Health & Fitness
Comfort in chaos
Learn to embrace a multitude of thoughts and feelings.
by : Andy Puddicombe- Mar 30th, 2015
When most people think about meditation, they imagine a clear, blank mind. That’s definitely what I thought it was. Before I quit university in England to spend 10 years in various parts of Asia studying meditation to become a Buddhist monk, I imagined that I would be sitting on a mountaintop feeling totally blissed out—that I would have no thoughts at all for many years. The reality is that it’s the nature of the mind to think, and we can’t control it. If we were able to control the brain and turn off our thoughts, there’d be no need for meditation. It doesn’t matter how hard you try to clear your mind, either. In fact, if you have an anxious thought, trying to clear it often makes you feel more anxious, which can be frustrating. And then you’re not just anxious—you’re also angry. And once you’re anxious and angry, there’s a good chance it’s going to make you sad. This happens all day, every day, in our minds. It may go on for just a few minutes, it may go on for the whole day or it may go on for weeks at a time.
READ MORE: Sensory overload and brain orgasms
Meditation is not about turning off thoughts or searching for a clearing; it’s about stepping back. It’s a way to help you let the thoughts pass by, like traffic on a busy street; what’s important is not getting caught up or stopped by those thoughts. So when a feeling or thought comes up, that’s okay. It comes, it goes and it doesn’t bother you—that’s the real sweet spot. You can’t operate in life with a clear mind all the time. Anyone can have peace of mind when they’re feeling calm and clear; meditation is about attaining a peaceful mind when it’s clouded with thoughts. Learning to be at ease even when the mind is busy is amazing. What tends to happen is this: The more you learn the behaviour of stepping back, the more the thoughts start to slow down naturally—and from there you’ll find a little bit of calm. When you’re calm, you get a bit of clarity, and clarity leads to more contentment. At that point, there’s usually more space in your mind. And when you’re less caught up in your own stuff, there’s more room for compassion for others.
MIND
TIME
How to meditate
when you feel
ready to implode.
Start with 10
minutes a day
and work your way
up to 30 minutes
if you can.
1.
Find a quiet space
where you can relax,
and sit on a chair.
2. Defocus your eyes by gazing softly into the middle distance.
3. Observe your posture
and notice the sensations
of your body on the
chair. Acknowledge your senses. Close your eyes.
4. Turn your mind inward and mentally scan your body, from head to toe, observing any
tension or discomfort.
5. Bring your attention to your breathing, but don’t make any effort to change it. Observe the rising and falling sensation that it creates in your body.
6. You might find yourself
inundated with thoughts and plans or feel calm and
focused. Whatever happens
is completely fine.
7. Become aware once more of the physical feelings: the chair beneath you, where your feet make contact with the floor, your arms, your hands resting in your lap. Notice anything you can hear, smell, taste or feel.
8. When you are ready, slowly open your eyes.
READ MORE:
Stephanie Gilman’s journey to find a new life after cancer
Superfoods that help fight off colds
Confessions of a pot addict
Newsletter
Join our mailing list for the latest and biggest in fashion trends, beauty, culture and celebrity.
Read Next
Fashion
Cartier Celebrates 100 Years of the Trinity Ring
What better way to celebrate an anniversary than with a new collection?
by : Allie Turner- Apr 19th, 2024
Culture
How to Spend 48 Hours in Mexico City
Where to discover the hidden gems—markets, mezcal, modern art—of the Central American capital.
by : Jennifer Nguyen- Apr 18th, 2024
Culture
This Maple Whipped Tofu Toast Is Unreal
Light, fluffy with a touch of zest, this maple syrup-infused toast is a slice of heaven.
by : Margaux Verdier- Apr 9th, 2024