Meditation and Mindfulness

[Deleted User]

Hello everyone,

Joyfull: I can really relate to this sentence:

Seems to me that the old mind & it's habitual patterns may well carry on for the rest of the life

I think you might be right to an extent, but the way you deal with them will likely change over time with the help of mindfulness. I am starting to recognise those old habitual thought patterns that don't serve me whenever they appear instead of instantly getting drawn into them and allowing them to snowball out of control. I am starting to see the mind as a separate entity. My mindfulness instructor was fond of calling the anxious mind the 'monkey mind' because it's similar to an out-of-control monkey causing havoc. I think we need to draw the monkey in, treat it with compassion and understand that it's trying to grab our attention but that we don't have to listen to it. Some days this is much easier than others!

Armchair: I'm sorry to hear about your recent loss, though completely appreciate you don't want this to define you as I'm sure it's all to easy to do. My counsellor when I was at university told me about her experience. When her husband passed away, she felt quite lost and out of control of her emotions. She started 'sitting' as she called it, on a daily basis and found that it centred her and got her in touch with her 'inner world' as opposed to being driven by circumstances. I agree that sometimes it's best to keep it simple and not try to talk too much about mindfulness because there's a lot that can't be articulated, it's best just to experience it. I definitely think mindfulness can help gain an understanding of who you are which is separate from what is happening to you. I don't know if I'm articulating that very well...

Maryland Cookie: Your yoga class sounds intriguing, was it kundalini yoga? It's great to read about your experience with mindfulness so far. I think Mark Williams' books are amazing, I wish he would bring out a year long course of mindfulness CDs, imagine how much peace and contentment that'd bring! As for me, I have done 40 mins of meditation this morning but found it hard to focus as I knew I had loads to do today. As I will be home alone tonight, I'm going to fit in another 40 minute session, in the knowledge I have nothing else to do but remain present...xxx

Maryland_Cookie

I'm not sure what kind of yoga it was, I'll ask the tutor next week. 40 minutes wow............you're an inspiration. Just off now to do my bit!
Night all, peace and joy to you all x

Racheldevon

Hi,
Just checking in, it's good to read everyone's updates. One thing that came to mind reading some of the posts since my last one, was the notion of 'doing it right'. I remember on the retreat really worrying about whether or not I was doing it correctly, which others are commenting on. I was quite surprised at the time to hear both the tutors (who were really experienced having practiced mindfulness for between 20 & 40 years between them), and yet at times they still found it really challenging. It's also something that Kabat-Zinn refers to, in terms of not quietening the mind, or trying to change how we are in any given moment, but rather about 'laying out the welcome mat' for whatever you become of aware of, in any given moment. The mind will always wonder, and all you can do it observe that, and bring the focus back to the breath, for me I find it easiest to do it by focusing on the rise and fall of my abdomin, whereas others choose the point where the air flows in and out of your nose, whatever works for yuo as an individual I guess. I'm really enjoying the body scans at the moment - anyone else find them helpful?

[Deleted User]

Racheldevon wrote: »

Hi,
Just checking in, it's good to read everyone's updates. One thing that came to mind reading some of the posts since my last one, was the notion of 'doing it right'. I remember on the retreat really worrying about whether or not I was doing it correctly, which others are commenting on. I was quite surprised at the time to hear both the tutors (who were really experienced having practiced mindfulness for between 20 & 40 years between them), and yet at times they still found it really challenging. It's also something that Kabat-Zinn refers to, in terms of not quietening the mind, or trying to change how we are in any given moment, but rather about 'laying out the welcome mat' for whatever you become of aware of, in any given moment. The mind will always wonder, and all you can do it observe that, and bring the focus back to the breath, for me I find it easiest to do it by focusing on the rise and fall of my abdomin, whereas others choose the point where the air flows in and out of your nose, whatever works for yuo as an individual I guess. I'm really enjoying the body scans at the moment - anyone else find them helpful?

The body scan is my absolute favourite meditation as it gives you something tangible to focus on. I have Jon Kabat-Zinn's but personally prefer Professor Mark Williams' one. What one do you listen to?

Maryland_Cookie

Im on Mark Williams second meditation track which is the body scan, I wasn't sure at first, but I'm really into it now. I'm much more accepting of the fact that my mind will wander, and thoughts and worries will come into my mind, but I think of my mind as a lake and the thoughts are boats which just drift past and this really works for me. I find that during the body scan when I hold each part of my body in awareness I feel quite "tingly", it's quite a strange sensation and as I've being doing the track the feelings have been getting stronger. I am still feeling the sense of calmness and quietness and feel that my stress levels are much more reduced.

I'm thankful for the support that is offered by this thread, and have found it a massive help x

[Deleted User]

Maryland_Cookie wrote: »

Im on Mark Williams second meditation track which is the body scan, I wasn't sure at first, but I'm really into it now. I'm much more accepting of the fact that my mind will wander, and thoughts and worries will come into my mind, but I think of my mind as a lake and the thoughts are boats which just drift past and this really works for me. I find that during the body scan when I hold each part of my body in awareness I feel quite "tingly", it's quite a strange sensation and as I've being doing the track the feelings have been getting stronger. I am still feeling the sense of calmness and quietness and feel that my stress levels are much more reduced.

I'm thankful for the support that is offered by this thread, and have found it a massive help x

A lot of people in my mindfulness class noticed a tingling in the parts of the body they focused on during their body scan. One even said that they felt a deep heat going through their body when they put their attention on different areas, very intriguing! I do find that as a result of mindfulness, my thoughts are less 'sticky' and I am able to let go of them more easily. Before, they would snowball until I was on the verge of a panic attack, now I'm able to say 'There goes my monkey mind again, playing it's old tricks' as if the mind is a separate entity. I am glad you are noticing similar benefits and really like the analogy of thoughts as boats floating by.

gairlochgal

I'm doing the online be mindful course and really enjoying it though struggling to find time for daily sessions. Some of it is definitely my own resistance - the idea of the 30 min body scan seemed so self indulgent last week that I made excuses to do all sorts of other things.... But I seem to be calmer and more on top of things overall in my life.

[Deleted User]

gairlochgal wrote: »

I'm doing the online be mindful course and really enjoying it though struggling to find time for daily sessions. Some of it is definitely my own resistance - the idea of the 30 min body scan seemed so self indulgent last week that I made excuses to do all sorts of other things.... But I seem to be calmer and more on top of things overall in my life.

I completely know what you mean! I have been procrastinating about doing my mindfulness today, I agree that at times it seems 'self indulgent' but it's not really. You're looking after yourself and your mental health which is something everyone is entitled to. The Be Mindful course sounds interesting. Do you have a chance to interact with other people taking part in the course?

[Deleted User]

Sadly, I have falled off the mindfulness wagon. I am feeling particularly stressed and sad as a result. Luckily, I will be attending a retreat day tomorrow so I'm hoping that'll perk me up somewhat.

Armchair23

I hope so goldilockz, the thought of a day in silence with a group of people may seem odd but I found it a wonderful experience.
Let us know how you get on.