Hello, everyone! New practitioner here.

[Ich]

Although I have known about the word 'meditation' for years now, I never really knew what it was about. I used to think it meant to stop thinking. Thanks to Sam Harris - an atheist Neuroscientist who has spent a lot of time researching and practicing mindful meditation -, I've finally learned what meditation actually entails. Instead of trying to turn off all your thoughts, one is supposed to be aware of them as they arise in consciousness and let them pass.

I have a few questions, though. I consider myself a visual learner, which means I imagine a lot of "pictures" or "short clips" in my head as I think about things. When I try to focus on a certain part of my body or my breath, my mind always creates an image of the thing I am trying to be aware of. For example, when I am trying to "cover my breath with my awareness", as Sam Harris puts it in his meditation guide, I either imagine air going through my nose or my belly rising and falling. I get the feeling that instead of actually feeling and being aware of my breath, I am rather just imagining what it's like to do it. Will these images get less frequent and my ability to be aware better with time or is it something I am doing wrong?

So far I have been able to stay calm during meditation; let any thought come and go and return to the breath when I get lost in thought. Moreover, when I find myself engulfed by thoughts of stress or work, when I get anxious, I immediately realize that there is no need for me to be anxious and I start noticing my thoughts and slowly calm down. It's really as if I've just woken up from a coma.

Lastly, meditation has also helped me get over my suicidal thoughts. It's great. Everyone should give mindfulness a try.

[Peter]

Hi Ich,

Welcome to the site!

I think you're getting the hang of it!

In the beginning I also visualized a lot. I think you are right; it can distract from noticing what is really going on. In my case it went away, because I just kept focusing on what was actually there. I now visualize sometimes on purpose, because it can also be a tool!

Peter

[JonW]

"It's really as if I've just woken up from a coma."

Sounds like you've hit the ground running.
Welcome to the forum.
We're here to help and support so please don't hesitate to ask any questions or join in any of the numerous threads we have running.
I wouldn't worry about the images thing right now or concern yourself with whether you're meditating right or wrong. Just keep practicing and get a grounding. The rest will surely follow.
A good thing to bear in mind is that we're not looking for anything special to happen on the cushion/chair/bench. Nor are we looking to reach a particular state in meditation. We're just learning to be with what is, the thoughts and feelings that have already arrived.
I look forward to getting to know you here on the site.
All good things,
Jon

[FeeHutch]

Hi welcome to our community