Begining again - and sustaining

[dysgwr]

Hi everyone,

My name is Terry, and this is my first post here.

I did the 8 week course (Mindful Way Workbook) about 5 years ago and found some tangible benefits. But with time and feeling much better I relapsed into old patterns.

I've found that I only thought about mindfullness when I needed it most. When I felt good I completely forgot

So, I'm now going through the course again, currently in week 3, and was wondering how you manage to sustain the practice (and what practices you generally use) after finishing the course...

Any ideas gratefully received...

[JonW]

Hi dysgwr,
Excellent question.
For my own part, I managed (and continue to manage) to maintain practice is a number of ways. I vary practice - between sitting meditations, body scans, mindful walking etc. I read around the subject to keep me engaged. I meditate with others. The 'trick' is to fold it into your life, rather than approach it as something you do for twenty minutes a day. After a while, it becomes clear that the formal meditations are the practice and the rest of the day is the meditation.
It's important to ground yourself in practice during a course but just as important to keep grounding yourself, keep connecting with it in new ways.
Stick around and let us know how you get along.
Cheers,
Jon

[dysgwr]

Thanks for the info Jon. I'm sure what you say makes sense. I'd like to start cultivating that attitude while I go through the course, to lay the foundations.

I like your idea of switching between the meditations, that way there is no boredom, and the feeling of it becoming just routine.

The course will provide the structure for the formal practice, and the other things (bringing mindfulness to routine activities) will help fold it into my life, I hope.

Could you recommend some reading materials for a beginner? I'm an avid reader so no problem there, and it would be another nice way, like you say, to keep it present.

Thanks again!

[Matt Y]

Hi dysgwr,

Here's a link to my top five books on meditation and mindfulness:
https://melbournemeditationcentre.com.a ... ndfulness/

[dysgwr]

Many thanks, Matt. I'll have a look at those books you recommend

[JonW]

Hi dysgwr,
Matt's list is an excellent one.
My own recommendations would be:
Jon Kabat-Zinn: Full Catastrophe Living
Jon Kabat-Zinn: Wherever You Go, There You Are
Jon Kabat-Zinn: Coming To Our Senses
Susan Murphy: Upside Down Zen
Ed Halliwell: Into The Heart Of Mindfulness
Danny Penman: Mindfulness For Creativity
Christina Feldman: Boundless Heart
Cheers,
Jon

[dysgwr]

Thanks, guys. That should keep me going for a while

[Walter]

Hi everyone,

I believe I have a problem similar to that described by Terry. I did the 8 weeks course from Mark Williams (Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan). Actually, I did it twice, one in 2014 and another in early 2018. In both times I gave up in week 5... it's really hard for me. It's the one about exploring the difficulties. Now I'm determined to start again and this time finish all the content. Anyone would have any tips on this part of week 5.
Thank you!
Walter

[JonW]

Hi Walter,
Welcome to the forum.
What is it that you find particularly difficult about week five?
All best,
Jon

[Walter]

Hi Jon,

Thank you!!

As this week five asks to focus on times of difficulties and feel the influence on the body exploration, it's very difficult to keep the attention to the practice, because they are thoughts that bring you back into routine. So I end up stopping to deal with my everyday tasks.

My difficulty is in being able to finish the daily session.

Best,
Walter