I listened to the subtle mind but did not find it as relaxing. The breathing awareness does work and I plan on using this to "tame my mind" but I did not like the water in the background. Being from Maine and so close to the coast, I know that the waves are crashing onto the rocks. I also see the waves as they come over the rocks and then ebb back out to sea. I don't find that gentle but it can be relaxing and somewhat mesmerizing. These practices are challenging for me because my mind is noisy and uncontrolled. Maybe I am one that cannot attain that peace and calm.
Mental training is a daily task just as this is. The more one tries to calm the mind the stronger the mind should get so these may work hand-in-hand. These workouts can work on many different aspects of not only clearing the mind of clutter and noise but awaken the mind to a better life style with a happier sense of being. It could also strengthen the immune system in coordination with yoga to strengthen the body and make it more flexible. A flexible mind sounds pretty good.
Craig, don't be so hard on yourself. Since you have a noisy and uncontrolled mind, you may have to use guided visualization without sound (a beautiful sunset or rainbow across clear blue sky. Find something that you can identify with as smoothing and calming.
ReplyDeleteThere are times when my mind is racing like a car on the track; this is why I schedule so much time for meditation. When you find you niche, it is awesome!
Hello Craig
ReplyDeleteI really liked reading your blog. I like the fact that you are honest. But this exercise did trigger thoughts about the water crashing on rocks in Maine. I think these exercises are designed to do exactly what happened to you. I too can have a cluttered mind, which means that people like us just have to invest even more time in easing our minds. Not all of these exercises work for me either, but I also have only been putting minimum. I think you are doing a good job at "beginning" the mental workout process and it sounds like you are getting results. Good Job!!1
Tony P
Hi Craig.. I'm from Chicago. We have huge lake michigan here, but there is nothing like the sound of the ocean crashing on the rocks. I think the part of the exercise that I liked the most was the sound of the ocean. I instantly think of vacation, and the tropics when I hear sounds like water flowing and crashing.. It's my dream to fall asleep on a beach overnight, in a tropical place, with the sound of the water lulling me to sleep gently.. Not sure where I can do that safely thou. smiles..
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the exercise and hope to put the loving kindness exercises that i learned to good use.
I loved Chicago, down by the Navy Pier. The water does sound good there but the sound of the water on the rocky coast with the wind coming off the ocean is something else. It is so good to be able to soak that up and dream of a warmer place like the tropics. On a sandy beach with the hot sands with that breeze would be so relaxing one could forget and quiet the mind so much easier. Thank you for the comment. Its good to think of these things.
DeleteCraig