Guest guest Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 With me, it's "feeling buying". I wake up in the morning with the feeling of fear in my gut and it stays with me all day long. It's really difficult for me to accept that. I know it's possible but I can't help feeling that this isn't fair, this isn't right, and it shouldn't be happening to me. It's also hard to feel that I can get better.The good thing is that I feel better in the evening. Weekes talks about this in her book so I'm glad I'm not alone in this.Anyway, I'd be interested in hearing from people for whom the feeling comes first, before the thoughts.Thanks,Bruce> >> > Hi, all,> > > > Today was a challenging day, after a run of some comfortable and> enjoyable ones. I live in Minnesota, where we've been having some very> lovely weather. Today was sunny and very, very warm. People were> outside in shorts! > > > > I opened all my windows to get perhaps a final airing-out before> full-bore winter. For awhile that was splendid. Then my mind connected> the nice weather with that it was summer again. I struggle with> summer. I find it lonely. I also had my hospital run in summer 2006. I> began to have some hospital flashbacks and feelings of being trapped. > > > > I kept working to be soft and compassionate toward myself. I kept> telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble> or in danger. I watched thoughts and feelings ebb and flow. I saw> anger and fear; I saw projections in to the future; I saw myself not> wanting to be here (alive) anymore. It was not a very comfortable> afternoon. > > > > I'm grateful I have the ACT tools in written and CD format, a> therapist helping me with them, and this list. > > > > Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. A big deal! I actually voted on> Friday. Get out and vote, friends, especially if being an informed and> engaged citizen is one of your values.> > > > Laurel> > > > > >>Christie,I hope I am responding correctly and if I am off base or repeatingsomeone else, I'm sorry. I saw some talk about mindfulness andacceptance in the group and just wanted to add that "keeping" thoughtsand feelings in mind while meditating is not necessarily thehealthiest but instead "noticing" and/or "simply acknowledging" andreturning back to the breath or whatever practice you are doing. Manymeditation instructors recommend silently using one word for thoughts,songs, images, feelings etc., and that is "thinking" inside your headand returning to the present. Thoughts come (from where we do notknow) and thoughts go (to where we do not know). What we do know isthat none of them, even the wonderful ones, ever stay for long unlesswe give them excessive attention. I have a great meditation teacherwho told me that while practicing, when she has habitual thoughtsenter her mind she often uses a relaxed and lighthearted approach,something like "Oh you're here again; well, you know my mind very wellso relax make yourself some tea or whatever you'd like and now I'll begoing back to my meditation practice". I always liked that! I hope Ioffered something.Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Hi, all, Today was a challenging day, after a run of some comfortable and enjoyable ones. I live in Minnesota, where we've been having some very lovely weather. Today was sunny and very, very warm. People were outside in shorts! I opened all my windows to get perhaps a final airing-out before full-bore winter. For awhile that was splendid. Then my mind connected the nice weather with that it was summer again. I struggle with summer. I find it lonely. I also had my hospital run in summer 2006. I began to have some hospital flashbacks and feelings of being trapped. I kept working to be soft and compassionate toward myself. I kept telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble or in danger. I watched thoughts and feelings ebb and flow. I saw anger and fear; I saw projections in to the future; I saw myself not wanting to be here (alive) anymore. It was not a very comfortable afternoon. I'm grateful I have the ACT tools in written and CD format, a therapist helping me with them, and this list. Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. A big deal! I actually voted on Friday. Get out and vote, friends, especially if being an informed and engaged citizen is one of your values. Laurel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 >I kept telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble or in danger. Hi Laurel, I'm wondering if you should be evaluating and judging your thoughts like that. Perhaps you were acknowledging that your thoughts were not a true representation of reality when you say they were "wrong?" I guess that is a subtle distinction, but maybe an important one. Words can trip us up sometimes. Maybe it would be better to just notice them and not engage in a dialogue with yourself about them. Just notice them, say hello to them, then back to the present moment. Then if you find yourself labeling the thoughts as wrong or not true, notice that as well, let that thought go, too, and get back to what you were doing. Does that make