Meditation, mindfulness, consciousness

[David.]

I'm starting meditation and mindfulness this week, part of my treatment for anxiety. I'll keep y'all posted on how it goes. I always thought "why the fuck would I want to focus on my thoughts when the problem is I can't ever tune out all these spinning thoughts in my head"? My first extended session trying it, and I was able to find focus and calm.....and it did make me feel like I have a lot more control over my brain then I thought. Excited to start this daily.

I'd be interested to see updates

 

[Otsego Mar]

Go on

Without going into detail (because I don't know the details), in order to watch a movie you first have to select a movie.

Imagination -> Actualization

 

[David.]

Without going into detail (because I don't know the details), in order to watch a movie you first have to select a movie.

Imagination -> Actualization

What is "you?"

 

[Otsego Mar]

What is "you?"

Depends on who's asking.....

 

[TyGuy]

I need to look into this after spending the night in the er with heart palpitations. I don’t know if it’s anxiety or what because I do have a history of it. I’m still waiting on thyroid level results but my heartbeat just wouldn’t slow down and it was scary as fuck. They gave me two separate ekgs and a bunch of blood work.

I’m not sure how much me being diabetic plays as a precaution for them to hold me over night for monitoring, but they discharged me early and cancelled my cardiologist appointment they had setup.

 

[Otsego Mar]

Go on

 

[pr26]

I need to look into this after spending the night in the er with heart palpitations. I don’t know if it’s anxiety or what because I do have a history of it. I’m still waiting on thyroid level results but my heartbeat just wouldn’t slow down and it was scary as fuck. They gave me two separate ekgs and a bunch of blood work.

I’m not sure how much me being diabetic plays as a precaution for them to hold me over night for monitoring, but they discharged me early and cancelled my cardiologist appointment they had setup.

Sorry to hear man. Hope they figure it out.

 

[David.]

long video, not that I have anything against those. Do you have a snippet to focus on?

At 6:20, Sam starts explaining the most salient parts in the best way

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIXEbVCqr2Q&feature=youtu.be

 

[Whittaker]

What is "you?"

This is the key question.

 

[Otsego Mar]

long video, not that I have anything against those. Do you have a snippet to focus on?

At 6:20, Sam starts explaining the most salient parts in the best way

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIXEbVCqr2Q&feature=youtu.be

Listen to the first 7:45 minutes. But I highly suggest you listen to the whole thing. Maybe 3 times.

 

[TyGuy]

Sorry to hear man. Hope they figure it out.

Usually deep slow breaths relax me, but that wasn’t the case last night. I’m really interested in meditation to see if this can help me out.

I think sometimes a negative thought takes over and I can’t let it go.

 

[Obawan12]

Usually deep slow breaths relax me, but that wasn’t the case last night. I’m really interested in meditation to see if this can help me out.

I think sometimes a negative thought takes over and I can’t let it go.

Hey TyGuy

Give the "Headspace" app a shot. It's perfect for beginners. Sessions are only 10 minutes long, and the first 10 sessions are free.

 

[Obawan12]

Kept hearing this "there is no self" concept. I finally "got" that tonight. It was just fucking trippy. It's an out of body experience inside your body. I've never felt like that in my entire life.

Basically thoughts and emotions are developments of our subconscious. They are a constructed representation/explanation of neurons transmitting information. So any time you feel something, those are constructed symbols placed upon neural activity.

Should help you dissociate from the feelings and thoughts a bit - which has lots of benefits, but that's another topix. Next, rather than letting the thought or emotion play out, just recognize that it's a thought or emotion. Abbreviate the emotion with a single word. Should detach even more. Let it play out if you can.

Now. You aren't your body. If you cut your arm off, you're no less you. We moreso associate ourselves with our mind. So our body definitely isn't us. It's just what your brain and mind are controlling. You're the space behind your eyes.

But this space is really just information passing and a constant running record of it. You don't write your thoughts, you don't make yourself feel emotions. They happen on their own. You don't control them. You don't say "I choose to have this thought." You could, but that isn't you thinking that. Your mind decided to do that all on its own. You're just watching it.

Essentially your body nor mind are your own. You are just watching everything play out - with your body and within your mind. You're viewing a movie over which you really have no control. It's really, really an odd feeling when you get there. Sort of Being John Malkovich-esque.

That is awesome David! Yes, this is one of the core aspects of mindfulness meditation. I have read countless books on the subject, and I soon realized that all the different "gurus", teachers, etc. are pretty much saying the exact same thing, just using different words to say it. It is nice, because there is a different "style" for every type of personality out there, and for me personally, it helps to hear a message multiple times in different formats to really drive home a message. Even now, I will still read a new book on the subject every once in a while, especially if/when I notice my practice "drifting" a little bit in my every day life.

 

[David.]

I really like the aspect of mindfulness that challenges people to be curious in times of crisis and examine their default physical and emotional responses. I've found it really useful when dealing with high stress times at work

Adam - I've confused myself.

Is there a difference between sensory focus and letting go of thoughts and emotions vs experiencing these negative phenomenon with curiosity? Are they both within mindfulness? I feel like they overlap but are so different..

 

[Adam]

Adam - I've confused myself.

Is there a difference between sensory focus and letting go of thoughts and emotions vs experiencing these negative phenomenon with curiosity? Are they both within mindfulness? I feel like they overlap but are so different..

Honestly I'm not sure where they sit. I know one of the techniques of mindfulness is to try and engage the problem solving and curiosity centres of the brain to male people more aware of the tangible effects and become more objective. Like with stress smoking etc..the emotional need outweighs the actual experience so separate the 2 and you have am angle to change behaviour. I've never really got any ground with meditation closest I get is nba 2k on rookie