Thought Labeling

Thoughts are often like records unconsciously playing in the background. They affect our moods, our actions and our outlook on life. This meditation is a tool that will teach you to become more aware of your thoughts and your thought patterns. Frequent practice using this tool will help you to become more aware of your mind as you walk through your day and begin to make conscious decisions about your thoughts.

Transcript

Thank you for joining me today. In this meditation, We will be observing the patterns of our thoughts. We will use our breath as an anchor, The place where we put our attention and our focus. As our mind naturally wanders away from the breath, We'll notice where it wandered to and we'll give that thought a specific label. For example, You might begin to think about the past. You might begin to think about a task that you need to accomplish. You might think about a relationship. As these thoughts arise in this practice, Give them a label that feels right to you and then return to your anchor, Return to your breath. Settling in now, Make sure you're in a comfortable space where you feel supported and safe. Closing the eyes and tuning inward, Begin to place your focus on the breath. You may choose to focus on the rising and falling of your chest or your stomach. You may choose to focus on the sensation of the air as it travels in and out of your nostrils. Or you might choose to count the breath, Inhaling for one, Exhaling for one. However you decide to use the breath as an anchor will work just fine. Breathing in, Allowing yourself to focus. I will check in with you about every two minutes. Remember the purpose of our practice today is to notice the mind, To label the thoughts and at the end of the practice we'll take a moment to observe the patterns we've discovered. Let's begin. Go. You you you checking in now, Noticing if your mind has wandered and bringing it back to the breath checking in with the body, Relaxing any tension and coming back to the anchor checking in with the body, Relaxing any tension and coming back to the anchor checking in with the body, Relaxing any tension and coming back to the anchor checking in with the body, Relaxing any tension and coming back to the anchor checking in with the body, Relaxing any tension and coming back to the anchor checking in with the body, Relaxing any tension and coming back to the anchor checking in with the body, Relaxing any tension and coming back to the anchor checking in with the body, Relaxing any tension and coming back to the anchor again checking in, Noticing where your awareness is making sure to be kind to yourself and not beat yourself up when your mind wanders coming back now to the breath for the final few moments of this meditational practice you you you beginning now to bring yourself back to the space that you're in maybe starting to move slowly breathing through the mouth if that feels right to you taking a moment to think about what you noticed in your practice what were the common places that your mind traveled to? Did you see any patterns? Did you notice any stress? This is a wonderful exercise to use to help you get to know your mind inside of meditation and outside thank you so much for joining me today