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Post here if you are just starting out with your mindfulness practice. Mindfulness is a really difficult concept to get your head around at first, and it might be that you would benefit from some help from others.
Jenna
Posts: 74

Fri May 10, 2013 9:01 am  

Hi All

Hope you are well. I am just writing this to ask for some advice. I have been doing meditation for a while now and although it helps make me calmer at the time and maybe for an hour afterwards.

However, I am concerned as mindfulness is not helping me to spot my 'spiral' thinking until after it happens and it happens again and again. I am not able to stop it when it happens because I don't realise this is what is happening at the times.

I just can't get to grips with it
Please join me on my journey which can be found at http://calmermindfulme.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... urney.html

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BioSattva
Posts: 324
Location: Beijing, China

Fri May 10, 2013 9:44 am  

Hi Jenna,

It can take time - I also have days when I feel like my mindfulness practice 'hasn't been working'. There will always be moments when we don't remember to be mindful.

It would be easier for people to respond if you have a specific question, I think.
"Compassion – particularly for yourself – is of overwhelming importance." - Mark Williams, Mindfulness (2011), p117.
"...allow yourself to smile inwardly." - Jon Kabat-Zinn, Full Catastrophe Living (2005), p436.
Weekly Blog: http://mindfuldiscipline.blogspot.co.uk

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Cheesus
Posts: 158
Location: Leeds, UK

Fri May 10, 2013 9:47 am  

Hi Jenna

How long have you been practicing? I know they say 8 weeks is the benchmark to really get you moving forwards, but I think with the likes of you and I it can take a lot more work to really address our mental gremlins. It's a practice in patience and perseverance.

Have you considered getting some professional help? I am currently on the waiting list to see a psychotherapist who bases his practice in mindfulness. I am hoping this will give me a real boost in my practice and an ability to overcome some niggling dregs left over from years of severe anxiety. Perhaps a local MBCT group could help as well if one-to-one guidance is not what you want to do, accessible or affordable.

Also, I'm not sure the extent to which this will be adopted on this forum, but have you ever tried a compassion/metta meditation? This can be a great addition to mindfulness as it will assist you to treat yourself with compassion as well as with acceptance.

Cheesus
God himself culminates in the present moment, and will never be more divine in the lapse of all the ages - Henry David Thoreau, Walden: or, Life in the Woods

Jenna
Posts: 74

Fri May 10, 2013 10:37 am  

Cheesus

Yes I have tried both routes. The first doesnt work and the compassion meditation I can not handle.

I have been practicing for over 8 weeks.
Please join me on my journey which can be found at http://calmermindfulme.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... urney.html

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Gareth
Site Admin
Posts: 1465

Fri May 10, 2013 10:59 am  

This all depends on the mind that is entering this process to begin with of course. Some people are more naturally mindful than others. All I would say is that I think that you are doing well, based upon the way that your posts have been going since you started posting here.

You must remember that mindfulness is not a cure; it will probably never stop negative thoughts if you are that way inclined. It should make you better at noticing these negative thoughts and help you to distance yourself from them. Mindfulness should help you.

Can we post this topic on Twitter? I really want to help you.

Jenna
Posts: 74

Fri May 10, 2013 11:00 am  

Gareth

Happy for it to be posted but it must be posted annonymously
Please join me on my journey which can be found at http://calmermindfulme.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... urney.html

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FeeHutch
Posts: 1010
Practice Mindfulness Since: 01 Mar 2012
Location: Steel City
Contact:

Fri May 10, 2013 2:39 pm  

I found following the 8 week program helped me build my practice slowly but surely. I took time to adjust to reach step of the way and found compassion a very difficult thing to extend to myself. But feeling I was working within some structure but not one so strict it felt oppressive really helped. Is it worth starting an 8 week program again? I'm planning to restart 'Finding Peace In A Frantic World' again and if it would help we could start a thread, like we've done with How To Train An Elephant and post there about how we get on. Anyone else would be very welcome to join us too?
“Being mindful means that we take in the present moment as it is rather than as we would like it to be.”
Mark Williams

http://adlibbed.blogspot.co.uk/p/mindfulness-me-enjoy-silence.html
Find me on twitter - @feehutch

Jenna
Posts: 74

Fri May 10, 2013 2:43 pm  

Fee

I can't commit to an 8 week programme


Am thinking maybe meditation isn't right for me at this time.
Please join me on my journey which can be found at http://calmermindfulme.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... urney.html

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FeeHutch
Posts: 1010
Practice Mindfulness Since: 01 Mar 2012
Location: Steel City
Contact:

Fri May 10, 2013 2:54 pm  

Well, that's a choice only you can make. I will still start the thread, hopefully in the next few days and you'll always be more than welcome to join in.
“Being mindful means that we take in the present moment as it is rather than as we would like it to be.”
Mark Williams

http://adlibbed.blogspot.co.uk/p/mindfulness-me-enjoy-silence.html
Find me on twitter - @feehutch

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Cheesus
Posts: 158
Location: Leeds, UK

Fri May 10, 2013 4:37 pm  

FeeHutch wrote:I found following the 8 week program helped me build my practice slowly but surely. I took time to adjust to reach step of the way and found compassion a very difficult thing to extend to myself. But feeling I was working within some structure but not one so strict it felt oppressive really helped. Is it worth starting an 8 week program again? I'm planning to restart 'Finding Peace In A Frantic World' again and if it would help we could start a thread, like we've done with How To Train An Elephant and post there about how we get on. Anyone else would be very welcome to join us too?


Fee I would love to join in! I was just getting ready to start the programme over the next few days :)
God himself culminates in the present moment, and will never be more divine in the lapse of all the ages - Henry David Thoreau, Walden: or, Life in the Woods

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