3 ms·

It's actually hard to practice concentrating with a game or active activity. If you truly want to meet your mind, sit down and do nothing, i.e. meditate. You'll

It's actually hard to practice concentrating with a game or active activity. If you truly want to meet your mind, sit down and do nothing, i.e. meditate. You'll notice your mind racing, and you'll see just why it's hard to concentrate on anything. You can then practice letting go of intervening thoughts, without self hate, and just observe the breath, sounds around, but in a passive, calm manner, not reactionary or impulsive with the attention.

adenozine 6y ago
I've heard this advice many times over the years, and I guess I've really just never committed myself to meditation as a regimen. I can keep a fitness routine very well, I think that's as close I get with my brain to that place of reflection. Did you have any like, significant trauma to deal with when you started meditating? I have some things in my past that I feel the need to run from when I am still and quiet in my mind.
- jen729w 6y ago
  (Beginner/very part-time meditator here.) Just start. I think most ‘courses’ will address this concern — it’s kinda the basic tenet of meditation, that you‘ll notice thoughts but that this is okay. You train yourself to notice them, observe them, and let them drift by. Personally I like Headspace because I find Andy Puddicombe’s voice delightful. But of course there are a million meditation resources, many free. As someone who never thought I’d be a meditator — and whose first experience was in a packed auditorium with Sam Harris at the front, which was amazing [0] — I can’t recommend it enough. This thread has me wanting to get back in to it. (Because, like anything else, the act of just doing it is half the battle won.) [0]: At the global atheist conference, whatever it was called, in Melbourne, c. 2012? Anyone else there?

3 ms·

It's actually hard to practice concentrating with a game or active activity. If you truly want to meet your mind, sit down and do nothing, i.e. meditate. You'll

by Dumblydorr 6y ago

adenozine 6y ago
I've heard this advice many times over the years, and I guess I've really just never committed myself to meditation as a regimen. I can keep a fitness routine very well, I think that's as close I get with my brain to that place of reflection. Did you have any like, significant trauma to deal with when you started meditating? I have some things in my past that I feel the need to run from when I am still and quiet in my mind.
- jen729w 6y ago
  (Beginner/very part-time meditator here.) Just start. I think most ‘courses’ will address this concern — it’s kinda the basic tenet of meditation, that you‘ll notice thoughts but that this is okay. You train yourself to notice them, observe them, and let them drift by. Personally I like Headspace because I find Andy Puddicombe’s voice delightful. But of course there are a million meditation resources, many free. As someone who never thought I’d be a meditator — and whose first experience was in a packed auditorium with Sam Harris at the front, which was amazing [0] — I can’t recommend it enough. This thread has me wanting to get back in to it. (Because, like anything else, the act of just doing it is half the battle won.) [0]: At the global atheist conference, whatever it was called, in Melbourne, c. 2012? Anyone else there?