow that violet light to travel throughout your physical body,

Expanding and strengthening your vital life force energy as it flows through your body,

Still feeling grounded and in control.

You've been holding so tightly onto this story or belief for months or years,

Passively even decades.

It's been a struggle,

Feeling trapped by it with emotional and mental cost such as low self-esteem,

Unwilling to take chances or risks,

Anxiety,

Unmet needs,

Depression,

Compulsive behaviors,

And possibly even guilt and shame.

At times it has felt like there was a part of you unwilling to let go of this,

But maybe it just wasn't time yet.

Maybe there was a lesson to be learned,

Maybe your mind was trying to keep you safe.

I invite you to place one hand on your heart and the other on your belly.

Send love and understanding to all parts of yourself,

Past,

Current,

And future.

Trust that something has been shifting for you.

Trust that you are ready to loosen up the hold of the monkey trap.

You now recognize it was irrational.

You recognize it was destructive.

You recognize it was fear.

But you also recognize that it no longer serves you.

You are ready to release your grip.

You are ready to release that story or belief.

And you are ready to release that monkey trap's grip on you.

Knowing you deserve more.

Knowing you are worthy of a different story.

Knowing it's time to shift your beliefs.

Take another deep breath in and bravely ask your higher self for support in releasing the monkey trap.

Support is always available to you from within and from your guides in the universe.

Take a moment to know,

Sense,

Or feel the loving and benevolent support and guidance available to you.

Now trust that it is time to free yourself from being stuck in that monkey trap.

Give yourself permission to let go.

Allow that brilliant violet light to once again fill your physical and energetic body,

Removing any bits of stagnant or stuck energy around that old story or belief.

In your mind's eye,

Imagine how your life will change after releasing the old story or belief.

How will you change with the new,

Healthier,

And supportive story or belief?

What will you experience?

What will you accomplish?

What desire or need will finally be met?

Take another deep breath in and on the exhale send your higher self love and gratitude.

Change is hard and you deserve appreciation for your willingness to create positive change.

Send gratitude to your guides into the universe and remember that you are never alone on your journey.

There is always support and guidance available to you from your higher self,

Your guides in the universe.

It is time to release this meditation but you can always return should the need arise.

And know you can avoid future monkey traps by recognizing and practicing letting go.

Now begin to bring your attention back to the room,

Back to the present,

Releasing the work that you've done.

You can wiggle your fingers and toes to wake up the body,

Feeling energized for your new story and belief,

Ready for new experiences to unfold.

And when you're ready in your own time,

You may open your eyes wishing you peace and freedom from your monkey trap and looking forward to connecting again.

Reviews

This was such a beautiful and powerful meditation. Your voice is so calming and kind. Thank you. Bright blessings x