sense to you? I'm learning here too, which is why I pose the question. Best, Helena Thought buying, again Hi, all, Today was a challenging day, after a run of some comfortable and enjoyable ones. I live in Minnesota, where we've been having some very lovely weather. Today was sunny and very, very warm. People were outside in shorts! I opened all my windows to get perhaps a final airing-out before full-bore winter. For awhile that was splendid. Then my mind connected the nice weather with that it was summer again. I struggle with summer. I find it lonely. I also had my hospital run in summer 2006. I began to have some hospital flashbacks and feelings of being trapped. I kept working to be soft and compassionate toward myself. I kept telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble or in danger. I watched thoughts and feelings ebb and flow. I saw anger and fear; I saw projections in to the future; I saw myself not wanting to be here (alive) anymore. It was not a very comfortable afternoon. I'm grateful I have the ACT tools in written and CD format, a therapist helping me with them, and this list. Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. A big deal! I actually voted on Friday. Get out and vote, friends, especially if being an informed and engaged citizen is one of your values. Laurel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 That is a good distinction, Helena, and I thank you for making it. I'm continually reminded by my therapist and others of my judgmental stance toward myself and my experiences. I was yesterday trying to tell my thoughts that they were "inaccurate," not a true description of reality. However, I was thinking and feeling certain things and obviously judging the experience as "not okay" without bringing my awareness to the experience of "seeing that I was seeing something" and accepting that. Tricky, tricky, these minds of ours. :-) Laurel Subject: Re: Thought buying, againTo: ACT_for_the_Public Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 5:21 AM >I kept telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble or in danger. Hi Laurel, I'm wondering if you should be evaluating and judging your thoughts like that. Perhaps you were acknowledging that your thoughts were not a true representation of reality when you say they were "wrong?" I guess that is a subtle distinction, but maybe an important one. Words can trip us up sometimes. Maybe it would be better to just notice them and not engage in a dialogue with yourself about them. Just notice them, say hello to them, then back to the present moment. Then if you find yourself labeling the thoughts as wrong or not true, notice that as well, let that thought go, too, and get back to what you were doing. Does that make sense to you? I'm learning here too, which is why I pose the question. Best, Helena [ACT_for_the_ Public] Thought buying, again Hi, all, Today was a challenging day, after a run of some comfortable and enjoyable ones. I live in Minnesota, where we've been having some very lovely weather. Today was sunny and very, very warm. People were outside in shorts! I opened all my windows to get perhaps a final airing-out before full-bore winter. For awhile that was splendid. Then my mind connected the nice weather with that it was summer again. I struggle with summer. I find it lonely. I also had my hospital run in summer 2006. I began to have some hospital flashbacks and feelings of being trapped. I kept working to be soft and compassionate toward myself. I kept telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble or in danger. I watched thoughts and feelings ebb and flow. I saw anger and fear; I saw projections in to the future; I saw myself not wanting to be here (alive) anymore. It was not a very comfortable afternoon. I'm grateful I have the ACT tools in written and CD format, a therapist helping me with them, and this list. Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. A big deal! I actually voted on Friday. Get out and vote, friends, especially if being an informed and engaged citizen is one of your values. Laurel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 I try to let go of wanting to feel good. It's easier then. Joy, pain, fear, sadness - it's all part of the human expirience. Everybody has these emotions. Our body/mind try to keep us alive (evolution made us this way), so sometimes feelings concerned with that (staying alive), fills our awareness. Even though we are not in danger. We can't change that, so why fight it? I try to see all my emotions as gifts - as expiriences. If I really focus on the expirience - how the feeling really " feels " . Being present. Like I would have enjoyed getting caught in the rain instead strugling against the rain drops, instead expiriencing it. Then all I have to do (everyday) is to be aware - only be aware - and notice whats really going on. I don't have to try to feel anything, I can't control it anyway. But I can be aware and be gentle / compassionate about feelings and expiriences. This is what ACT gives me - but sometimes I forget it. > > Hi, all, > > Today was a challenging day, after a run