The Thorson Challenge: Exercise 5 - Meditate
When I was studying Karate as a much younger man we started every class with a ritual involving kneeling and reciting a moral code of the school, paying respects and generally getting into the proper mindset. Then at the end of every class we would stop and perform a similar ritual... I was pretty young at the time but still remember the hyper awareness I would feel at the end of class when all I was concentrating on was my breathing. It was an excited calm. This was my first experience with meditation, though I hardly recognized it as such at the time.
Some people experience this change in mental state at various times... while engaging in intense physical activity (Heavy weapons fighting in the SCA for myself), while engaged in various mental activities (I know a librarian who identified with my description while doing intense research), or for some while engaged in prayer... Many people have trouble calming their minds long enough to actually achieve what psychologists call the Alpha Brain Wave state.
Still, research shows that even taking the time to simply sit quietly and breath has it's benefits. Renewed energy, clarity of thought, better ability to focus, and guess what else? Yup, enhanced moods including happiness!
So the assignment today is to sit down for twenty minutes and meditate. If you have no idea what the process involves thats ok... there are a lot of web sites out there that kinda drone on and on about it. Finding one that works for you may be difficult, I'll outline the method that worked best for me when I was first starting.
I sit back, laying down is dangerous for novices as it's easy to fall asleep but thats ok... there are a lot of studies that show cat naps have an amazing effect on mood as well! :)
I breath in deeply to a slow count of four, hold my breath for a moment and then release as a deep sigh.
I do this about twenty or thirty times. At this point your breath should have settled itself and you can stop concentrating on it.
I then picture water, as I am looking down on a pond but all I can see is the water. I concentrate on calmness, peace and pretty much being at one with the moment and letting go of everything else. Every thought that I have outside of this theme I turn into a pebble and drop it into the water, watching the ripples I mentally force the water down, returning to a calm serene state. Once I have that calm water and can hold it there for a bit, I merger the water and my mind. Realizing the metaphor and accepting that my mind is calm and at peace.
Try to hold that state for as long as you can. Feel yourself floating above and yet immersing with yourself. It's quite the sensation.
If this doesn't work for you, don't worry. Each mind is it's own unique thing. Some people need an idea to focus on... in this case use happiness. There are loads of methods out there, but just sitting and listening to the wisdom of your breath for twenty minutes is going to help. You'll come out with renewed energy and the ability to tackler the day.
Some people experience this change in mental state at various times... while engaging in intense physical activity (Heavy weapons fighting in the SCA for myself), while engaged in various mental activities (I know a librarian who identified with my description while doing intense research), or for some while engaged in prayer... Many people have trouble calming their minds long enough to actually achieve what psychologists call the Alpha Brain Wave state.
Still, research shows that even taking the time to simply sit quietly and breath has it's benefits. Renewed energy, clarity of thought, better ability to focus, and guess what else? Yup, enhanced moods including happiness!
So the assignment today is to sit down for twenty minutes and meditate. If you have no idea what the process involves thats ok... there are a lot of web sites out there that kinda drone on and on about it. Finding one that works for you may be difficult, I'll outline the method that worked best for me when I was first starting.
I sit back, laying down is dangerous for novices as it's easy to fall asleep but thats ok... there are a lot of studies that show cat naps have an amazing effect on mood as well! :)
I breath in deeply to a slow count of four, hold my breath for a moment and then release as a deep sigh.
I do this about twenty or thirty times. At this point your breath should have settled itself and you can stop concentrating on it.
I then picture water, as I am looking down on a pond but all I can see is the water. I concentrate on calmness, peace and pretty much being at one with the moment and letting go of everything else. Every thought that I have outside of this theme I turn into a pebble and drop it into the water, watching the ripples I mentally force the water down, returning to a calm serene state. Once I have that calm water and can hold it there for a bit, I merger the water and my mind. Realizing the metaphor and accepting that my mind is calm and at peace.
Try to hold that state for as long as you can. Feel yourself floating above and yet immersing with yourself. It's quite the sensation.
If this doesn't work for you, don't worry. Each mind is it's own unique thing. Some people need an idea to focus on... in this case use happiness. There are loads of methods out there, but just sitting and listening to the wisdom of your breath for twenty minutes is going to help. You'll come out with renewed energy and the ability to tackler the day.