When people say "let your mind wander" or "let your thoughts flow," how do they actually do it? I’ve tried, for instance, simply observing them without getting carried away, but I don't know how *not* to get swept up in them (I don't know how to explain it 😭). Like, I’ll observe one, but I don't know how to keep just watching it without ending up getting involved with it
I'm starting to suspect it's the same person asking these meditation related questions👀 hehe ♡
It's okay to get swept up, the main goal is to notice that you've gotten swept up and to bring yourself back to the present moment.
Meditation is a practice !! You're basically teaching yourself how to remain present even when there's external distractions/ thoughts.
I'll give you step by step instructions actually:
01. Find a comfortable spot with minimal distractions
02. Sit/Lay down in a comfortable position
03. Breathe deeply. DEEP BELLY BREATHS!!
04. Listen to yourself breathe. notice the feeling of the air rushing through your nose and into your lungs, how cool and fresh the air feels, the pressure you feel in your chest as your lungs expand as they're filled with air. Notice how your chest expands and how the pressure gets too much for you too hold on to. Then notice the relief you feel when you finally let go. How much warmer the air passing through your nose is compared to how cool it was just a millisecond ago. How relaxed you now feel as your chest falls and your shoulders drop even more...
I started meditating halfway through this lol
you don't have to notice EVERYTHING, just noticing you're breathing in general is enough. I just wanted to show you that all you should be focused on is your breathing.
05. Yay! Congrats!! You're meditating
06. When thoughts come up, just notice that you're thinking and go back to focusing on your breathing. Usually, when I notice I was thinking/interacting with a thought, I'll say "I was thinking again" and start narrating my breathing. "I'm breathing in... now I'm breathing out..." and I'll keep narrating until I'm naturally focused on my breathing again.
Also, i want you to imagine you're sat opposite a road and there's cars passing by okay? It's not a really busy road but like every couple of seconds there's different cars passing by.
When a car speeds past you, you'll simply see it and let it pass right? You won't hold on to the thought that "Omg I've seen a car pass by on this road where cars pass by!!" ykwim?? You'll probably be like "oh cool car" and not think too much about it.
It's the same thing. You have a brain and the brain likes to think. It's normal to have thoughts, just as it's normal to have cars on a road. The key is to let the thoughts go and return to the present moment.
I've had moments where I'll meditate after listening to music and the music I was listening to would occasionally pop back up in my mind in the really loud and attention seeking manner all thoughts do.
What I'd do is say to myself something like "Oh cool, I love that song. Okay so, I was breathing in just now and now I'm breathing out... in... out..."
It's literally just bringing yourself back to the present !!
I don't know how else to answer this question (*﹏*;) , I really hope this resonates and that it helps ♡♡♡
Just do it a couple of times and use what I've told you. It'll get easier with time ♡♡ I believe in you !! You got this !!
