I bet your mind is a lot like mine... just will not be quiet!!! even when you go to that bathroom at 2 am ... the noise is there right? I am reading a great book for the umth time and the author describes his mind like Walmart at Christmas...
Meditation !?! it would be nice to just quite the noise a bit ... right? Well the Buddiists came up with the meditation first step for us. Mindfulness. It is like walking through the asiles at closing time, noticing the specials and not buying anything. So in our busy mind the shopping list comes up and we put is aside till we get to the kitchen. The bills due and the checkbook are on hold till it is out turn on the computer. THe air is filling the body and oxygen is bonding to hemogoblim to move throught the body and CO2 is on the way out... and supper is still a long way off, there is nothing in this absolute very minute that you can do for everyone of those thoughts so let them pass without really looking at the listing of ingredients and calories.
THe idea is that the chores, the lists, the budget are all stressful. So we are to step back and release ourself for a moment. But In the world we live we are not taught what to do with our selves. We are told to keep our selves occupied, our selves entertained, our selves out of trouble ... as youngsters. We are not really taught to be mindful, to look at what is interesting in our head. Where is an idea going?
Maybe it is the artists who have some of this vision? A few scribbles. Some lines on a paper are carefully attached to each other to represent what the person sees. I have listened to many musicians and painters and sculpters and the fall into this state of concentration where the work is a pleasure and an adventure in discovering a secret treasure.
Clearing ones mind is a lot more difficult then it sounds. Even the best meditation say it takes a lot of practice. What you need to do is focus on your breathing. If you have to make an ummmm noise or say breath, breath in your head then do it. Counting can help too.
Unfortunately, sometimes telling yourself you need to clear your head makes the task more difficult. Its like saying don't think of a purple elephant. Try it. Its impossible. Your mind keeps drifting back to the purple elephant because you know you are not supposed to be thinking about it but you are conscious of it. It would be much easier to not think of the purple elephant if no one said stop.
Its the same for clearing your mind. Try to clear, focus on breaths. If you find your mind wondering then gentle push yourself back. This is normal, remember it will take practice. try to enjoy having a clear mind, try to relax. It won't be easy but with practice you will master it. Good luck.
Today my counselor asked me to try some breathing exercises, much like the box breathing but sitting up. The only problem that I have is how do you turn of your mind and keep yourself from thinking while you are doing this? I have never been able to think of nothing, there is always a mental list, or some thoughts racing through my head.
I have tried counting 1, 2, 3, 4 but then it leads me to lists of things, like shopping, housework, where I have to go. If I think of black or nothingness then I see colours and I think laundry, painting, chores etc. Anyone out there have any clues as to how to stop thinking. I mean I am blond and it should be easy, unfortunately, there is alot more than air in there.
.