of some comfortable and enjoyable ones. I live in Minnesota, where we've been having some very lovely weather. Today was sunny and very, very warm. People were outside in shorts! > > I opened all my windows to get perhaps a final airing-out before full-bore winter. For awhile that was splendid. Then my mind connected the nice weather with that it was summer again. I struggle with summer. I find it lonely. I also had my hospital run in summer 2006. I began to have some hospital flashbacks and feelings of being trapped. > > I kept working to be soft and compassionate toward myself. I kept telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble or in danger. I watched thoughts and feelings ebb and flow. I saw anger and fear; I saw projections in to the future; I saw myself not wanting to be here (alive) anymore. It was not a very comfortable afternoon. > > I'm grateful I have the ACT tools in written and CD format, a therapist helping me with them, and this list. > > Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. A big deal! I actually voted on Friday. Get out and vote, friends, especially if being an informed and engaged citizen is one of your values. > > Laurel > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 I try to let go of wanting to feel good. It's easier then. Joy, pain, fear, sadness - it's all part of the human expirience. Everybody has these emotions. Our body/mind try to keep us alive (evolution made us this way), so sometimes feelings concerned with that (staying alive), fills our awareness. Even though we are not in danger. We can't change that, so why fight it? I try to see all my emotions as gifts - as expiriences. If I really focus on the expirience - how the feeling really " feels " . Being present. Like I would have enjoyed getting caught in the rain instead strugling against the rain drops, instead expiriencing it. Then all I have to do (everyday) is to be aware - only be aware - and notice whats really going on. I don't have to try to feel anything, I can't control it anyway. But I can be aware and be gentle / compassionate about feelings and expiriences. This is what ACT gives me - but sometimes I forget it. > > Hi, all, > > Today was a challenging day, after a run of some comfortable and enjoyable ones. I live in Minnesota, where we've been having some very lovely weather. Today was sunny and very, very warm. People were outside in shorts! > > I opened all my windows to get perhaps a final airing-out before full-bore winter. For awhile that was splendid. Then my mind connected the nice weather with that it was summer again. I struggle with summer. I find it lonely. I also had my hospital run in summer 2006. I began to have some hospital flashbacks and feelings of being trapped. > > I kept working to be soft and compassionate toward myself. I kept telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble or in danger. I watched thoughts and feelings ebb and flow. I saw anger and fear; I saw projections in to the future; I saw myself not wanting to be here (alive) anymore. It was not a very comfortable afternoon. > > I'm grateful I have the ACT tools in written and CD format, a therapist helping me with them, and this list. > > Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. A big deal! I actually voted on Friday. Get out and vote, friends, especially if being an informed and engaged citizen is one of your values. > > Laurel > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 It's the forgetting bit that I seem to give myself a hard time about Debbie > > > > Hi, all, > > > > Today was a challenging day, after a run of some comfortable and > enjoyable ones. I live in Minnesota, where we've been having some > very lovely weather. Today was sunny and very, very warm. People were > outside in shorts! > > > > I opened all my windows to get perhaps a final airing-out before > full-bore winter. For awhile that was splendid. Then my mind > connected the nice weather with that it was summer again. I struggle > with summer. I find it lonely. I also had my hospital run in summer > 2006. I began to have some hospital flashbacks and feelings of being > trapped. > > > > I kept working to be soft and compassionate toward myself. I kept > telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in > trouble or in danger. I watched thoughts and feelings ebb and flow. I > saw anger and fear; I saw projections in to the future; I saw myself > not wanting to be here (alive) anymore. It was not a very comfortable > afternoon. > > > > I'm grateful I have the ACT tools in written and CD format, a > therapist helping me with them, and this list. > > > > Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. A big deal! I actually voted > on Friday. Get out and vote, friends, especially if being an informed > and engaged citizen is one of your values. > > > > Laurel > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Hi Laurel, I've been thinking about your post here and wondering if in fact what you were mentally doing is what you needed to be doing. I'm a bit stymied by this idea in ACT, that we not avoid the difficult feelings, that we continue on