When your thoughts are just too powerful to meditate

Posted on Sun, May 23, 2010 : noon

When your thoughts are just too powerful to meditate

By Susan Scott Morales, MSW

Photo by Flickr user Stig Nygaard

The most frequent question I get about meditating is “how do I stop my thoughts?” After all, that is the point, isn’t it? We want to experience the thought-free state in which our perspective shifts and we experience ourselves in a fresh, expanded way. Thoughts can keep us feeling small.

This week I’ll suggest another approach but I’d like to remind you of these previous blogs: "Popcorn meditation" for calming the mind and "Breath to brain" meditation technique.

When I get this question about stopping thoughts, I sense an urgency, a deep frustration. I can almost hear the underlying concern, “What’s wrong with me?”Â

So let me answer that: You are normal. Yes, our thoughts are extremely powerful. In order to function in the world our brains are usually working in overdrive. So, it’s completely understandable that when our bodies stop, our minds keep going, especially if we stop suddenly. I picture a carousel spinning. If it suddenly brakes, all the riders lunge forward. The result is chaos.

So, doesn’t it make sense to give our brains a transition between being in overdrive and expecting stillness? One way that I have found helpful is to allow myself to think about whatever is on my mind when I first sit down to meditate. Sometimes I write these items down. Then, if I find myself going over the same material, I gently remind myself, “I already thought that” or “That’s been recorded. I don’t have to think about that now.” This process begins to slow my thinking, to reduce the urgency.

Even with the transition, sometimes meditations are not very deep. But, if I have the time, with the thoughts safely “recorded” I can then more effectively use one of the meditation techniques, like Popcorn or Breath to Brain, and go deeper.

As a mental health professional, an owner of a fitness studio, a writer and a wife, mother and grandmother, I have found meditation to be helpful in every aspect of my life. Let's talk...You can contact me at susanmmorales@yahoo.com or check out my websites: susanscottmorales.com and bodiesinbalancefitness.com

Comments

Susan Scott Morales, MSW

Tue, May 25, 2010 : 7:12 p.m.

Again, 1ofalpha, Gracias!

Susan Scott Morales, MSW

Tue, May 25, 2010 : 7:09 p.m.

Thanks, Robyn, for your comment. Here's to wonderful meditations, without any battles!

1ofalpha

Tue, May 25, 2010 : 1:59 a.m.

You're good! :) I bow.

Susan Scott Morales, MSW

Mon, May 24, 2010 : 3:51 p.m.

Thanks, 1ofalpha, for the clarification. It's great to give this public credit to your teacher.

1ofalpha

Mon, May 24, 2010 : 1:35 p.m.

Susan, I can not take credit for the description. These were the teachings of Marharishi Mahesh Yogi many years ago at Humboldt State University, CA. He was such a delightful person with interesting tonal qualities in voice.

robyn

Mon, May 24, 2010 : 10:14 a.m.

Very helpful. I am one of those people that can't seem to tell my brain to shut-up long enough to relax. I have found that writing my thoughts out seems to have a 'freeing' effect. The ability to 'say it' without interuption or judgement is like mental house cleaning. Far easier to meditate and get a positive effect when the brain is not in battle mode.

Susan Scott Morales, MSW

Mon, May 24, 2010 : 7:44 a.m.

Thanks 1ofalpha for describing how meditation works for you. Very interesting!

1ofalpha

Mon, May 24, 2010 : 6:22 a.m.

It can be much simpler than described. I've meditated since I was 18. I'm now nearly 59. It works. The point of meditation is not to force or "do" something with one's thoughts. It is "to still" the mind, and letting this occur does not require concentration, for e.g. Utilize a mantra, note your breathing--the latter "breathing from your tummy"--then attend to the repetition of your mantra. It will slow, speed up, go with your breathing--in short, it will move as it needs to. When you become aware that you are attending to thoughts gently let your attention return to your mantra. Very easy. No chatter about it. In fact, meditation is the going away from (outward stroke of meditation) your mantra and coming back to your mantra (inward stroke of meditation). Much as we hear various sounds, for instance, in the environment though attend to other data one's comportment is that of "letting it be." Thinking behavior will soften and, with time and practice, move itself into the background. Ergo, remember "inward" and "outward" strokes of mediation equals meditation proper.

Linda Chapman

Sun, May 23, 2010 : 9:59 a.m.

I like the idea of transferring thoughts to paper to help create 'empty mind.' Thanks.