Beginning to question my choices

[tyme]

I find meditation and mindfulness really really hard too. In the Smiling Mind sleep program, there is a section where you take 8 deeps breaths mindfully. I only ever get up to 1 or 2 then I'm thinking about something else so I have to start again. 

But I feel this is brain trainining in itself. 

I feel that part of my issue was that my brain was overworking. I needed to find a way to take control of my mind, harness its powers and re-direct it healthily.

And seeing you already use Smiling mind with the kids, I'm guessing you have some sense that it 'works'?

Once thing I've learnt is that you can't just be good at it the first time. You need to keep doing it.

Here's the link to the Mindfulness Experiment if you are interested: https://vimeo.com/329530630

@MissinTooth 

[MissinTooth]

@tyme thank you for sharing. 

I'm interested to watch. 

I find that impact of meditation is accumulative and it's not something you can do stop-start style. That's been my issue lately. 

How are you today?

[tyme]

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts if you watch it @MissinTooth 

No pressure of course.

[MissinTooth]

@tyme not having much luck getting it to load at the moment, but will see what I can do. 

[MissinTooth]

@tyme I solved the loading problem and got a chance to watch it. 

I’ve heard of neural plasticity before. I’ve heard that are brains are changeable and we can rewire them and build new neural pathways but actually seeing it evidenced in the “mindfulness experiment,” was something else entirely.

 I’m going to say…I believe meditation and mindfulness has benefits, but it’s not a solution that’s going to happen over night. Often the process is really uncomfortable - evidenced by the video - because you have to connect with your body and what’s happening in your body and I know, from personal experience that’s really hard because it doesn’t feel safe. We store our pain and emotions in our bodies, and over time it manifests as illness and dis-ease. And forcing yourself to feel and to let those emotions pass through your body is a rough ride. We’ve made avoiding our emotions an art form. 

Meditation and mindfulness takes work and daily practice. And it isn’t easy but there are benefits and to see those benefits in actual medical tests and studies, is really affirming - that yes, it is worth the time and the effort. 

[tyme]

That is precisely what I'm thinking too @MissinTooth You hit the nail on the head. I totally agree with you. 

After watching it, i started to practice it everyday and I can really see the difference.