with our day doing what we value despite these feelings. Yet there seems to be an unspoken hope that by not burying these feelings, we will feel better. There is also what I find a really difficult concept and that is, I cannot keep a difficult emotion/problem/feeling in my head while I am meditating/breathing. It just seems my mind is not able to hold two thoughts in *mind* at the same time so once the word 'breathe' comes up, the upsetting image is temporarily superseded. Any help on these would be appreciated. Sending you a wish for a really good day! :-) Christie > > Hi, all, > > Today was a challenging day, after a run of some comfortable and enjoyable ones. I live in Minnesota, where we've been having some very lovely weather. Today was sunny and very, very warm. People were outside in shorts! > > I opened all my windows to get perhaps a final airing-out before full-bore winter. For awhile that was splendid. Then my mind connected the nice weather with that it was summer again. I struggle with summer. I find it lonely. I also had my hospital run in summer 2006. I began to have some hospital flashbacks and feelings of being trapped. > > I kept working to be soft and compassionate toward myself. I kept telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble or in danger. I watched thoughts and feelings ebb and flow. I saw anger and fear; I saw projections in to the future; I saw myself not wanting to be here (alive) anymore. It was not a very comfortable afternoon. > > I'm grateful I have the ACT tools in written and CD format, a therapist helping me with them, and this list. > > Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. A big deal! I actually voted on Friday. Get out and vote, friends, especially if being an informed and engaged citizen is one of your values. > > Laurel > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2008 Report Share Posted November 8, 2008 > > > > Hi, all, > > > > Today was a challenging day, after a run of some comfortable and > enjoyable ones. I live in Minnesota, where we've been having some very > lovely weather. Today was sunny and very, very warm. People were > outside in shorts! > > > > I opened all my windows to get perhaps a final airing-out before > full-bore winter. For awhile that was splendid. Then my mind connected > the nice weather with that it was summer again. I struggle with > summer. I find it lonely. I also had my hospital run in summer 2006. I > began to have some hospital flashbacks and feelings of being trapped. > > > > I kept working to be soft and compassionate toward myself. I kept > telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble > or in danger. I watched thoughts and feelings ebb and flow. I saw > anger and fear; I saw projections in to the future; I saw myself not > wanting to be here (alive) anymore. It was not a very comfortable > afternoon. > > > > I'm grateful I have the ACT tools in written and CD format, a > therapist helping me with them, and this list. > > > > Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. A big deal! I actually voted on > Friday. Get out and vote, friends, especially if being an informed and > engaged citizen is one of your values. > > > > Laurel > > > > > > > Christie, I hope I am responding correctly and if I am off base or repeating someone else, I'm sorry. I saw some talk about mindfulness and acceptance in the group and just wanted to add that " keeping " thoughts and feelings in mind while meditating is not necessarily the healthiest but instead " noticing " and/or " simply acknowledging " and returning back to the breath or whatever practice you are doing. Many meditation instructors recommend silently using one word for thoughts, songs, images, feelings etc., and that is " thinking " inside your head and returning to the present. Thoughts come (from where we do not know) and thoughts go (to where we do not know). What we do know is that none of them, even the wonderful ones, ever stay for long unless we give them excessive attention. I have a great meditation teacher who told me that while practicing, when she has habitual thoughts enter her mind she often uses a relaxed and lighthearted approach, something like " Oh you're here again; well, you know my mind very well so relax make yourself some tea or whatever you'd like and now I'll be going back to my meditation practice " . I always liked that! I hope I offered something. