The most prevalent and perhaps unrecognized addiction is “thinking”. The mind rarely giving us a moment of peace, particularly when we want to sort something out, get organized, keep track of things or solve a problem. The mind can certainly be a great ally.
However, when we try to meditate the mind can be a major disruptor to our good intentions of stillness and going within. Understanding why the mind tries to be so disruptive may help you to go deeper in your meditation practice. I rather like the simplicity of reasoning by Cameron Day. It is about productivity, control and protection he says.
1. We all have a need to feel productive and make every waking moment count. However, the constant thinking creates a noise in our head, which adds to tension and stress, and its not until you experience the contrast of a quiet mind, that you realise how much more relaxed and peaceful you feel. Somewhat like a noisy fan in the background, that you aren’t conscious of until you turn it off and it goes quiet.
2. There is a perception that if we are thinking then we are exercising some level of control over both our inner and outer world. But what the egoic mind (sub conscious) doesn’t understand is that we have access to a much higher source of inner power when we can pause those thoughts for a while. It is in the quiet time that we can attune more to our feeling body and allow the Higher self to guide us.
3. The egoic mind likes to fool us into thinking that it is protecting us and keeping us from harm, and to some degree it is true. The ego stops us from walking out in front of car coming down the street, it helps us to feed and clothe our-self in this earthly existence.
It is also the ego that can inhibit true healing by avoiding, denying or projecting any painful feelings that can be triggered from past events or wounding, keeping the unresolved emotional pain stuck within.
How to Minimise the Egoic Mind!
1. Bring attention to your breath or your heart. Focusing on the breath will bring you into presence. Breath is always breathing and your heart is always beating.
2. Use a key phrase that resonates with you that cues the mind even further to let go and go deeper. Words like blue skies, calm down, its quiet time, open space, wide-open space, be still, let it go.
Yes… it is the mind instructing the mind!
Nevertheless, it can be very helpful. When you first state your phrase – like “be still” there will be moments of silence then the ego will emerge with a thought because it can’t handle the silence. Just keep repeating your phrase or prepare yourself with a 2nd one as a back up. Maybe “its okay – I can let it go”.
The key is to avoid attaching another thought onto the first one to avoid the train of thoughts that can distract you for elongated periods.
The more you do this – the more you create space for your higher self and the more it can expand into that open space.
This is a worthwhile mindfulness practice at any time of day outside of your meditation and can be beneficial to induce restful sleep. Enjoy