Mind-full

Mindful is an interesting word. We always have a mind-full. It is the nature of the mind to think, to jump from thought to thought.

The biggest gift, and the most fun, to be had in my meditation classes were always the debunking the myths session at the very beginning. Everybody was always so relieved to hear they didn’t have to stop their minds thinking to meditate. People used to laugh out loud when I said your mind will never stop thinking, it is a little playful monkey that jumps from thought to thought never letting go of one until it has a hold of the next. Such was the realisation that working against the mind was futile, indeed insane. Instead we would explore ways to work with the mind, to lure it, to train it, to observe it, to witness it, to harness it and to meet it half way.

I know the experience of preparing for meditation only to realise you are hungry, then realising you skipped lunch because work was crazy, then remembering ‘oh shit!’ I didn’t get to send that email before I left, oh and when I left did I turn my computer screen off? – I am always forgetting to do things like that, then I shouldn’t be too hard on myself all this negative self talk can’t be helpings things, things… things to do, crap am I out of milk? Maybe I should get milk on the way home,  maybe I’ll get up early and have breakfast at that little cafe next door to work, I really love that place, chai tea and raisin toast, my ipod and sunshine - almost like a little meditation. Meditation! Fuck! That is what I am supposed to be doing already…

We always have a mind-full. They key is being aware of what our mind is full of. And, as often as possible emptying the mind except for the thoughts we choose to focus on. The easiest thought to focus on, especially for beginners is;

I am breathing in. I am breathing out.

Whenever your mind wanders, like the cheeky monkey it is, simply return to the thought ‘I am breathing in. I am breathing out.’ Even minutes of this every day will make a difference. Don’t believe me. Please, don’t. I would prefer you try it over the weekend and see for yourself. xxx