Meditation tips for an insecure guy?
I have heard that meditation can help the mind quiet down and focus on a goal. I hope this is true because my mind is always going a mile a minute and I’m constantly afraid of screwing up. I’d like to meditate in a way that could help me become more focused and self-confident.
I consider myself a Buddhist, although I find it hard to practice. Whenever I meditate, it’s no different for me than anything else I do in life — in that I second-guess everything I do and can’t stop wondering whether I’m doing something wrong.
I find it hard to get started in the first place. It’s difficult for me to turn my mind “off.” I’m an introverted guy, and I’m always over-thinking everything, even things that should be simple. This problem effects most areas of my life, including meditation.
Does anyone have any tips how I can stay focused on my meditation and use it as a tool to make myself a little more focused and motivated in my day-to-day life?
Thanks for the tips. I have a few responses.
As far as yoga goes, I’m sure that works for a lot of people, but it’s not for me. When I want to tone my body, I work out with free-weights. I want to focus on my mind.
As far as getting a meditation teacher goes, I live in an area where there are no temples, schools or classes. Even if there were teachers here, I wouldn’t have the time or money to ask one for help.
Question posted courtesy of: Caffeinated Content for WordPress
May 29th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
if you can find the time Yoga is an excelent way to clear and relax the mind. It also tone you body. It’s like a double whammy
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:06 am
I use guided meditations that I can listen to. You don’t have to worry about doing it wrong because they tell you exactly what to do. You can get them off iTunes. I like Doreen Blumenfeld (sp?), Journey into Healing Light.
June 3rd, 2007 at 8:38 pm
I know exactly how you feel. I can’t quiet my mind at all, and I can hardly sit still. As soon as I try to, suddenly I get uncomfortable or there is some itch that I need to scratch. Having a clear mind and a composed body is hard work! One of the things that I’ve learned to do is to focus on some visual, instead of trying to clear my mind. Maybe visualization will work for you. Try visualizing colors, and imbue them with appropriate sound. For instance, white light ‘buzzes’ or ‘hums’ for me.
June 4th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
I’m Christian, but I practice meditation too as a part of my religious experience, but mostly for my health and pain management. It’s great. I’ve never understood why some Christians are so afraid of it.
First, give yourself a break - you’re not screwing up if your mind wanders. Totally clearing your mind takes A LOT of practice. It’s not something your totally going to accomplish all at once. I certainly haven’t accomplished it yet.
Just start with calming your body and making sure your breathing is deep and steady.
Also, you may want to look into some meditation techniques that give you some things to think about. I usually start with some counting, and then giving myself a few minutes in a “happy place” and then I work on some pain management suggestions or just breathing. Rarely is my mind at total zero, but it’s still very refreshing.
good luck
June 5th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
you dont need meditation,you need a good pair of hard shoes with quarter irons.
June 8th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
You need the proper guidance from a good teacher
or a master if you are doing Zen meditation
June 9th, 2007 at 1:28 am
If you’re practicing Buddhist meditation then you need a meditation guide or a teacher to help you.
_()_
June 9th, 2007 at 6:22 am
I grind my teeth like mad, and my dentist advised me to take up yoga, which I am going to. Despite this awful habit, I am not really a stressed out, high strung person.
“Anger is the weak person’s imitation of strength”
June 12th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
there are different sorts of meditations. For stilling the mind here are a few tips:
1. Look inside your heart that is where peace is found.
2. Listen to your thoughts. While you try to still them they will fight you, but if you sit back and watch they will go quiet by themselves.
3. It takes time. It took me one month of meditating for about 6 hours a day to still my mind. And i don’t think i even had a very busy mind in the first place.
4. The more you are aware the less you can think. It’s like it uses the same muscles. Listen to your thoughts, and the sounds you can hear and your body and how you feel etc. the more you notice things the less you will think about things.