Thoughtlessness

With our minds racing this week, I thought it might be time to share the practice of "no thinking."

As the world slows down to make the pandemic slow down, we find ourselves in slower motion. We aren't comfortable with this pace. But, maybe this is an opportunity to grow more comfortable with being still. 

Quarantine is forcing us to stop. Nowhere to be. Nothing to do. Just be. 

Many times when I am visiting someone in the hospital, they tell me they feel closer to God when they are in the hospital. I think it is partly because they are still and quiet. God is always there, but sometimes we are moving too fast to notice. In the hospital we are forced to slow down. We are only focused on getting well. Nowhere to be. Nothing to do. Just be. 

You and I can help our minds to find that same pace at any time. And, when we can find pause in our thinking, we find peace.

Use this practice to stop thinking. Just a moment of peace without a thought will be a gift to yourself.

There is a peace that always available to us, and this slower pace is helping us remember that it was there all along.

Thoughtlessness

The goal of this practice is to help your mind become thoughtless.

Most adults have about 3,000 thoughts race through their minds per hour. There is a commentator in your brain noticing every move you make and every move everyone else makes. They commentate in real time, noticing many things at once. In addition to this, you also have thoughts from the past and future zoom through. Then add in all of the external noise around you, and it amounts to a loud chatter streaming in your brain all day long. 

Begin by sitting comfortably on the floor or in a chair with both of your feet on the floor. 

Straighten your back, lower your shoulders, and relax your jawline. 

Notice your breathing. Just notice. You don't have to take a deep breath. Just observe your natural breathing. Notice air flowing in and out.

Become the watcher of your thinking. Notice how busy your mind wants to be. Watch the thoughts as they fly through your brain. Observe them going by. Just thoughts. Just sentences. 

Now try to create space between the thoughts. Like a white space between sentences on a page. Increase the space. Maybe it is just a slight pause right now, but eventually, you can hold a larger space before a new thought comes in. 

Now, close your eyes and try this on your own. Set a timer on your phone for 2-3 minutes and see how good it feels to practice thoughtlessness. 

Pause and be in silence like this multiple times throughout your day. Try to become thought-less, without thought.

Allow.     Quiet.     Space.     Calm. 

Many people tell of revelations after this time of silence. Some describe clearer thinking. Some describe noticing the presence of God. Others, feel a wave of calm wash over them and feel less anxious. Try not to enter into this with a goal, just enter in to take a pause. Be without a thought. Experience freedom from thinking. 

Maintaining inner peace is easier said than done. During these chaotic times of uncertainty, your thoughts are one of the only things you can control. Try to quiet them as much as possible.

And when you notice a thought passing through, assess if it is a helpful or harmful thought to your peacefulness. If it is harmful, let it pass through. If it is helpful, invite it in and soak it up. This is a way to filter your thinking. Hold on to the thoughts that contribute to peace.

If you like guided mediations, here are a few that I have recorded. 

This too shall pass. 

Sending you love,