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I'm a big fan of day dreaming, and set apart time in my day for it. I guess mind-wandering is the new term. But I think the article is protecting the very stre

I'm a big fan of day dreaming, and set apart time in my day for it. I guess mind-wandering is the new term. But I think the article is protecting the very stressful cycle of thinking about the same things over and over and over without being able to let go. The old "I should go to grocery store to get food" leading to "I should cook more at home" to "That one time I tried to make tikka masala it came out bad" back to "I should go to the store" cycle. I'm all for the embracing of day-dreaming, but that comes from mindfulness. A calm, clear place where thoughts are free to bubble up as freely as they are able to go. Mindfulness meditation practice is, for me, the gym. It helps me put my mind to that place, to focus and put 100% into whatever I'm doing, whether that's chopping carrots, programming, or day-dreaming.

codyb 11y ago
Yes, when I used to meditate (and I'd like to get back into it), I'd split my sessions into two modes. One where I just let my thoughts go where they wanted, and one where I attempted to focus on my breathing. Thankfully I have no trouble with wandering attention when dealing with a difficult task at work (although, upon success I am generally thoroughly drained. Attempting to jump into my next task can be quite a tough hurdle after spending a few hours in the zone intently focused on one particular nuance of a system.) and I produce plenty of wonderful thoughts when I'm doing menial things like dishes or riding the train without a book. In the end, like most things, there's a bit of balance to it all.
- jmagoon 11y ago
  Are you familiar with any specific meditation traditions? Most historical traditions split practice into those two categories--concentration meditation, which is one pointed and object focused, and 'bare awareness', which allows the mind to wander as it pleases, without judgment, while observing what that is like. Just pretty neat if you came up with those both on your own.
  - codyb 11y ago
    Oh no, while my meditations aren't based on anything specific that I can currently remember, those were more than certainly both read about at some point and as a firm believer in the value of balance I never chose either or.

codyb 11y ago

Yes, when I used to meditate (and I'd like to get back into it), I'd split my sessions into two modes. One where I just let my thoughts go where they wanted, and one where I attempted to focus on my breathing. Thankfully I have no trouble with wandering attention when dealing with a difficult task at work (although, upon success I am generally thoroughly drained. Attempting to jump into my next task can be quite a tough hurdle after spending a few hours in the zone intently focused on one particular nuance of a system.) and I produce plenty of wonderful thoughts when I'm doing menial things like dishes or riding the train without a book. In the end, like most things, there's a bit of balance to it all.

jmagoon 11y ago
Are you familiar with any specific meditation traditions? Most historical traditions split practice into those two categories--concentration meditation, which is one pointed and object focused, and 'bare awareness', which allows the mind to wander as it pleases, without judgment, while observing what that is like. Just pretty neat if you came up with those both on your own.
- codyb 11y ago
  Oh no, while my meditations aren't based on anything specific that I can currently remember, those were more than certainly both read about at some point and as a firm believer in the value of balance I never chose either or.