Everyday Mindfulness

Just looking for a bit of help with mindfulness as I get a bit lost now and again. My main thing is trying to practice mindfulness when I'm not feeling the best for example, last friday walking home in the snow and cold thought to myself try some mindfulness as it works for me walking most of the time. I had a thumping headache so I tried a different tactic, imagined myself sunbathing and the suns rays on my face which isnt being mindful of the moment but it was my coping method (in that moment) to escape from the cold here! I have found it hard to be mindful at all this weekend as the headache actually lasted 3 days. I know they say you can be mindful anytime any place but I guess for me when I'm not feeling too well should just deal with getting better then give it a shot again? I did try concentrating on the headache but that didnt work either. Any comments would be appreciated. thanks.

Hehe, the question is the answer

Yes, get yourself better. The problem with the world we live in is that there is a common misconception that we all need to be super human and we pride ourselves with struggles. Maybe you cannot help the situation you were in, as we all have daily commitments, but do what you can. You are right, if you have a headache, sit down...have tea...or a bath...or meditate...do what you can that will help it to go away. 3 days of headache means that you are putting yourself through some unnecessary pressure, and if you body scan and meditate for long enough on the pain itself, you will probably find what caused it, ways you can avoid it...and as you will be relaxing yourself, the headache will ease. When I'm unwell with headaches and colds, I swear by rest, healthy diet, meditation and eucalyptus oil (that can be rubbed into the head and burned in an oil burner) ... that will be all the medicine you need.

For your situation in the snow, or any situation, try not to worry about it. As long as you watch where you're going and get home with that exact purpose...that is mindfulness. Your idea of the sunshine image can help you get through it, sure. Just be careful not to daydream...remain igilant of your surroundings!

Hope this helps.

Yes it does help! I will give eucalyptus oil a try too, I use olbas oil for headaches. I am off work for rest of week so will have more time for meditation, surely lacking the past few hectic days, New born grand- hold on Saturday and a sick 3 month old one all weekend. All is good now

larorra wrote:Just looking for a bit of help with mindfulness as I get a bit lost now and again. My main thing is trying to practice mindfulness when I'm not feeling the best for example, last friday walking home in the snow and cold thought to myself try some mindfulness as it works for me walking most of the time. I had a thumping headache so I tried a different tactic, imagined myself sunbathing and the suns rays on my face which isnt being mindful of the moment but it was my coping method (in that moment) to escape from the cold here! I have found it hard to be mindful at all this weekend as the headache actually lasted 3 days. I know they say you can be mindful anytime any place but I guess for me when I'm not feeling too well should just deal with getting better then give it a shot again? I did try concentrating on the headache but that didnt work either. Any comments would be appreciated. thanks.

I would like to discuss the highlighted section above:

A headache is a symptom of energy trapped in the head. By visualing the sun shining on your face, you are actually stimulating that trapped energy, instead of sinking it back to the dantian. (As the sun is major source of yang energy, essentially, you are overloading your head). This is why the headache lasted so long.

Returning the breath and attention to the dan tian will help to ground the trapped energy, as well as keep you warm. If you can also train to release excess tension aswell, this will further assist in the trapped energy sinking.

Basically, if you have a headache, don't visualise more energy pouring into your head!

Medway Tai Chi wrote:A headache is a symptom of energy trapped in the head. By visualing the sun shining on your face, you are actually stimulating that trapped energy, instead of sinking it back to the dantian. (As the sun is major source of yang energy, essentially, you are overloading your head). This is why the headache lasted so long.

Wow, there's something new to me Thanks for joining in Medway!

Looking forward to joining in around here

Here I will echo some of Andy's words from another thread: use your headache as your mindfulness fuel. Engage with it and examine it closely and with curiosity. Exactly which part of head is the pain is eminating from? Is their a shape or colour to the pain? Is the pain constant or does it vary over time? By examining the pain, it helps us to understand that we are not the pain, that the pain is temporary.

Jacqui has been practising for 6 months now, so as this topic shows, the nature of the questions that you are now asking probably begins to change a little. I have moved the topic up to the next section.

Gareth

I get that, we are not the pain its temporary, I've kept that in mind recently, when I don't feel well. The tip about not thinking about the suns rays is an eye opener, I never knew that but will remember it for my next headache! This journey is,truly amazing and so much help here. Thank-you all.