Newcomers

[JonW]

Hello to anyone new on this forum.
If you're interested in exploring mindfulness, there's really no substitute for a qualified teacher who will take you through the 8-week course, usually in a group setting.
My advice would be to do some research before you sign up for a course. Check out the teacher's credentials. Maybe take a look at their website and read any testimonials. If in doubt, mention it on this forum and we'll see if we can point you in the direction of a recommended teacher in your area.
Maybe there are no mindfulness teachers available in your area. So you might want to consider doing a 1-2-1 online course via telephone or Skype.
If it's not feasible for you to sign up to a course right now (the 8-week group course usually cost something in the region of £150 for the full eight weeks), there's always the option of doing the course via a book. The one I would heartily recommend is Finding Peace In A Frantic World by Mark Williams & Danny Penman. It comes with a CD of guided meditations.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. We're always happy happy to help in whatever way we can at Everyday Mindfulness.
All best wishes,
Jon

[nilukag]

Hi Jon,
I have started working through the 'waking up to the autopilot' chapter of Mindfulness: Finding Peace In A Frantic World since the start of the week. I am increasingly starting to notice the flitting nature of my mind and how I basically live in and through my thoughts. There's a significant disconnect from present 'reality'. I notice it most every time I bring my awareness back to my breathe/ present activities as I go through the day. I am also noticing that my activities and moods basically flit along with my random thought streams in a haphazard manner. As indicated in the book, I think I am doing a lot of things but I am realizing that I am just doing things 'as the wind blows'. There's limited productivity, direction and focus. I am actually finding this to be rather distressing and stressful - the realisation that I am actually 'all over the place'. I am uneasy about how 'out of control' I am. I know that this is not an exercise for increased control. It's like I notice certain mental (and hence physical) things, patterns and habits that are deemed undesirable. Aversion and the desire to fight/ eliminate this 'flitting' arises leading to stress and tiredness. How can I deal with this situation in a more skilful manner? Thank you for your kind assistance.

[JonW]

Hi nilukag,
A little discomfort is fairly common during the first weeks of the course as we begin to notice our habitual patterns. Remind yourself that it's early days and try sticking with the practice, daily if possible. Thoughts around the practice are just that: thoughts. There is just practice. Notice the story around it when it starts to unfold.
If any further questions arise, don't hesitate to raise them on this forum. We'll do our best to answer them.
All best,
Jon

[nilukag]

Thanks a lot for your kind advice. Yes, it is helpful to note them as just thoughts instead of engaging and analysing i have been practicing daily so far and hope to maintain it.

[JonW]

Hi nilukag,
As Jon Kabat-Zinn says, "Mindfulness is simple but it's not easy."
The challenging part of it is maintaining practice.
I've been practicing for two and a half years now. Still a beginner. I practice every day. I've found it to be transformative. I can barely recognise the perpetually anxious person I used to be.
Do update us on your practice and feel free to join in any of the conversational threads here on the forum. Or check out the main site which contains loads of helpful, interesting stuff - blogs, interviews etc.
All good things,
Jon, Hove

[SageMindfulness2015]

One of the things I have learned over 5 plus years of near daily practice is that there will be times when it feels like mindfulness is not 'working' or that you are even backsliding. There can be times when you feel like chucking in the towel ! I have a had a few of those moments for sure.

But the most important thing about those moments is that as long as a I didn't give up, as long as I was willing to reapply myself to the practice, then those moments of struggle actually lifted my practice to the next level.

It's hard to explain but if you go through those moments, then look back, it is the ability to be accepting, kind (even loving) to yourself in those moments, and placing faith in the practice and yourself, that leads to great things.