Starting to tear my hair out

[Vicxyz]

Hi, I've been meditating using mindfulness of breathing for around 15 months, almost everyday. Although I find I can get concentrated and calm faster now, it is always the last stage where I become unstuck, basically I cant find a sensation at the tip of my nose...or if I do it is so fleeting that I cant keep it. I usually end up mentally meandering either searching for something to pinpoint or just end up wasting time daydreaming and getting frustrated that I'm losing the point of the whole exercise. So after 15 months I feel like stopping as its abit pointless if you cant actually 'perform' the procedure.....any suggestions?

[JonW]

Hi Vicxyz,
Welcome to the forum.
It's not important where you locate the sensation of breathing. If it's not locatable at the tip of your nostrils, try focussing on the rising and falling of your belly as you breath in and out. Or even the sound of your breathing.
All best,
Jon

[Gareth]

What can you feel in the body? Go and investigate that.

[paulpsych]

There's much more to mindfulness practise than breath. Why not observe your thoughts? Or sounds? Or feelings? Or sensations? If you're getting frustrated then that's worth looking at too. What does that feel like? Where is it felt?

[watson2182]

there are lot of different kind mindfulness practices. don't stop try another one.

[Matt Y]

Vicxyz, where did this idea that you need to find a sensation at the tip of the nose come from?

And if it's not helpful, why not drop it?

[piedwagtail91]

hi Vicxyz,
this is your practice so you're free to decide.
i've never felt anything at the tip of my nose.
high in the nostrils on the in-breath and at the bottom edge of the nostrils on the out-breath , but never on the tip of the nose.
i did feel it on my top lip once after having a proper shave ,but quickly decided to let my moustache grow back!!! didn't like it at all,aversion or what
wherever you feel the breath most strongly, wherever the sensations are most vivid, nostrils, chest or belly, is what i usually say when guiding a practice, .