Hello Everyone

[josephsullens]

Hello everyone, first post here and really just hoping I get welcomed into the community so I can learn more. Let me please share my mindfulness story with you so far.

I have been practising mindfulness on and off through headspace and a few other apps on and off for just over a year. I began last year when I was going through a phase of anxiety and I read up about it. During this time I was planning to leave the UK to go teach in Thailand (here now) which is probably what my anxieties were over. Anyway during this time I practised mindfulness the most and many deep breathing techniques but never got much from it because I was always looking for a result and I now know this was the wrong approach.

I am now happily living in Thailand and have began to practice mindfulness again and here's my "break through moment". Near my condo a market has opened up playing terribly loud and disturbing rock music till 2am, it was stressing me out, causing me to obsess over it and was causing me genuine stress. One night I shouted in anger and my girlfriend told me to "calm down and meditate", so I was left with a decision go and enjoy a beer to de-stress or meditate. I chose to meditate and then all of a sudden I got it! I was at total peace with the sound and it even helped me sleep. Something finally clicked in my brain; the stress and anger were just passing thoughts that I chose to act on when instead I can just sit and observe them thoughts and let them go by! It was an amazing feeling after one year to understand that we don't have to act on all our thoughts or emotions we can simply let them go by without judging them! Oh and guess what I was so clear headed with this feeling that I didn't even want to drink a beer after because I didn't want to cloud my clear head.

Anyway I still struggle with some mindfulness such as being "present" and "aware" but I wanted to share my journey so far with everyone.

Sorry for the long message of nonsense!

[JonW]

Hi Joseph,
Welcome to the forum.
I enjoyed your first post very much and I look forward to getting to know you here on the forum.
All best wishes,
Jon

[monkey]

Hello! I also really liked your post. It is strange how it works, isn't it - things just shift and you understand the thing you've been reading about at a full, experiential level. Good to hear your experiences!

[Matt Y]

That's wonderful to hear Joseph. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Gareth]

Great post!

One little shift is all it takes. It still blows me away how something so bewitchingly simple can be so life-changing.

Write us a blog!

[heroguy82]

Wow! Very interesting post!

I am also new to mindfulness and am very eager to starting meeting everyone! I am very excited to see what is in store here!

[JonW]

Hi heroguy82,
Welcome to the forum. Please feel free to make yourself at home here and to ask any questions that arise.
All good things,
Jon