Finding Calm What is the greatest enemy of meditation? The chatterbox that never stops in our mind! Our very first goal is to identify something you do which gives you the greatest feeling of peace and calm. We want to find that one thing which shuts down the mind and calms the spirit. Do you know what it is? These are "moving meditations", and come the most naturally to many of us, so this will be our starting point. Make a list of all those things which you truly enjoy, and which leave you feeling peaceful. This list will be as varied as your individual lives, and that's as it should be. Here are some things which have been passed on to me which may give you a place to start: rocking a baby; gardening; fine finger work (sewing, embroidery, needlepoint, crocheting, knitting); watching fish in a fish tank; listening to falling water, such as a fountain; washing dishes; walking — whatever it may be. Don't go into any of these activities thinking "I'm going to make this work." Just allow yourself to "be" with that calming activity. Don't think about it, or it will be lost. Just "do" it. If you find that several minutes have passed, and you were not aware of the passing of time, and you were not pre-occupied with distracting thoughts, then you've found it ——- and YOU'VE DONE IT. As with most metaphysical exercises, when you think about the doing of it, your mind gets in the way. Don't think. Just be. Treat yourself to this wonderful feeling as often as you can. In between times, don't forget to stay with the Focus exercise given earlier. Re-Creating You Main Page Innerspace Main Page Modifications and Maintenance by Wicked Imaging E-Mail to Julia
Make a list of all those things which you truly enjoy, and which leave you feeling peaceful. This list will be as varied as your individual lives, and that's as it should be. Here are some things which have been passed on to me which may give you a place to start: rocking a baby; gardening; fine finger work (sewing, embroidery, needlepoint, crocheting, knitting); watching fish in a fish tank; listening to falling water, such as a fountain; washing dishes; walking — whatever it may be.
Don't go into any of these activities thinking "I'm going to make this work." Just allow yourself to "be" with that calming activity. Don't think about it, or it will be lost. Just "do" it. If you find that several minutes have passed, and you were not aware of the passing of time, and you were not pre-occupied with distracting thoughts, then you've found it ——- and YOU'VE DONE IT. As with most metaphysical exercises, when you think about the doing of it, your mind gets in the way. Don't think. Just be.
Treat yourself to this wonderful feeling as often as you can. In between times, don't forget to stay with the Focus exercise given earlier.
Re-Creating You Main Page