Hitting a brick wall

[IanR]

Hi everyone,

I have posted here a while ago but only once i think.

I have been meditating on and off for about three years and found it really helpful and when implemented on a daily basis have found a calmness to life. For some reason I have dipped in and out of meditating because of various issues, mainly time. However I started again about three months ago and apart from a couple of occasions have not been able to quieten the mind and I am meditating every day for at least one hour. Due to various elements of my current life I am feeling quite anxious every day and this was one of the reasons i picked it back up. I can feel relaxed but not able to get to the state of no thoughts, unless I want to look at thoughts. I have used the body scan before but I don't really like doing it but even while attempting to do that I will have random thoughts appear. These thoughts could be anything and not particularly related to what is going on in my life, in fact I don't recall any thoughts that relate to my issues coming up while meditating. I am left wondering whether I should bring these thoughts to my awareness while focussing on the breath. I wondered if you guys had any ideas? Thanks in advance for any input given.

[JonW]

Hi IanR,
Welcome back.
It would be useful to get some info about how you have gone about grounding yourself in mindfulness. Did you do the 8-week course in a group or did you follow a book?
Also, there's one thing I wanted to pick up in from your post. You refer to a state of "no thoughts". What do you mean by that exactly? It doesn't sound like it has anything to do with mindfulness which isn't about stopping thoughts at all.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
All best,
Jon

[Happyogababe]

Hi

I began mindfulness some years ago and at that time I didn't really understand or 'click'. I became too unwell to practice. Recently, I've made an effort to begin again and it's obvious that I've now 'got it'.

I didn't like Body Scan the first time around but this time I've listened to John Kabat Zinn's guided scan (and Mark Williams shorter one) and it is something that I really look forward to. I find that the body scan helps to ground and anchor my mind much better and the structure is always there to come back to. Thoughts come to tempt, but I've accepted that and understand that the important thing is that I am aware of them. If I catch myself lingering too long with a thought I am kind with myself and gently guide my awareness back to the breath and body scan.

I have found that if I acknowledge the thought (I even name it, if it's a strong one) it dissolves, it just goes.

Thoughts will always be around but I've noticed that I'm aware of them sooner and there are fewer for the most part. Obviously difficult times produce persistent thoughts and that can be more challenging, I've noticed an improvement in how I react to them, I mostly acknowledge them, name them and let them go.

Something I've found very helpful is to have lots of times during the day when I check in on myself for at least a minute. I sigh three times and do a quick body scan, or focus on sound or something visual. It stops me thinking and calms body and mind, tension drops away.

[JonW]

"Thoughts come to tempt, but I've accepted that and understand that the important thing is that I am aware of them. If I catch myself lingering too long with a thought I am kind with myself and gently guide my awareness back to the breath and body scan."

Mindfulness in motion. Beautifully put.
Jon

[Happyogababe]

"Thoughts come to tempt, but I've accepted that and understand that the important thing is that I am aware of them. If I catch myself lingering too long with a thought I am kind with myself and gently guide my awareness back to the breath and body scan."

Mindfulness in motion. Beautifully put.
Jon

thanks