I have been trying to do some meditation for some time now.Tryingbto connect with my inner self and everything but I’m having a hard time getting to concentrate.Alot seems to distract no matter how hard I try,and the harder I try the pointless it gets.So any tips please
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Hi, I experienced the same thing with meditation. I took a meditation class and there were only about 6 of us and it was quiet with a very light music playing and the teacher was teaching/guiding us and I peeked my eyes open and it seemed like everyone was in a damn trance or asleep… like in a coma. And here I am thinking of a hundred different things and I swore that my heart was going to beat it’s way out of my chest! I swear they could hear my heartbeat, because it was so loud, so damn LOUD, I could barely hear the teacher. I was all sweaty and it was like someone turned on the damn faucet. My clothes were getting damp and finally, I had to remove myself from that situation. I thought my mind and chest were about to blow!! It was the craziest thing ever to happen for me. I don’t get it. So if anyone has tips or knows what happened to me, I’d be grateful. Thanks. ~ g
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My mind is always racing. I began meditation and it is challenging. One way for me to deal with the biziness of my mind is to concentrate on my breathing while meditating. Concentration on my normal breathing. Works for me. Hopefully you can gain something from it. Being still and quiet is a large challenge.
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I do want to give it another try. Maybe you’re right, maybe I just need to completely concentrate only on my breathing, but man… Idk? I know I would benefit greatly from it. Sometimes I cannot even sit still, my leg is moving or I’m looking around the room. My mom always said that I have “ants in my pants.” I was the kid that never slept in Kindergarten and the kid that got the class riled up. Yes, that kid. Me and my best friend, Robbie. Lol I was always talking and pretty hyper as a kid. My poor mom. I was her 7th kid. Yikes!! But I’m going to try again and see what happens. Are there different types of meditation? ~ g
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There are so many different ways to meditate. The key, for me, is consistency. Whatever it is, you do, do it regularly. I thought about and talked about meditation a lot when I was using (but I never really practiced it.) When I got sober the big breakthrough for me, was to find a time in the day that I could commit to. I couldn’t do it at night because I would fall asleep. So I ended up getting up 10 minutes early. I made a rule for myself, that no matter what, every morning, my butt had to hit the mat. Didn’t matter how long. But, I had to create the habit. So everyday I would put my butt on the mat. Sometimes for 5 minutes. Sometimes for 10 minutes. Sometimes for 2 minutes.. Sometimes, when I felt in rush. I would literally sit my butt down and then get right back up. But I checked that box! That was the ticket. There’s a cumulative effect. It’s really about doing the practice. Sometimes a meditation session is relaxing and feels good and tranquil. Sometimes it’s noisy and challenging. But, doing it on a regular basis, has benefits outside of how I feel when I’m sitting. The practice of doing nothing other than sitting here. Allowing myself to just come back to that moment, and not be concerned about anything else that’s going on, or going to be going on, or that it has gone on.. Has helped create space for me to be more present and less reactive, while moving through life. When I first started learning about meditation, I wanted to be Buddha. Now I just want to be better… And it helps!
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I’m probably going to steal a few of your ideas, but I can see how that would work out, even if it’s just for 2 minutes or so. When I start something, I just have to stay committed to it. Period. That’s how I used to be just 8 years ago. I was an extrovert, always going the extra mile, confident. I hope someday, I can even be half of that person again.
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When I first started trying to mediate or even calm my mind in situations I notices my mind would wander and I was advised to notice it and then kindly guide my mind back to what I was trying to do. No judgement, no critism…just bring your mind back. However many times it takes…It happens to me when I am smudging sometimes, I start thinking of other things, I notice it, then refocus on smudging. I think it takes alot of practice because we are so used to having such busy minds
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It’s ALL practice! Reminds me of one of my favorite clips… “What do you practice?”
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