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2008 Report Share Posted November 8, 2008 Mark, thanks for your reply and it really is helpful. I like this idea of using the word 'thinking' when meditating and your explanation of thoughts coming and going. I guess my issues with distraction and avoidance have me wondering if I'm doing ACT properly. If I feel anxious and then then think 'there's that old Anxious again', the anxiety diminishes. This seems kind of weird to me and I'm wondering if this is merely distraction rather than acceptance. Probably not expressing this well but thanks for bearing with me. Christie > I hope I am responding correctly and if I am off base or repeating > someone else, I'm sorry. I saw some talk about mindfulness and > acceptance in the group and just wanted to add that " keeping " thoughts > and feelings in mind while meditating is not necessarily the > healthiest but instead " noticing " and/or " simply acknowledging " and > returning back to the breath or whatever practice you are doing. Many > meditation instructors recommend silently using one word for thoughts, > songs, images, feelings etc., and that is " thinking " inside your head > and returning to the present. Thoughts come (from where we do not > know) and thoughts go (to where we do not know). What we do know is > that none of them, even the wonderful ones, ever stay for long unless > we give them excessive attention. I have a great meditation teacher > who told me that while practicing, when she has habitual thoughts > enter her mind she often uses a relaxed and lighthearted approach, > something like " Oh you're here again; well, you know my mind very well > so relax make yourself some tea or whatever you'd like and now I'll be > going back to my meditation practice " . I always liked that! I hope I > offered something. > > Mark > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 Hi there, I found tying some of the ideas taught to me in learning how to meditate very helpful when living and ACT style life. I guess moreso the approach of just letting it happen, it's not bad if thoughts creep into meditation, you just realign and attempt to empty your mind again. For me this applies to ACT in the acceptance that these thoughts, anxious feelings, physical reactions and so on exist, they aren't bad, but the way you react to them can make you not do the things you'd like. Viewing it this way has helped me. I definitely had a freak out at one stage where it felt like all I was doing was dodging everything. Oh bad thought, just dodge it, bad feeling, just ignore it and so on. However once I decided to jump in, not judge myself when it doesn't work and just keep trying (like walking, talking, shooting the basketball etc) and learning along the way. My anxiety definitely stops me doing things I'd like to do some times, however some anxiety is useful and some is not. I think ACT is about delivering a more fulfilling life so personally I just judge things based on whether it's helping or not, or based in reality or not. You don't have to fuse with the thought to perhaps learn something from it. I think this answer is perhaps going off the beaten track, and these are just my thoughts and experiences. However I think if you are feeling anxiety and it isn't allowing you to do the activities that you enjoy, to reach goals that you value and so on then you are right to defuse from it. This will allow you to live a more fulfilled life. If the anxiety is that you haven't done the shopping for a while and you are going to starve, perhaps you can examine this feeling for what it is. I hope this helps. > > Mark, thanks for your reply and it really is helpful. I like this > idea of using the word 'thinking' when meditating and your explanation > of thoughts coming and going. > > I guess my issues with distraction and avoidance have me wondering if > I'm doing ACT properly. If I feel anxious and then then think > 'there's that old Anxious again', the anxiety diminishes. This seems > kind of weird to me and I'm wondering if this is merely distraction > rather than acceptance. Probably not expressing this well but thanks > for bearing with me. > > Christie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 Bruce--that is exactly what happens to me. The anxiety and fear come first thing in the morning without any thoughts that I am currently aware of. I also struggle with feeling like this is not fair and often wonder if I will ever get better. I do my best to be mindful and accepting of the feelings but they often become overwhelming and I end up fighting them. Thank you for your post. It is good to not feel so alone in this. Is there anyone one out there reading this post that has successfully delt with this issue. > >> > Hi, all,> > > > Today was a challenging day, after a run of some comfortable and> enjoyable ones. I live in Minnesota, where we've been having some very> lovely weather. Today was sunny and very, very warm. People were> outside in shorts! > > > > I opened all my windows to get perhaps a final airing-out before> full-bore winter. For awhile that was splendid. Then my mind connected> the nice weather with that it was summer again. I struggle with> summer. I find it lonely. I also had my hospital run in summer 2006. I> began to have some hospital flashbacks and feelings of being trapped. > > > > I kept working to be soft and compassionate toward myself. I kept> telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble> or in danger. I watched thoughts and feelings ebb and flow. I saw> anger and fear; I saw projections in to the future; I saw myself not> wanting to be here (alive) anymore. It was not a very comfortable> afternoon. > > > > I'm grateful I have the ACT tools in written and CD format, a> therapist helping me with them, and this list. > > > > Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. A big deal! I actually voted on> Friday. Get out and vote, friends, especially if being an informed and> engaged citizen is one of your values.