{"product_id":"the-monkey-is-the-messenger-meditation-and-what-your-busy-mind-is-trying-to-tell-you-9781611805840","title":"The Monkey Is the Messenger: Meditation and What Your Busy Mind Is Trying to Tell You","description":"\u003cb\u003eAn engaging, funny, and introductory guide for anyone whose overactive mind gets in the way of starting a regular meditation practice\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"My mind is so busy, I really need to meditate.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"My mind is so busy, there's no way I can meditate.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Familiar dilemma? These days just about all of us know we \u003ci\u003eshould\u003c\/i\u003e be meditating, but that doesn't make it any easier to sit down and face the repetitive thoughts careening around our brains--seemingly pointless, sometimes hurtful, nearly always hard to control. Rather than quitting meditation or trying to wall off the monkey mind, Ralph De La Rosa suggests asking yourself a question: If you were to stop demonizing your monkey mind, would it have anything to teach you? In a roundabout way, could repetitive thoughts be pointing us in the direction of personal--and even societal--transformation? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Poignant and entertaining, \u003ci\u003eThe Monkey Is the Messenger\u003c\/i\u003e offers a range of evidence-based, somatic, and trauma-informed insights and practices drawn from De La Rosa's study of neuroscience and psychology and his long practice of meditation and yoga. Here at last--a remedy for all those who want to meditate but suppose they can't because they think too much.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRalph De La Rosa is a therapist, meditation teacher, storyteller, and musician. A graduate of Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Services, he is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) and incorporates Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS) alongside traditional psychotherapy in his work. He has been featured in numerous publications including \u003ci\u003eGQ\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSELF\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eWomen's Health\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eElephant Journal\u003c\/i\u003e. He currently resides in New York City.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Shambhala","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50921724805394,"sku":"9781611805840","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_fb3a1b02-1041-4f09-8b7c-356d73ab1356.jpg?v=1738923497","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-monkey-is-the-messenger-meditation-and-what-your-busy-mind-is-trying-to-tell-you-9781611805840","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}