The best way I've ever found to explain what meditation does for me is to make my thoughts slippery, you know, like the opposite of glue. They slide away and disappear instead of getting stuck to the inside of my brain, screaming at me all day about how much I suck, which is, sadly, about 90% of my thoughts on average.
Damn man, while this subject has been covered time and time again, your take and tackling of it is by far my most favorite ever!!!! Well done. This one will stick with me….pun not even intended there Mr nipple
ooo Alex, you’ve nailed the power of those fleeting (yet very sticky) thoughts. So true! So undermining! I’m currently doing a 12-week Morning Pages project (aka Julia Cameron), led by Kirsten Powers, and am finding that scribbling three pages of gibberish first thing every morning does in fact capture some of these gremlin thoughts. Oh, and do call your friends; they miss you!
I was going to try and write something witty, but my friend Shame brought Insecurity in and they both said wit is not my forte. I only noticed those two came by because you just shared this lovely piece about “the noise.” Thanks for the reminder to call my friends. 🙌
Great job of sharing that small voice within, the one we all have, that's so negative. I often laugh at the thought that I'd never spend time with a friend who talked to me the way I talk to myself. And the repeating, repeating, repeating. OMG! But I must say one nice thing about aging, is that while I haven't completely quieted the negative banter, and probably never will, I have come a long way. I'm pretty nice to myself these days, but there's always room for a little negativity. 😈
this was such a fun and resonating read! really reminds me to keep the saying in mind: "you are not your thoughts, you are someone who thinks. you are not your feelings, you are someone who feels."
I heard someone talking the other day about identifying the voice with someone from your past (most likely mum or dad, obvs) and really embodying the thought in that voice. Can be helpful I find! Also, another thing I’ve found really helpful is saying to myself: “that’s just a thought” and neutralising it as much as poss. I know it’s my brain’s guess at keeping me safe.
I have many thoughts, but the one that seems most helpful here is from a Spongebob episode. Spongebob was stuck in this roller thingy that he uses to squeeze himself out and he asked for Patrick's help and Patrick, being the genius that he is, used forever glue on Spongebob. You know, in an effort to help. Which caused Spongebob to cry because he couldn't do anything stuck in this roller thingy, and, as it turned out, his tears melted the forever glue and he got out. So all that to say...maybe you just need a good feelin-sorry-for-myself cry and then, when that's over, pick up the phone and call your friends? I believe in you! XO
ADHD? This was exactly my brain when we had the babies (all grown-up coping mechanisms fly out of the window when you become a parent… it’s awful… I feel you!)
Meditation is amazing, but it’s hard if you are where you are in this space and time (there are also different types, some harder than others)
Try yoga instead — which is basically moving meditation with your breath.
You can also try a walking mindfulness — basically walk around the woods and notice EVERYTHING: sounds (birds, shuffling of creatures in the bushes, etc), sensations (how your feet feel when walking on the ground, temperature), smells, etc etc
Then a good meditation for our brain is a chanting one (repeat a mantra over and over — pick a positive one)
Lastly, do you have any parent friends? It’s important to connect with people going through the same thing atm for support xx
The best way I've ever found to explain what meditation does for me is to make my thoughts slippery, you know, like the opposite of glue. They slide away and disappear instead of getting stuck to the inside of my brain, screaming at me all day about how much I suck, which is, sadly, about 90% of my thoughts on average.
1. Call a friend.
2. Apologize for not calling sooner.
3. Accept forgiveness.
Your thoughts won’t change, but that’s one less thing…
Damn man, while this subject has been covered time and time again, your take and tackling of it is by far my most favorite ever!!!! Well done. This one will stick with me….pun not even intended there Mr nipple
ooo Alex, you’ve nailed the power of those fleeting (yet very sticky) thoughts. So true! So undermining! I’m currently doing a 12-week Morning Pages project (aka Julia Cameron), led by Kirsten Powers, and am finding that scribbling three pages of gibberish first thing every morning does in fact capture some of these gremlin thoughts. Oh, and do call your friends; they miss you!
I was going to try and write something witty, but my friend Shame brought Insecurity in and they both said wit is not my forte. I only noticed those two came by because you just shared this lovely piece about “the noise.” Thanks for the reminder to call my friends. 🙌
Great job of sharing that small voice within, the one we all have, that's so negative. I often laugh at the thought that I'd never spend time with a friend who talked to me the way I talk to myself. And the repeating, repeating, repeating. OMG! But I must say one nice thing about aging, is that while I haven't completely quieted the negative banter, and probably never will, I have come a long way. I'm pretty nice to myself these days, but there's always room for a little negativity. 😈
I’m a cool meditator. The word has tator in it like tator tot. (Tater tot?) I tried.
this was such a fun and resonating read! really reminds me to keep the saying in mind: "you are not your thoughts, you are someone who thinks. you are not your feelings, you are someone who feels."
I love the combo of hilarious insight in this article. Thanks for offering your vulnerability Alex!
“delete this.” No punctuation. That’s literally one of the funniest things I’ve ever read.
I heard someone talking the other day about identifying the voice with someone from your past (most likely mum or dad, obvs) and really embodying the thought in that voice. Can be helpful I find! Also, another thing I’ve found really helpful is saying to myself: “that’s just a thought” and neutralising it as much as poss. I know it’s my brain’s guess at keeping me safe.
First thing I’ve read of yours, love your writing style
I have many thoughts, but the one that seems most helpful here is from a Spongebob episode. Spongebob was stuck in this roller thingy that he uses to squeeze himself out and he asked for Patrick's help and Patrick, being the genius that he is, used forever glue on Spongebob. You know, in an effort to help. Which caused Spongebob to cry because he couldn't do anything stuck in this roller thingy, and, as it turned out, his tears melted the forever glue and he got out. So all that to say...maybe you just need a good feelin-sorry-for-myself cry and then, when that's over, pick up the phone and call your friends? I believe in you! XO
Haha it’s true meditation is so 2020.
ADHD? This was exactly my brain when we had the babies (all grown-up coping mechanisms fly out of the window when you become a parent… it’s awful… I feel you!)
Meditation is amazing, but it’s hard if you are where you are in this space and time (there are also different types, some harder than others)
Try yoga instead — which is basically moving meditation with your breath.
You can also try a walking mindfulness — basically walk around the woods and notice EVERYTHING: sounds (birds, shuffling of creatures in the bushes, etc), sensations (how your feet feel when walking on the ground, temperature), smells, etc etc
Then a good meditation for our brain is a chanting one (repeat a mantra over and over — pick a positive one)
Lastly, do you have any parent friends? It’s important to connect with people going through the same thing atm for support xx
Currently trying to order the book as I sit on my flight. I hope you understand the effect your words have on people and use it responsibly
😁