> > > > Laurel> > > > > >>Christie,I hope I am responding correctly and if I am off base or repeatingsomeone else, I'm sorry. I saw some talk about mindfulness andacceptance in the group and just wanted to add that "keeping" thoughtsand feelings in mind while meditating is not necessarily thehealthiest but instead "noticing" and/or "simply acknowledging" andreturning back to the breath or whatever practice you are doing. Manymeditation instructors recommend silently using one word for thoughts,songs, images, feelings etc., and that is "thinking" inside your headand returning to the present. Thoughts come (from where we do notknow) and thoughts go (to where we do not know). What we do know isthat none of them, even the wonderful ones, ever stay for long unlesswe give them excessive attention. I have a great meditation teacherwho told me that while practicing, when she has habitual thoughtsenter her mind she often uses a relaxed and lighthearted approach,something like "Oh you're here again; well, you know my mind very wellso relax make yourself some tea or whatever you'd like and now I'll begoing back to my meditation practice". I always liked that! I hope Ioffered something.Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 : I do what Dr. Abraham Low calls "conscious attention". To find out more about this, read "Mental Health Through Will Training". It is simple. You just lie in bed. And whatever comes into your mind, you let go. It is hard for me because I want to stay up and GET OUT of the anxiety. But you just lie in bed the night before and do "conscious attention". Also, Weekes has helped me. She has a book and CD at Amazon.com. Four concepts. FACE (your anxiety) ACCEPT (the symptoms) FLOAT past the symptoms. And LET TIME PASS. Yours, Bill Re: Re: Thought buying, again Bruce--that is exactly what happens to me. The anxiety and fear come first thing in the morning without any thoughts that I am currently aware of. I also struggle with feeling like this is not fair and often wonder if I will ever get better. I do my best to be mindful and accepting of the feelings but they often become overwhelming and I end up fighting them. Thank you for your post. It is good to not feel so alone in this. Is there anyone one out there reading this post that has successfully delt with this issue. > > > > Hi, all, > > > > Today was a challenging day, after a run of some comfortable and > enjoyable ones. I live in Minnesota, where we've been having some very > lovely weather. Today was sunny and very, very warm. People were > outside in shorts! > > > > I opened all my windows to get perhaps a final airing-out before > full-bore winter. For awhile that was splendid. Then my mind connected > the nice weather with that it was summer again. I struggle with > summer. I find it lonely. I also had my hospital run in summer 2006. I > began to have some hospital flashbacks and feelings of being trapped. > > > > I kept working to be soft and compassionate toward myself. I kept > telling myself that the thoughts were wrong, that I was not in trouble > or in danger. I watched thoughts and feelings ebb and flow. I saw > anger and fear; I saw projections in to the future; I saw myself not > wanting to be here (alive) anymore. It was not a very comfortable > afternoon. > > > > I'm grateful I have the ACT tools in written and CD format, a > therapist helping me with them, and this list. > > > > Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. A big deal! I actually voted on > Friday. Get out and vote, friends, especially if being an informed and > engaged citizen is one of your values. > > > > Laurel > > > > > > > Christie, I hope I am responding correctly and if I am off base or repeating someone else, I'm sorry. I saw some talk about mindfulness and acceptance in the group and just wanted to add that "keeping" thoughts and feelings in mind while meditating is not necessarily the healthiest but instead "noticing" and/or "simply acknowledging" and returning back to the breath or whatever practice you are doing. Many meditation instructors recommend silently using one word for thoughts, songs, images, feelings etc., and that is "thinking" inside your head and returning to the present. Thoughts come (from where we do not know) and thoughts go (to where we do not know). What we do know is that none of them, even the wonderful ones, ever stay for long unless we give them excessive attention. I have a great meditation teacher who told me that while practicing, when she has habitual thoughts enter her mind she often uses a relaxed and lighthearted approach, something like "Oh you're here again; well, you know my mind very well so relax make yourself some tea or whatever you'd like and now I'll be going back to my meditation practice". I always liked that! I hope I offered something. Mark Instant access to the latest most popular FREE games while you browse with the Games Toolbar - Download Now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.