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How Do You Stop Yourself From Thinking

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 102

This discussion is right up my ally! Furgittit, I also cannot do sitting meditation. I've tried for over 20 years.

There are alternate forms of meditation that work much better for me, and arizona mentioned it-- mindfulness meditation. I find walking meditation works best for me. This is how it works: try to walk in natural setting if you can. When you find a thought intruding your mind, refocus on what's right in front of you (e.g. I see green grass, redwoods, snow, a purple flower, a sparkling curve to the river). If intruding thoughts come back, notice them as if they are a cloud floating by, and think to yourself, "That's nice. I'm thinking again", and watch that thought float through like a cloud. Refocus your mind on what you are sensing in your body, hearing with your ears, and seeing with your eyes.

You can transfer this method anywhere. When you wash dishes, notice the warmth on your hands, the colors of the bubbles, the smells, the feeling of your hands working over the dishes. You can do this with cooking, brushing your hair, really anything. And it does work. Just remember to acknowledge your thoughts as thoughts, and let them pass by like clouds.

There is an author that I turn to always when I am down and now is no exception. I keep several of his books by my bed, and one in my purse. It almost doesn't matter which you read, but if you're able to concentrate enough to read, his words calm me and remind me of what's important. The author is Thich Nhat Hanh. An amazing teacher who makes mindfulness easy to understand.

Hope that helps.

deb

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 32

I've been reading a number of books on Buddhism and mediation.

The first problem is our 'self' aka 'ego' and the second problem is our mind. These two things are responsible for all of these thoughts.

The trick in meditation is to step back, think of yourself as an observer. Don't engage the thought, as in don't think about them, or worry about them being there. Simply notice them. Think of yourself as a mountain, and the thoughts are the clouds. Focus on your breathing, count to 10 on your inhale and ten on your exhale. If you get lost in a thought, don't get upset, just notice it and then come back to your breathing. Keep doing this and that's all you need to do.

The thing with meditation is that it is teaching you to allow your thoughts to flow by you, to notice them, but not to engage with them. It's a huge topic and makes for very interesting study.

Don't beat yourself up, everyone has thoughts and the job is simply to allow them to be.

Cheers,

for 15 år siden 0 +0 / -0 456

hi furgittit.

the point to meditation is to relax. To find some inner peace.

If you can read a historical romance and escape the hum drums of everyday why not go with that??? We are not all born to be buddist monks and renounce this existance while we are still living it

If you like to swing to country music and smile while making supper; why not? Why is it not equal to the zen of being empty-headed and listening to a brook and some oriental string instrument wail at you?

I think the point was not to help you focus on the anxiety causing situations... Meditations are meant to help you find a bit of inner happiness. It is something while you are wake and active (rather than asleep and letting your subconscious take over) that makes you feel good.

for 15 år siden 0 +0 / -0 1693

furgittit,

You are not looney! You are clearly a caring person if you are taking care of an almost stranger in your dreams

Hang in there, and try to think positive thoughts. You can do it, and you know we're always here for you,

Breanne, Bilingual Health Educator

for 15 år siden 0 +0 / -0 271

Thanks for the replies,

Still my mind races, I don't like to do nothing, unless I plan on sleeping. Even then the thoughts keep going. I will continue to breath and continue to try to not think, but I don't think this is possible for me. I don't have a "happy place", because when I think of my happy places, I think that they are all gone now, dead, sold, destroyed whatever and then I get sad and start thinking the negative thoughts and cry and get sad, blah, blah, blah. Music, I like country, not too helpful there. Imagery, my imagination, consists of conspiracies and paranoid thoughts, so not a good idea. I don't want to read a book that tells me how to relax when I can read some historical smut that makes me forget about realty for a a few minutes. Clutter, clutter, bells ringing, chores to be done, bills to be paid, go, go, go, still no "quiet time". Quiet time is when I sleep and even then it is only to dream about what has to be done, what I have done, or even crazier helping out people I don't even know.

Last night I dreamt I helped my neighbour, after he had surgery, from around the corner and he gave me his old jeep. I don';t even like to drive a standard, but there I was cooking and cleaning for a complete stranger (not really I know his name and our dogs like each other my toy pommie and his great dane, cute couple, my poor boy keeps trying :) to no avail), and driving a Jeep. I am completely looney.

Thanks for listening.

for 15 år siden 0 +0 / -0 910

Goofy,

I love doing that, the meditation to a happy place. It is so helpful. I found the imagery you use really lovely. Thank you for sharing.

for 15 år siden 0 +0 / -0 456

hi goofy.

that is a really good creative imagery. Did you have a CD or book to start you out? like the ones from Melodie Beadie??? she does a lot for co-dependants through Hay House.

I have a really good French CD for my children. The music is calm and yet modern lullaby not sickly childlish. The woman's voice is not baby talk nor annoying. It is like a good storyteller!

for 15 år siden 0 +0 / -0 1693

Great idea Goofy! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Members, what are some other ways that you stop yourselves from thinking negative thoughts? (or thinking at all!)

Breanne, Bilingual Health Educator

for 15 år siden 0 +0 / -0 1044

I've not been successful turning off my thoughts either when I do breathing, but with each breath I think of the most peaceful and tranquil place that I could find (I don't know if it really exists but if it does I'd love to find it).

I am laying on a rock covered with green grassy moss. It overlooks a waterfall. there are many birds, butterflies and plants trees and flowers. In the background is a waterfall, which falls into the bluest of pools at the bottom. I can hear the birds, and the waterfall and feel the spray of the waterfall against my skin. Smell the fresh air. I see the most beautiful natural wonder in the brightness of the greenery, flowers and trees, etc. I get rather specific in my mind about all these things. It's totally awesome and you can go there, just make sure I'm not there when you do go (lol).

I am not a creative writer but I think I've heard of finding this place during meditation or while using boxed or controlled breathing as finding a "happy place". This, combined with the breathing, helps get my mind focused off all that "s***' and onto somewhere and something I'd like to be doing.

Just an idea it works for me!

for 15 år siden 0 +0 / -0 271

Interesting. I know I am not the only one out there who cannot seem to "turn it off". You have given me alot "more" to think about. I will try the breathing and the "not thinking" I will not say it won't work, but I cannot say it will work. I will just try.

Thanks Wildcat.

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How Do You Stop Yourself From Thinking