lost my way a bit

[FeeHutch]

Well on the basis of tonights meditation I haven't learnt to let go entirely!
I suppose the most succinct if slightly cliched way of explaining is I have felt the fear and done it anyway. I have tested it out. I have sat for 20 minutes even if I spend the whole 20 minutes feeling like thought after thought is trying to pull me in to the past or future and the world hasn't ended because I spent those 20 minutes just trying to be mindful. Does that make sense?

I think it does get easier with regular practice, easier to show myself compassion and not strive for an ideal of what mindful meditation should be accepting each moment as it is.

[liza118]

Yes, I really understand that - and I admire that attitude. I have had a bit more success today myself, as I began to notice when I was cooking (of all times!) how often I am not aware of my own body and existance, how I seem to latch onto every thought that comes my way. Learning not to leap onto the bandwagon every time you think something is part of the letting go process, and that awareness helped me in my meditation tonight as I found myself more able to watch thoughts rather than grasp them and overthink. I guess we all have up and down days too!

[Everhere]

I am new to the practice of mindfulness but have found Thich Naht Hahn's book Peace is Every Step extremely helpful. For the first time, it made mindfulness simple, real and not just doable in daily experiences but really helpful in either making me more resilient to the tougher events in a day, or giving me the tools to be calm during those events - the events still happen of course but I am more calm in dealing with the bigger stuff at work and home. The book also taught me how to appreciate and enjoy time and even chores! My concept of time changed - I realised 'why am I rushing?' And now I enjoy the journey so much more.

The book explains how to be mindful in daily tasks and for me, makes it so much more helpful than a 'time for meditation' approach. In fact he mentions in it, the experience of some who do lenghty meditations but are not mindful for much of it. Instead, he advocates an approach of being mindful while we wash dishes, clean, walk, eat etc and for me, it has really helped me change my thinking through very simple concepts and practice.


I have to say I have also resisted the temptation to read lots of books on mindfulness as it seemed to me to be counter to the concept of simplicity. I think I got lucky that I read this book early on my journey and compared to the few other books I'd read, this one really worked for me by keeping it simple and doable every day.

This is my first post but I took the plunge because I wanted to share my experience in case it might help someone else.

[FeeHutch]

Welcome to the community Everhere. I love your name
Thank you for sharing your experience so far and I look forward to getting to know you better.
Fee