I read a lot of success related books and magazines and some of the most successful people always suggest meditating. I've tried it. But I don't really know how to quiet my mind. Without fail thoughts end up racing around my head. I tried focusing on my breaths and counting how many times I inhale and exhale. That seemed to help a bit. But then my mind isn't really quiet because I'm thinking about counting. lol Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I don't know if this will help, but spend time getting yourself in a relaxed state of mind. Ensure it's quiet and you will be undisturbed. Take some slow deep breaches, and let your body relax completely. A self hypnosis method has helped me where you mentally count from 10 to 0 and tell yourself you'll be completely relaxed when you get to zero. Another suggestion is to picture a place where you would feel very relaxed, and imagine you are there. Like a meadow, beach, mountain top, or whatever is a peaceful place for you. You could also trying focusing on your breathing in and out as you go deeper rather than counting. It's natural that thoughts will come, you just want to acknowledge the thought and let it go, returning back to "center". After time and more practice you can release the thoughts very quickly. If you are pursuing a spiritual level of meditation, then dismissing the lower level thoughts is what opens your mind to reception from other levels, and being able to discern the difference.
It's very much a personal thing for each person. Some can sit in a quiet place and be able to quiet their minds, where some can be at peace floating in swimming pool! For me personally, I'm a man of the senses, so my favourite incense and instrumental music in my headphones does the job perfectly for me. I think the important thing is to make sure you are comfortable. Not so much that you end up falling asleep, but comfortable enough to not want to move. Once in that comfortable place, relax and focus on your breathing. The feeling of it travelling in and out of your nose/mouth, the sensation of the air filling your belly. You'll soon forget about what's going on. Lastly, I'm a father of 3 so I make a point to let my wife and kids know the times I choose to meditate. There's nothing worse than not communicating with the people around you and having them interrupt you when you are in the zone. As with everything in life, good preparation goes a long way. Hope that helps Would love to hear how you go.
I also think it depends on the person as there are people who can concentrate or focus easier compared to others. And we also prefer different kind of surrounding for meditation. Some might like a background relaxing music while others would want total silence. So it is important to know our preference on which we can feel more relaxed or calmed.
Well I have studied Buddhism a decent amount and what I got out of it is that meditation takes concentration and time. Personally I have a soundtrack of calming noises that I listen too through ear buds when meditating and give myself at least 15 minutes for it. If you are having trouble clearing your mind then I suggest focusing on your breathing will help, it helped me. In my head I said "breath in, breath out" and after a few minutes my mind is blank and I am calm. Hope I helped.
Like I wrote in another thread yesterday, I tried the conventional meditation, where you just sit there and try to focus on your thoughts, but to no avail. My mind would just continuing going and going no matter what I did. I didn't see the point. However, I took a course in Yoga and I found that the best meditation practice for me in terms of calming my mind was when we would FOCUS UPON OUR BREATH. We would observe when it goes out and when it comes in, taking our minds off of our regular problems in life. This worked.
When you meditate, try to develop some degree of detachment toward your thoughts. Look at the thoughts that pass through your mind, but do so with lack of interest, as if they don't belong to you. This won't work the first time you try, but if you persist, sooner or later you will see results. Your mind will be quieter, and it will be easier to focus the mind and ignore unrelated thoughts.
Hi All, (my first time here!) Anyway in relation to meditating and finding it difficult to relax and quietening you mind (workathomenoscamscom) or anyone else who finds trouble with this why not do 'guided' meditation where a professional is walking you through the meditation keeping your mind focused on relaxing your body, then into deep relaxation. I find this useful, If I try to meditate without it I sometimes fall asleep! (not sure if I can put a link) to the programme I use but it works wonders for deep relaxation and meditation. sometimes when meditating its a good idea also to let the thoughts pass as Remez suggests, although guided meditation keeps your mind on relaxing fully to reach those deep levels.
I am regularly meditating but not on other things but on the thing of God. when I meditate, I usually go to a solitary place, a place where you are alone where no one could bother you or interrupt you. a place where it is quiet and peaceful where you are free to do anything you want. before I do the meditation, I pray and then read part of the word of God and then ponder about it. what is it all about, what I learned from it, and how can I apply it to my life. part of my meditation is the singing of songs to prepare my heart as I meditate on the things of God.
Use your thinking for something that is relaxing. I guess it would really help if you can get a good meditation guide which can train your mind on things to think on. Stop thinking on what you are usually concentrating on and just relax than divert your focus on something that is nice like swimming in a lake or being in a refreshing scenery...
that's right, your suggestion is helpful when it comes to meditation. you can really concentrate on meditating on something if the surrounding is noisy and untidy. you really need a place where you can relax your body and your mind.
As NBaker posted, in and out breathing is one of the first meditations a Buddhist learns. I was taught and often practice mindful breathing but a bit differently. When I breathe slowly in I just say breathing in I know I am breathing in. As i slowly breath out I just say, breathing out, I know I am breathing out. This is a simple way of starting. You can change the words to almost anything..."Breathing in "I realize I am upset"....Breathing out, I realize that soon I will be calm." Do not try to accomplish anything...after awhile relaxation will come naturally. You can also use this meditation while walking, driving, at work...anywhere. What it does is help keep you stay focused and you will find yourself a more calm person in time. One thing I will never forget is my monk taught me to "Wash the dishes to wash the dishes...not to get the chore finished."
