New lad in town

[MrMojito]

Hi all, my name is Neil and I stumbled across this site whilst looking for the next steps after the Fantic Mind book by Williams. The book itself was recommended to me by a friend to help combat the anxiety and depression I was diagnosed as suffering from. Having tried CBT and hypnotherapy etc and not getting very far, I was looking to try ANYTHING else.

My world has slowly become a cynical, sarcastic view of what uses to be "alright". My work has caused the majority of this and I am utterly burnt out so am quite pleased to have found something that is at least providing a bit of a shift in perspective.

Now, I know it's not going to be an overnight success and I have a long way to go (not only in the depression stakes but also for the 8 week program as I'm only 4.5 weeks through it!), but I am already, slowly, switching on to the ideas set out in the book.

I guess I have started to wonder what happens next once I get to week 9 (and have since learnt about "week 9"!) as I don't feel as well "connected" as I did in the first couple of weeks.

Has anyone else felt like this and how did they overcome it?

Thanks

Neil

[JonW]

Hello Neil.
Welcome to the forum. Please feel free to make yourself at home.
In my own case, that "bit of a shift in perspective" proved crucial. Just glimpsing the possibility that life didn't have to be like "this" (anxious, always churning over the past, ever anxious about the future, never appreciating the moment, stuck in a loop) was enough to be going on with.
As you probably have noted, week nine is the rest of your life.
This is where this forum comes into its own. We've all had different experiences of mindfulness and we've all moved at different paces. But we're a friendly bunch and you'll always find someone happy and willing to reply to any questions. So do stick with us. Have a roam around the site and take it all in.
In the meantime, just practice. That's the best advice anyone can give you. Daily practice is key. That sense of "connection" might waver a little in the first few weeks. Gradually it all settles in. At least in my experience.
Stick around. Let us know how you're getting on.
Good to know you.
All best wishes, Jon

[MrMojito]

Thanks Jon, will have a look round. Am a bit over-awed by how many similarities I can draw from others' experiences.

Neil

[JonW]

Likewise.
It's both startling and comforting to know that you're not the only one whose brain is spinning around like a catherine wheel etc.
Jon Kabat-Zinn talks about mindfulness in terms of courage and I believe he's right. In taking up the practice, maybe we're saying that we're through with keeping up the pretence of who we are meant to be and turning our attention to what we really are, moment by moment.
I took up mindfulness mid-December 2012. It's been life-changing. And there's nothing to believe. Nothing to join. All follows from practice, daily practice.
There's a magic to it and yet nothing could be more normal.
Just this.

[FeeHutch]

Hello Neil and welcome to our community

I have had times where I have struggled to feel as connected to my practice and others where I have felt so connected as to be almost euphoric. Moving away from a course and finding my own way was both exciting and intimidating.

I read once that the only bad meditation is the one you didn't do. Now I have moved away from the idea of labeling things good or bad but find the idea that I have never regretted meditating a useful and truthful mantra for me.

[BioSattva]

I don't feel as well "connected" as I did in the first couple of weeks.

Hi Neil.

This is normal - it's like going up into the attic after many years - at first it can be novel and interesting to see some of that old stuff - reconnect with it, but then if one wants to linger there longer, the task of dusting off and throwing out mouldy stuff, and some of the less wholesome memories certain items hold, can be a bit of a drudge.

As Jon Kabat-Zinn says "You don't have to like it, you just have to do it". I have to remind myself of this when my practice turns less enjoyable, and I have always, without fail, been so glad that I did the amount that I did. I also find myself in certain situations wishing that I had done more practice - but then that becomes food for motivation for the future.

One cannot exist in a territory without improving one's understanding and knowledge of it - it's automatic. Since the territory is one's mind/heart, then by simply practising noticing what happens, one discovers and understands oneself that much better and one doesn't trip up or trap oneself as much.

As others have said - daily practice in whatever amount one wishes tends to be the key.

Nice to 'meet' you

Bio.

[Gareth]

Great to meet you MrMojito!

Daily practice is what made me choose the name that I did for the site. It was critical to me in the beginning. Funnily enough, I don't think it as critical for me this far into my practice. You see my informal stuff is infinitely better these days. Playing with my son is as good as a meditation, and I do an awful lot of that. It is very rare that I miss a day (why would you?), but if I do, I don't really notice any difference.