(no subject)
.........................Lil' Laurie with Kaz and Rita, circa 1994 
Do any of you readers out there listen to subliminal messages, that you know of? I see a lot of that kind of thing marketed, even with accompanying lists telling you what the messages are on the recording. Perhaps I just don't trust, but I think it's more that I want to know on a conscious level what my subconscious is supposed to be influencing, or influenced by. Maybe just a case of F.M.I. (Fraida Missin' Somthin), but I have never listened to the tapes or cds that allegedly have subliminals on them. Maybe lots of them do and I don't know it! I guess I don't think they'd be too effective, whether you knew about them or not.
Tara Brach, in today's clip, offers you a heart-saving experience.
Of course, this month's theme does not present even a cursorily comprehensive survey, as you know. Doing you tube searches for Peace of Mind, meditation, visualization, healing, hypnosis, relax, and many other terms might lead you on a great journey to your higher self, or at least to your library's database.
Definitely be selective and informed before you start purchasing items, because even if you can afford to buy whatever you want, there is just so much out there that will just take up space in your home, or the home of whomever you give it to, unless it is something that really connects with you individually. If you only do M/V when you are stressed or have insomnia, or are bored, or whatever, that's fine. If it becomes a chore, you're probably not going to want to do it every day or even a few times a week anyhow. But you may find something that you enjoy as a routine temporarily, or long term. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that many of us have a cultural or upbringing-related presumption that anything worthwhile has to be difficult, strenuous, and take up half your morning, or evening time that you should be sleeping, or you won't be able to watch idol, or have fun with your friends, or whatever. A lot of the practices alluded to and explored this month on ye olde LJ actually are the opposite of that. Take half the day to stretch and twist and banish thought and deprive yourself of something if you want, but realistically, if you want to take one minute, five minutes, fifteen, or more minutes to just take a break from the hustle bustle of life, that's very healthy. Or even a moment, literally an instant, less than a second to center yourself can be learned, by yourself, but it is also mentioned often in the fifteen years that I have been listening to guided meditations/self-hypnosis, etc. You don't have to come up with a vivid visual image or key words to have a special place in your mind that helps you stay grounded. You don't really have to sit a certain way or (not) think about certain things unless those approaches really work for you. Try something, don't try something, but do try relaxing in new ways and see if you gain something from it.
Certainly there are activities and skills that are challenging, and it's true challenge and accomplishment attained through intense effort can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience too. But in many different ways I think that idea has become a demotivator. For example a jock might hate to sit still and not think about sports, and they might really enjoy a moving meditation, which in a way is what any type of extended exercise can be anyway. I enjoy working out, but I don't want to do it all day long. I get too bored or frustrated with really slow instructional tapes about yoga, qi gong, tai chi, etc. but the same is true of dance/aerobics presentations as well. Now for me, I think it's important to try all of those again, because different times in my life, and different instructors make for a different experience for me. And our priorities and what we like to do with our time does change. And part of it is just getting back in the habit of agreeing to spend a little bit of the big amount of time I have, and then if I like it spending longer. And also giving myself permission, if I am short on time before work or whatever, to do only ten minutes of what I think "should" be thirty minutes. That kind of thing. Time is a frustrating thing, even when you got lots of it. The small amount of movement/ meditation/visualization I'm doing this month feels great. Now to just not get too distracted by other stuff that I can do other times anyhow!
If you find that in your present life you do have a lot of time on your hands, and are feeling perhaps a little too grounded, adding stress isn't always the answer, though many people will push for that if you let them. These kinds of practices, or just considering these concepts, can help you focus and structure your time if you have any time to explore them further. So it's always useful. Over the years I have certainly used M/V for both, brief escapes from stress, something to pass the time on the bus, a way to fall asleep, a way to get myself moving or distract myself from unproductive or unpleasant thoughts. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
I would advise against deeming a meditation or similar practice to be unworthy if it seems easy, or even fun to do. As with exercise, and I hope with nutrition, learning, service to others, earning your living, or any other personal pursuits, remember that it can be very beneficial even if you enjoy it! Especially if you enjoy it.
