3 ms·

Pretty similar stuff - in "mindfulness" I think it's about focusing on the perception of your senses, how the chair feels behind your back, what sounds you're h

by meric 9y ago

Pretty similar stuff - in "mindfulness" I think it's about focusing on the perception of your senses, how the chair feels behind your back, what sounds you're hearing and while you're doing that, you're not thinking.

Jach 9y ago
I also do similar things, though not very often anymore. It's basically intentionally zoning out but I like to think of it as "mindlessness" now to contrast it. Techniques like focusing on body sensation can be part of mindfulness (I don't really do them except sometimes to help get into the mindless state -- I get comfy for my zoning out because I don't even want to be aware of my body if I can help it) but mindfulness is more about actually thinking. One of the times I tried a guided mindfulness session (from their website -- it's very corporate...) they said something like "think of a time you were talking with a friend, spouse, or therapist about an important situation in your life, and when the conversation was over you felt lighter, loved, and cared for." I couldn't think of such a time. Nor even imagine such a sequence of events happening ot me. Similar attempts done by company speakers randomly at all-hands meetings had similar guiding phrases that evoked no emotional memory in me at least. I don't work that way. If it was more general like "recall the feeling of being cared for", sure, I can muster something, but I don't think that's very helpful. Others' mileage may vary.
neverminder 9y ago
I only focus on an imaginable empty space in front of me and totally blank my mind. It's not easy, because thoughts do come back, but with practice it gets better. Those times I manage to "get in the zone" it feels like time slows down considerably, so I always set a timer for 20 minutes (limited time in the morning, etc). What is even more interesting and fascinating is that by now I've meditated hundreds of times, but every single time the general feeling is different. I guess this could be attributed to endless complexity of a human mind.

by meric 9y ago

Jach 9y ago

I also do similar things, though not very often anymore. It's basically intentionally zoning out but I like to think of it as "mindlessness" now to contrast it. Techniques like focusing on body sensation can be part of mindfulness (I don't really do them except sometimes to help get into the mindless state -- I get comfy for my zoning out because I don't even want to be aware of my body if I can help it) but mindfulness is more about actually thinking. One of the times I tried a guided mindfulness session (from their website -- it's very corporate...) they said something like "think of a time you were talking with a friend, spouse, or therapist about an important situation in your life, and when the conversation was over you felt lighter, loved, and cared for." I couldn't think of such a time. Nor even imagine such a sequence of events happening ot me. Similar attempts done by company speakers randomly at all-hands meetings had similar guiding phrases that evoked no emotional memory in me at least. I don't work that way. If it was more general like "recall the feeling of being cared for", sure, I can muster something, but I don't think that's very helpful. Others' mileage may vary.

neverminder 9y ago

I only focus on an imaginable empty space in front of me and totally blank my mind. It's not easy, because thoughts do come back, but with practice it gets better. Those times I manage to "get in the zone" it feels like time slows down considerably, so I always set a timer for 20 minutes (limited time in the morning, etc). What is even more interesting and fascinating is that by now I've meditated hundreds of times, but every single time the general feeling is different. I guess this could be attributed to endless complexity of a human mind.