Sitting quietly or meditating means I get a rush of thoughts. It’s never like you see online – cross-legged, in yoga pants, and with tranquility all over my face.
When I started meditation I struggled. Never have I experienced an empty mind, the concept is alien to me. So, instead of a picture of tranquility, I looked like I was being stabbed with a cattle prod, tortured by tasks not yet done.
As the wave of failure washed over me I would go back to the drawing board and find advice and try not to fail again. This went on far longer than I care to admit until I wrote about it and asked an important question:
“What if……………….”
In my trusty Evo I wrote the following:
“I can’t empty my head. The minute I sit down and close my eyes a flood of thoughts, images, conversations, and outstanding tasks wash over me. The more I push them away the stronger they get until I give up on emptying my mind and on meditation…………………
…………….What if I combine meditation and journaling tomorrow? Sit quietly, relax, eyes closed, some frequency tunes on, and when I have a thought I throw it down on paper? And carry on. Try it for 5 mins and work my way up?”
So, how did that go? Well, the first time I spent a lot of time writing. I got some great notes from it. In time, I sat peacefully more easily but every now and then I wrote more than I mediated.
However, the major difference is that I don’t punish myself for not emptying my brain. I accepted the fact that this is not going to happen, and I’m ok with that.
I had a shift in my mindset. I realized that it’s not always about emptying your mind and achieving the tranquility of a monk. It’s about finding a balance or a sense of peace.
So to recap how I changed the process to fit me and my delightfully chaotic brain:
- I pop on some frequency tunes and sit down.
- I have a notebook at my side to dump any and all thoughts that pop up
- I sit and focus on the tunes as much as possible
- Afterward, I write up any key ideas into an action plan with some bullet points to expand on
- Any tasks are pulled out
Sometimes what I write is pure sh!t
Sometimes I get stonking ideas
Either way, it feels great, clarity hits and then I get on with my day.
My task for you, if you struggle to meditate, ask yourself what if………
What if you do some gardening while you embrace peace
What if you walk with frequency tunes playing
What if you go and sit in a park, or forest and meditate?
Ask yourself, what can you combine with meditation (or a period of peace) that will help you?
The end goal is to feel better and there is no rule to say you can only meditate one way.
If you give this (or any combo) a go – let me know how you get on or how you have adapted to being able to sit quietly/meditate
Ready to begin?