For some reason, I've always found it hard to stay in the present moment while hoovering. I couldn't figure out why, during this activity, it was particularly hard to stay focused, but I think I've cracked it!
It was only when talking to my wife about how, believe it or not, when doing things such as parking a car for example, I'd feel like I had to turn the car stereo off to be able to concentrate fully.
Whereas she would quite happily reverse park the car straight into the garage with Gun's and Roses (no accounting for taste) blearing in the background.
Anyways, I had a think about how the noise of the hoover was making it hard for me to keep focus. I was kind of trying to focus on the movements and feelings of the activity but the noise would somehow distract me. Then I realised that all I needed to do was just keep my attention on the noises I was making while hoovering.
The sound of the hoover, the plastic mechanisms as I extended the handle, the noise as it glided in different directions on the floor.
Since the hoover makes such a distinctive and continuous noise, your brain still has to take in and compute those noises. Perhaps sometimes there's too much information coming in to be able to split your attention on all the senses.
You wouldn't believe how clear my mind was, which is a stark contrast to some of the places it takes me while hoovering!
Monday, 15 February 2010
Monday, 1 February 2010
Busy Christmas and New Year
I'd glad to say not a day has gone by where I haven't kept up the meditation practices. It's been an extremely busy xmas and new year but I feel I've dealt with it really well.
Those times when I notice my thoughts are busier I've followed the guided meditations I found on the WildMind website, http://wildmind.org/
Particularly when I'm tired from lack of sleep, I find it harder to focus on the detailed sensations of my breathing, so I take longer concentrating on the totality of breathing and very gradually narrow the focus down to a particular point.
Those times when I notice my thoughts are busier I've followed the guided meditations I found on the WildMind website, http://wildmind.org/
Particularly when I'm tired from lack of sleep, I find it harder to focus on the detailed sensations of my breathing, so I take longer concentrating on the totality of breathing and very gradually narrow the focus down to a particular point.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Things have been going very well....
Just a random update on how the Meditation has been going. It's been a few months now and I can honestly say this has been of amazing benefit to me.
My patience has increased so much, before I just used to label myself as just incredibly inpatient at times. Now I feel able to take time to think (even if it's a split second) and do things in the correct way. No more times when I feel frustrated at tasks that seemed to be 'in my way', or feeling like things are against me if they don't go right.
I feel like there's so much more of me that is filled with contentment and peace that it's kind of pushed out some traits that I didn't like so much.
The Meditation has taught me that it's OK to sometimes get pulled towards thoughts that are unuseful, as long as I'm aware of it and can bring myself back in to focus. Thereby realising that those thoughts aren't shaping my mood and personality, spending more of my time concentrating on what I'm doing and freeing the brain up to do what it does best - working things out it's own way without distraction.
My patience has increased so much, before I just used to label myself as just incredibly inpatient at times. Now I feel able to take time to think (even if it's a split second) and do things in the correct way. No more times when I feel frustrated at tasks that seemed to be 'in my way', or feeling like things are against me if they don't go right.
I feel like there's so much more of me that is filled with contentment and peace that it's kind of pushed out some traits that I didn't like so much.
The Meditation has taught me that it's OK to sometimes get pulled towards thoughts that are unuseful, as long as I'm aware of it and can bring myself back in to focus. Thereby realising that those thoughts aren't shaping my mood and personality, spending more of my time concentrating on what I'm doing and freeing the brain up to do what it does best - working things out it's own way without distraction.
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Concentration Exercises
Thought I'd look in to concentration exercises over the last few days so have been doing things like counting back from 100, subtracting 3 each time. I think these exercises can be of good value but I think I've been doing them at the wrong times - like out walking the dog or driving for example.
To be effective I think it's best to do those kind of exercises where you have little distraction and can close your eyes and really concentrate on what you're doing.
I'm going to keep doing the mindfulness exercises discussed previously which will keep my awareness in the present moment.
To be effective I think it's best to do those kind of exercises where you have little distraction and can close your eyes and really concentrate on what you're doing.
I'm going to keep doing the mindfulness exercises discussed previously which will keep my awareness in the present moment.
Friday, 27 November 2009
Old People got me thinking......
I was thinking about how old people often seem bitter and resentful towards the world, could this be because their brains have got used to most things in life and so they're kind of running on autopilot? Perhaps this just allows their thoughts to dwell on things that are damaging to their perception on life.
You often hear that people are 'stuck in their ways', which would indicate that the brain is comfortable just doing things automatically. Without having to learn from the experiences we have, maybe it leaves too much time (brain capacity) for our thoughts to try and occupy our minds, almost out of boredom.
Mindfulness of our actions (physical and mental) perhaps helps in more ways than one; teaching focus, keeping attention in the present moment, new experiences, sensations and feelings that were just being overlooked stimulate our brains....
You often hear that people are 'stuck in their ways', which would indicate that the brain is comfortable just doing things automatically. Without having to learn from the experiences we have, maybe it leaves too much time (brain capacity) for our thoughts to try and occupy our minds, almost out of boredom.
Mindfulness of our actions (physical and mental) perhaps helps in more ways than one; teaching focus, keeping attention in the present moment, new experiences, sensations and feelings that were just being overlooked stimulate our brains....
Monday, 23 November 2009
Right Choices
I don't like to view Meditation as a spiritual journey but instead for the scientific facts and changes to the way your brain works. Following on from the Frontal Lobe post it seems more obvious that the direct benefits Meditation provides is the ability to make better choices without having to 'try' and make those choices.
Once your mind no longer feels like you're trying to do something, usually against your will, you find you make better decisions and are happy to fulfil them.
This link has more on how meditation can help with weight loss, but it can be applied to most things,
http://www.emaxhealth.com/69/1347.html
Once your mind no longer feels like you're trying to do something, usually against your will, you find you make better decisions and are happy to fulfil them.
This link has more on how meditation can help with weight loss, but it can be applied to most things,
http://www.emaxhealth.com/69/1347.html
Heart Rate
I haven't been getting the best sleep lately (trying for a baby!) so it's been a little harder to focus on my morning meditation but once finished feel very good again.
Today I mixed things up a bit and started with 6mins of relaxation breathing exercises and Mantra Meditation followed by 6 mins of Mindful Breathing.
Took the dog out for our walk, did some Mindful Walking exercises and then tried something new;
Focused on breathing in for two steps and breathing out for three steps and if focus altered bring back attention to matching the steps with the breath. When we got back I continued focusing on two in-breaths and three out-breaths without really counting them but noticing the difference. Kept this going while I dried the dog, showered, dried myself, did some housework etc.
I was feeling incredibly relaxed and focused, once I settled down on the computer I took my heart rate just out of curiosity really and it was 48 bpm. I'm fairly fit at the moment but my typical heart rate is about 60 bpm usually, so I was quite surprised.
Today I mixed things up a bit and started with 6mins of relaxation breathing exercises and Mantra Meditation followed by 6 mins of Mindful Breathing.
Took the dog out for our walk, did some Mindful Walking exercises and then tried something new;
Focused on breathing in for two steps and breathing out for three steps and if focus altered bring back attention to matching the steps with the breath. When we got back I continued focusing on two in-breaths and three out-breaths without really counting them but noticing the difference. Kept this going while I dried the dog, showered, dried myself, did some housework etc.
I was feeling incredibly relaxed and focused, once I settled down on the computer I took my heart rate just out of curiosity really and it was 48 bpm. I'm fairly fit at the moment but my typical heart rate is about 60 bpm usually, so I was quite surprised.
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