Everyday Mindfulness

Hi there. I've been meditating for around 5 months now but still really struggling at times. I seem to be able to focus a lot better on letting the breath be etc when im laying down but then often fall asleep. I thought I was having a real focus today on my breath but then hyperventilated which has ...

... it's just the frustration when I can't redevelop back focus to an anchor, but I guess that comes with practise! I don't think good focus necessarily comes with practice. I believe it depends on how you relate to your thoughts. What I'm hearing from your comments is that you have quite a strong ...

Ha thank you! I probably spoke a little too soon. Ha, can't say I'm surprised! The mind has its own weather systems — and we often don't have a way of accurately forecasting what its going to be like! On the other hand, I'm sure the experience of having things a little quieter was welcome — and wit...

I couldn't possibly better Matt's advice. I've never been a fan of labelling thoughts myself. I find that, if I label a thought such as "sad thought" or "angry thought", I'm more likely to be drawn into the content of the thought. Cheers, Jon Just generally label them thoughts t...

There are pros and cons to any meditation technique, including labeling thoughts. From your comments above though, it sounds like you are doing just fine. Remember, there's no need to completely refrain from thinking. Thinking comes along in many varieties. Some thinking can be very helpful. Other ...

Hi there. Welcome to the forum. Great choice of book. That's the one that got me and many other members of this forum started. I would carry on if I was you, rather than go back to the start snakes & ladders style. It might also help if you check out the thread we've devoted to the Frantic Worl...

So i've got another question. In some of the meditations and throughout the book it says to label thoughts i.e saying 'thoughts, thoughts' or 'negative thoughts' etc. Say for example a negative thought pops into my head, isn't the then labelling it negative thoughts conversing with it a bit? Or is i...

Glad to hear that you've found some of the suggestions helpful Ste. Regarding breathing. There are many approaches. With mindfulness, you are generally instructed not to control the breath. This however is almost impossible. As soon as you bring your attention to the breath, you tend to change it i...

Finding it a pity that I didn't find this forum before strting my meditation practises. Actually, struggling on your own for a while may not be a bad thing. It allows you to make the mistakes necessary to learn what doesn't work! (And also allows you to empathise with other meditators going through...

I'm finding week 6 (sorry, I couldn't see a week 6 slot) really quite interesting and I'm feeling changes happen. I'm actually starting to realise just how much I've judged myself and been quite unkind to myself. I have always found it easier to forgive and be kind to others than myself! What an ey...