Meditation

[Erudite]

Hi! One of my New Year's resolutions is to learn and practice meditation. So far, I'm lousy at it. But I know there are many different approaches and many different ways to go about it. Would you share your approach, if you do it, and maybe an experience of how it worked for you? I know I just need to find the right approach for me and it will bless my life.

Thanks!
E

[5ft Diva]

Oh, this is so hard as you well know since I've tried to explain it on the phone to you. I have found for me it was easiest to have someone show me and then I just figured out my own "style" as I've gone along.

I love to meditate. Can I ask you what you're wanting to get out of this meditation? It would help narrow down what kind of medthod to direct you towards.

[Big_Sissy]

I meditate all the time to help me sleep. I don't use it as I should yet, but I'm going to.

I'm currently using Wayne Dyers "Getting in the gap" meditation method. I really like it.

In a nut shell, you use it to clear your mind. I need that as my mind is always going 100+ miles an hour.

[Erudite]

Sorry to take so long to get back to this. Rough day yesterday.

What I want is the ability to focus on a single concern so that I can be open to answers that involve it.

Over the last weeks I've gotten good at calling peace to me so that I don't feel frustrated and angry at my situation and that is a type of meditation all by itself, isn't it? Now I'd like to be able to focus my mind and not let it wander. I wander way too easily and as a result, I don't have any idea how you "clear" your mind. Whenever I've tried that, I'm just wandering from one thought to another, not clearing. So I though maybe if I focus better, I could figure out how to clear my mind. Make sense?

I probably mostly need practice, I guess. Now I have the time to practice. Small blessings...

[bookworm]

BS, I'm glad you like that one! That's my favorite one, too. I have to use guided meditation, because I can't seem to silence my mind alone, although I did have some success last night. There was this song in my head that wouldn't shut up, and I just pictured wiping it away like wiping crumbs off a counter and it worked a little- that's the first time I've been able to clear my mind alone successfully.

I've only been trying meditation for a short time, and haven't done it in a while, but I love using that cd in particular. It's a spiritual experience. I totally believe in meditation, but I wish I was better at it. I've thought how nice it would be to go into the celestial room in the temple and meditate on something (obviously without the ohmmmm... ), but again, I have a VERY hard time stopping the constant chatter in my head, so that hasn't happened yet. I've also noticed I have a hard time concentrating on one thing for a long time lately, unless it's a problem that needs solving. I'm good with those, but I do get distracted really easily. Erudite, let us know if you find a method that helps with focus, I sure could use it!

[Erudite]

I found this website that gives a bunch of good tips and takes the OHHMMM pressure off: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Also, as I was reading your post, BW, I thought, I should keep a pad of paper in front of me while meditating and write down words or phrases related to the meditation, thus if I lose my focus and wander, I have something in front of me to pull me back. That's also handy if the solution to world peace should suddenly come into my head, you know?

Another friend suggested not closing your eyes. She says she lets her eyes rest on her hands in her lap. That gave me the thought that a picture of the meditation topic might be helpful in someway.

I'm a'learnin'!

[5ft Diva]

Sounds like you don't really need any help and that you're finding exactly what works for you....as it should be that way. Good luck!!!

[Big_Sissy]

-- yes you need to write down the solution to world peace for sure if you get it

That's the beauty of meditation. There are no rules. You do what works for you. For me, I, like bw, have a very tough time getting the chatter to stop. So I almost always use guided meditation, though, I have one 2 occasions done it solo, and it worked pretty well. I fell right to sleep.

I admit, I'm not using it as maybe I should, but who cares, it is serving a purpose for me, and I'm grateful for it.

[Dia Minha]

Those of you that have a hard time stopping the constant chatter in your head, do you feel the need to have constant noise in your house? For example: Leaving the tv on even when you are not watching it or always having background music.

Dia

[Big_Sissy]

I enjoy music, but I don't need it on all the time. So no. I hate back ground noise

[bookworm]

I agree with BS. I love music, but I don't play it constantly. Only if I'm working and need the motion... In fact when the kids go to school, I revel in the quiet. I prefer peace and quiet. I hate background noise. It makes me nuts when I'm trying to concentrate and the piano, tv, and kids are being noisy around me. It's seldom quiet with 6 people living here... I leave the radio and tv off most of the day.

[5ft Diva]

I really enjoy music as well, but I don't listen to it just to have something to listen to. I have found that I really enjoy quiet and that it is a luxury now a days.