“Early in the morning
Get your concentration on your meditation
Take the right direction
For future destination, for future destination”

In today’s instalment, I will talk a little about something which I have found to exert a positive influence over my negative mental state - namely, meditation. It doesn’t constitute a comprehensive “cure”, but I find it to be rather helpful.

 

Let me start with a couple of qualifications:

 

First, this exposition is largely untutored and for the most part, is little more than some personal observations.

 

Secondly, I must admit that I don’t always, “practice what I preach” and this is to some extent, aspirational!

 

Having said that, off we go …

 

Suffice to say, my mind now, is usually very (and often unnecessarily), full. It is also true to say that my many thoughts are jumbled and can leap from one to a wholly unrelated other, in an instant.

 

Nowadays, this can easily lead to mental fatigue and at times, resultant and inappropriate feelings and behaviour. Quite irrespective of that and maybe more importantly, many products of my excessive and messy thinking are negative emotional reactions. 

 

On reflection though, my overstocked and jumbled head contains a fair bit of stuff that I don’t need it to contain and much of which, has a negative effect on my mental wellbeing. 

 

A bit of tidying up seems to be a good idea … 

 

A good start is a reduction in thoughts that are of no particular value to me and in particular, a sub-category of these thoughts, consisting of those that lower (sometimes a lot!) my mood.  

 

Some of this freed-up space can be used to accommodate positive material and for me this (vitally) includes that which fosters a calm acceptance of my situation and an inner peace and stillness.

 

Cutting down on thinking - easy to say, but is it easy to do? After all, thinking is a big thing that minds do – and here’s where meditation comes in …

 

This begs the question of “what do I mean by meditation”?

 

I personally find it hard to define with any precision, and do not doubt that it means different things to different people, in a variety of contexts.

 

For myself though, I consider it to be a use of my thoughts, in order to enhance a quiet appreciation of myself and the world around me – or, as I said before, “a calm acceptance of my situation and an inner peace and stillness”.

 

I mentioned in an earlier post (I believe!), a personal misgiving over the strength of the link between our thoughts and feelings.  If you remember this, then perhaps an accusation of inconsistency can be levelled at me – and quite right too! On further consideration, this misgiving of mine ought to be qualified: I remain sceptical about the ease with which we can talk our way out of a feeling. Perhaps though, it is easier to talk our way into one …

 

Moving on to the meditative practice that I try to adopt (and I am quite sure that many other forms would help me – but for now, I’ll just mention the things that I currently, try to do).

 

My approach is based on the fact that despite everything that has happened (or might occur), much of my life is pretty good. The problem is that I often don’t notice it.  Reasons for this might include a taking of things for granted; a failure to stop and “notice” (in the widest sense of the word; and obfuscation through an excess of needless, other thoughts.

 

One way of attacking these “blocks” is sometimes, to slow down (or stop) and give a bit of thought to and (where possible) harbour an appreciation of current sensations. A good example is that when out walking, maybe I will stop and look at my surroundings; listen to the noises; and notice any aromas. Having done so it seems a good idea to reflect upon any pleasures that they might be generating.

 

I am lucky to have a small piece of open ground at the end of my road. I traverse one or other of its footpaths every day, on my way to somewhere else - but (in the absence of the above approach) would fail to notice that it is, as pictured at the end.

 

Regarding thoughts that disguise the pleasurable, I try to adopt an approach which has its roots in early Buddhist teachings; and which is commonly known as “mindfulness”: 

 

At risk of stating the obvious, thoughts can concern the past, present or future. 

 

In respect of the former, while we can think about it as much as we like, it remains unalterable. Of course, our prior experiences will shape our lives, but perhaps we think about the past, rather more than we should and in doing so, current enjoyment can be (at least, partially) masked. So far as the future is concerned – yes, we can and should, prepare for it, but at the end of the day it is inevitably uncertain. Similarly, to thoughts about unchangeable regrets, perhaps we should think a little less about worries over the unpredictable future – after all, it might never happen. Doing so will make more space for us to foster an enhanced appreciation of what is going on, right now - and which is often, rather good!

 

 A reduction of regret and worry can be helped by a meditative rehearsal of an increased focus on the present. One very simple one is to sit still and comfortably. Then close your eyes, so as to eliminate visual distraction. There is something that we do all the time but hardly ever notice - and that is breathing. This is a current activity – you are doing it right now. Let’s start to notice the fact. We can do this by counting our breaths and breathing deeply and shallowly a certain number of times. While the activity will be restful its main advantage is that it constitutes practice at noticing an aspect the here and now, which is frequently missed. An alternative meditation with the same purpose, is to take notice of something else which, despite its currency, we usually fail to direct our thoughts at – namely our physical presence. While in a similar physical state, perhaps consider and maybe “energize” major parts of our bodies (but not internal organs!!), working from head to toe.

 

And by way of closure – here is the previously mentioned and oft unnoticed scene, just 100m or so, from where I am sitting, right now!

Pretty good, if you are into that sort of thing – and I am, so well worth stopping, taking a few deep breaths and positively (but quietly) appreciating it …