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Post by Melissa on Feb 5, 2011 15:59:56 GMT -5
I've been doing this 21-Day Meditation Challenge (the time it takes to develop a habit/ritual) through the Chopra Centre, and I found Day 9 particularly effective. It reminded me a lot of the Circle of Love that Mary-Ann facilitates on this forum. If you're interested in this process, here's a link to the website: www.chopracentermeditation.com/winterday9/ (I linked it to Day 9, but start at the beginning if you want to challenge yourself to 21 days)! MJ has been present in pretty much every meditation I've done so far. Davidji (the guide) dispells a lot of myths about the difficulty of meditation -- that it's not about silencing our thoughts, which can't be done, but rather extending "the gap" between our thoughts to find moments of stillness. L.O.V.E. Mel
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Post by carlay245 on Feb 5, 2011 23:21:40 GMT -5
This sounds very interesting. I'ii definitely look into it. Thank You!
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Post by smile2010 on Feb 6, 2011 0:55:58 GMT -5
Thanks..... I've been trying the meditation visualising for a couple of months but I'm not a natural at ALL LOL....Susanxx
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Post by MaryAnn Layton on Feb 13, 2011 10:36:19 GMT -5
Thanks very much for sharing this, Mel! You are right that it is impossible to silence our thoughts, so maybe that's why some have a very difficult time with meditating. It's true that it's not about shutting your mind down, but rather replacing the mundane thoughts racing through your mind with peaceful thoughts that relax you. I'm lucky that I unknowingly learned how to meditate long ago, but didn't know that's what it was. When I could never fall asleep because my mind was racing, I had read somewhere to picture yourself in a peaceful place, a beautiful place you could enjoy, so I would always pick the countryside or the beach, and by doing this every nite for more than 2 weeks, I "trained" myself to fall asleep. Since then, I haven't had a problem I believe that Michael had a similar problem, except that he didn't have mundane thoughts like the rest of us, but rather his mind was racing with creative ideas, especially at nite when he was finally alone with no other distractions. This is probably why he felt he needed a way to really shut his mind down! What do you think?
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Post by keepthefaith58 on Feb 14, 2011 2:16:24 GMT -5
Thank you for the link! I have been looking for a something like this to follow...the learn about practicing 'mindfulness'...of being in the now instead of always dwelling in the past, or worrying about the future. I am definitely going to go for the full 21 day challenge! Just what I needed at just the right time! L.O.V.E.
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Post by Melissa on Feb 18, 2011 4:44:56 GMT -5
I'm glad this is helpful for a few of you. It was a wonderful experience for me, and I do believe I have developed a ritual that will continue.
MAL ... I have thought about MJ's struggles with insomnia many times and feel very empathetic toward what he must have suffered. Especially with a creative mind such as his. It was obviously something he struggled with until the last day of his life and I often feel very close to him during the dark hours when sleep is elusive.
These meditations are helping to ground me and introduce moments of stillness and peace into my days. You're so fortunate to have learned this technique early on in your life!
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