The number one concern when it comes to setting up a regular meditation practice,
Becoming all mindful,
Is usually the phrase,
I can't get my thoughts to stop,
Or I have constant racing thoughts.
So this practice that I will introduce to you next will help you to finally gain control of your mind.
It's a really effective way to step out of our head and not take part of our destructive thoughts,
To learn to observe them without judgement.
So imagine that your mind is the sky and your thoughts are clouds,
Just coming and going,
No part of the picture.
They're needed to be there.
You can't avoid clouds to come sometimes,
Pour some rain over the land,
Release some tension,
Come and go,
But then once their job is done,
They always leave.
Same as without thoughts.
They're there to sometimes distract you,
To give you information about yourself,
About others.
Thoughts are inherently something we can't avoid,
And that's also not something we can or should change.
But how we treat them,
What patterns and shapes we choose for them,
And how consciously aware we are of our present moment,
And let ourselves spiral into known negative feelings and emotions through our thoughts,
That's something we can control.
So when there is a thought or a stream of thoughts that come into your head,
The first thing you already did was notice and gain awareness that they're there.
If it's a painful thought,
A thought that you don't want to have in your mind,
Don't judge it,
Just let it be there.
You might need to connect to your body to fully embrace it and embody it.
And then just let it pass.
Sit with it until it leaves.
Trying to push against it will only make it worse,
Because that thought is a part of you.
It's not going to go through you unless you let it pass.
So once it's there,
Just let it come and go,
And watch the thoughts and emotions that come with it.
Don't analyse where it came from.
Just know that a thinking mind is a part of your world.
Just as much your other organs are working and you know that by staying alive,
You know your brain is working by having thoughts.
You can keep on top of your physical health and organs by looking after them with exercise and good nutrition,
And you can keep on top of your thoughts by training your brain and your mind – mindfulness,
Meditation – and consciously becoming aware of your patterns,
Of your thought system,
Of your behavioural patterns and limiting beliefs.
It's a process,
So enjoy the process of it,
Of gaining control of your mind more and more every day.
So start today by observing your thoughts for a few minutes at a time,
And imagine them as clouds in the sky.
