Dr. Deb's Mental Health Vitamin: Clearing out static

By Dr. Deb Wade
GCU Vice President, Counseling and Psychological Services

Static! It’s all around us. Just take a moment and listen … do you hear an air conditioner, a car going by, a child playing outside, the television in the next room, people chatting, a crying baby, an older gentleman whistling as he goes down the way?

Some of the noise is pleasant, some of it is annoying and some of it is soothing, but mostly, the noise is ever present. More important, however, is the static that is inside your own head!

There is an old country song that has the phrase, “I hear voices all the time …” (Chris Young – “Voices”), about the myriad messages that we carry from people in our past. Of course, in the song, the messages are good ones: 

“Daddy saying, ‘Work that job but don’t work your life away,’ and Mama telling me to drop some cash in the offering plate …”

Daddy sayin’, “Quit that team and you’ll be a quitter for the rest of your life, and Mama telling me to say a prayer every time I lay down at night.” 

What is the static in your head telling you? Are the “voices” giving you sound advice, good messages, uplifting reminders? Or is your head full of negative static from degrading, demeaning messages that keep replaying and gaining power in your psyche?

Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, once wrote about the “obnoxious roommate” that lives in one’s head. She, too, was referring to the voices from the past that could be quite destructive: a childhood bully, an influential person who belittled you or told you what you couldn’t be.

Does this ring true for you? Does the static in your own brain echo with condemnation, criticism, castigation or chastisement?

Whatever the case may be, here is the powerful truth: Your head, your control!

Take inventory of the “roommates” in your head! Are they supporting you, believing in you, loving you, encouraging you, cheering you on? Great! Make them your “forever roommates!”

However, maybe there are some roommates you need to evict … NOW! Without hesitancy, boot that obnoxious roommate to the curb! You have the absolute power to eradicate the negative static in your brain if it has become negative in any way. You will love the result:

So remember, if you have “voices” in your head and they are not promoting, celebrating or encouraging you … MUTE THEM! If the static inside your own head is condemning or critical, CLEAR IT OUT!

Why? Because, YOU and I have much better stuff to “listen” to!