Do any of you readers out there listen to subliminal messages, that you know of? I see a lot of that kind of thing marketed, even with accompanying lists telling you what the messages are on the recording. Perhaps I just don't trust, but I think it's more that I want to know on a conscious level what my subconscious is supposed to be influencing, or influenced by. Maybe just a case of F.M.I. (Fraida Missin' Somthin), but I have never listened to the tapes or cds that allegedly have subliminals on them. Maybe lots of them do and I don't know it! I guess I don't think they'd be too effective, whether you knew about them or not.
Tara Brach, in today's clip, offers you a heart-saving experience.
Click to viewOf course, this month's theme does not present even a cursorily comprehensive survey, as you know. Doing you tube searches for Peace of Mind, meditation, visualization, healing, hypnosis, relax, and many other terms might lead you on a great journey to your higher self, or at least to your library's database.
Definitely be selective and informed before you start purchasing items, because even if you can afford to buy whatever you want, there is just so much out there that will just take up space in your home, or the home of whomever you give it to, unless it is something that really connects with you individually. If you only do M/V when you are stressed or have insomnia, or are bored, or whatever, that's fine. If it becomes a chore, you're probably not going to want to do it every day or even a few times a week anyhow. But you may find something that you enjoy as a routine temporarily, or long term. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that many of us have a cultural or upbringing-related presumption that anything worthwhile has to be difficult, strenuous, and take up half your morning, or evening time that you should be sleeping, or you won't be able to watch idol, or have fun with your friends, or whatever. A lot of the practices alluded to and explored this month on ye olde LJ actually are the opposite of that. Take half the day to stretch and twist and banish thought and deprive yourself of something if you want, but realistically, if you want to take one minute, five minutes, fifteen, or more minutes to just take a break from the hustle bustle of life, that's very healthy. Or even a moment, literally an instant, less than a second to center yourself can be learned, by yourself, but it is also mentioned often in the fifteen years that I have been listening to guided meditations/self-hypnosis, etc. You don't have to come up with a vivid visual image or key words to have a special place in your mind that helps you stay grounded. You don't really have to sit a certain way or (not) think about certain things unless those approaches really work for you. Try something, don't try something, but do try relaxing in new ways and see if you gain something from it.
Certainly there are activities and skills that are challenging, and it's true challenge and accomplishment attained through intense effort can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience too. But in many different ways I think that idea has become a demotivator. For example a jock might hate to sit still and not think about sports, and they might really enjoy a moving meditation, which in a way is what any type of extended exercise can be anyway. I enjoy working out, but I don't want to do it all day long. I get too bored or frustrated with really slow instructional tapes about yoga, qi gong, tai chi, etc. but the same is true of dance/aerobics presentations as well. Now for me, I think it's important to try all of those again, because different times in my life, and different instructors make for a different experience for me. And our priorities and what we like to do with our time does change. And part of it is just getting back in the habit of agreeing to spend a little bit of the big amount of time I have, and then if I like it spending longer. And also giving myself permission, if I am short on time before work or whatever, to do only ten minutes of what I think "should" be thirty minutes. That kind of thing. Time is a frustrating thing, even when you got lots of it. The small amount of movement/ meditation/visualization I'm doing this month feels great. Now to just not get too distracted by other stuff that I can do other times anyhow!
If you find that in your present life you do have a lot of time on your hands, and are feeling perhaps a little too grounded, adding stress isn't always the answer, though many people will push for that if you let them. These kinds of practices, or just considering these concepts, can help you focus and structure your time if you have any time to explore them further. So it's always useful. Over the years I have certainly used M/V for both, brief escapes from stress, something to pass the time on the bus, a way to fall asleep, a way to get myself moving or distract myself from unproductive or unpleasant thoughts. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
I would advise against deeming a meditation or similar practice to be unworthy if it seems easy, or even fun to do. As with exercise, and I hope with nutrition, learning, service to others, earning your living, or any other personal pursuits, remember that it can be very beneficial even if you enjoy it! Especially if you enjoy it.