Mind–Would you please shut up already!?

Have you ever felt that no matter how hard you try, no matter how many tools you use, your mind is still a runaway train? Good news, you are not alone. Calming your busy mind can be a frustrating process, and there will be times where you want to scream out at your mind to just stop! You can try this, but I have not had much success with this technique! Force does not work.

There are times where you just have to ride it out. Let me give you an example of how this worked for one of my clients. She writes:

I thought I would share my practice this morning as I felt it was a good one and I had not had a good practice in about a week.  I did them except for last Sunday but I just didn’t feel like I was letting things go.  This week was really busy for me.  I had visitors from other offices and I had a doctor’s appointment dealing with a continuing issue.  So after my visitors left yesterday I decided (because I have the luxury of good technology) to work from home today.  I got home last night and I was tired but I decided to go for a walk –it was cool but not as cold as it has been.  So I walked 2 miles and tried to make some of it mindful but of course many thoughts were on the doctor’s visit and the week at work.  I did not do any meditation last night as I was just too tired.

So this morning I got up and got my tea and emptied the dishwasher and then went up to my meditation room.  I read 2 days of Deep Breath of Life and both readings hit home for me. One in particular was about something that I’ve been working on for a while.  

 I did some deep 3 part breathing and I did about 6 of these.  And then like Ellen’s meditation CD, I brought my focus to how my body was feeling and then back to my breath. Then I started saying some Loving Kindness. Then a bird started singing outside my window and I just let myself listen to the wave of the birdsong and it was so very lovely.  I was able to gather the thought that no matter what ends up happening with the doctor–it doesn’t matter –I am still me; I can still continue to do what I want to do.  In addition, a different bird starting singing and it sounded like it was right over my head. I finally felt the peace that I had been looking for this week.

Yes, it is a process. Do not to get stuck in wanting some kind of wonderful, peaceful outcome. That is a set-up for chucking your practice out the window–leaving you feeling like a meditation loser (not sure if there is such a thing!)

Hang in there–it is a process. Stay present with what is happening in the moment, and who knows, maybe it will be a bird, a plane, your cat, or something else happening that will help you make the shift to a calm, centered you.

Would love to hear about your experience.

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