Definitely feeling better today. Thank you all for the support.
Sat this morning, 15 minutes or so. While I have no problem sitting, I do have resistance to meditating for longer than 15 mins or so, and am therefore trying to build up the length of my meditation, a minute at a time almost.
Have been aware recently, even while I have been feeling low, of a definite expansion, almost a feeling of warmth, in the heart area, which carries over into my normal day. Nice.
Mary, I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better! I liked the way you described a feeling of warmth in the heart area that carries over - sounds lovely.
Jean, I feel happy that you are able to see some good in the weird times of the moment. Life is like that a lot for me, full of weirdness that is hard but has good mixed in. It goes easier when I can see that there is good, and remember that it won't always last. Obviously, I haven't attained enlightenment, have I! ;-)
Sat for 22 minutes. The first, I don't know, perhaps ten minutes were totally off course, then five minutes maybe of continually bringing myself back on course, and then a surprisingly centered time. I arose feeling relaxed, calm, warm, loving. I do like it when it works that way, which of course it does only some times.
Mary, it's good to see you are feeling better; I hope it continues. What a wonderful feeling to have.
Jean, hope all is well.
Moose, I hope it passes soon, too, but I've been on bedrest for several weeks and look to be here for a few more. Alas. Nothing to do but settle in and let it be. I'll be hitting month 3 pretty soon. The time has been rushing past.
Ruth, I'm sorry you experienced something so painful, but glad you were able to both connect and let go. I miscarried this summer, and I think it lends an anxiety to this process that I wouldn't otherwise have. It seems I've been unwilling to connect with my baby, terrible as that sounds. Thank you so much for your thoughts and compassion; maybe I can learn a little from your experience. (Thought I'd mention, I also often use imagery of the tide when meditating. It's wonderfully calming.)
I have yet to meditate today, but got a few minutes in yesterday and found it a bit easier to let things slide past me.
Oh Moira, I didn't know you are confined to bed. That's hard! Will they be letting you up and about when you reach 3 months? I hope so. I can only imagine the tension that a previous miscarriage must add. I'm sorry. I hope that you will get some relief soon, on many fronts.
Ruth, I was very sorry to read your story, also. Life is wonderful, but definitely not fair.
Meditated, was able to breathe off the physical discomfort, but my thoughts bounced all over. Rooted them down somewhat by focusing them on my breathing, my hand on my belly, and my heart beating.
Moose, I imagine I'll be up and about as soon as my body is able. It's been written that most women feel better during their second trimester, so maybe in a month or two? The pregnancy itself seems to be holding strong; I'm not experiencing much in the way of the more dangerous/frightening symptoms.
I've been reluctant to say much at all, but this (meditating, finding some small bit of inner peace) is one area where I really want to make progress,and I haven't been able to do it on my own. I'm much more comfortable remaining silent; it must seem to you as if I am a stranger suddenly dropping in from the blue. Well, and so I am, really. So there it is: shyness, and shame(!) at being sick, when really I'm just pregnant and I should be able to do... x and x and x and x. So thank you all for your support, and being so accepting as I pop up out of my invisibility.
First trimester is usually hardest, I think. Certainly was for our two.
I don't think the phrase "just pregnant" should be allowed! & Certainly not in your case.
Remember that you don't have to stop the thoughts from arising. Just return from them when you recognize that you've been distracted. That's all you have to do. You can't make the mind the settle down. You just create the conditions in which it might settle down, and wait. Don't judge your success by how still you mind has been -- you don't have any control over that. Judge your success by quickly and consistently you bring your mind back once you recognize it's been swept away. That's the part you do control. As Kalu Rinpoche said -- choosing his words carefully -- if you bring your mind back immediately every time you recognize you've been distracted, you're meditating *perfectly*.
10 Comments:
Definitely feeling better today. Thank you all for the support.
Sat this morning, 15 minutes or so. While I have no problem sitting, I do have resistance to meditating for longer than 15 mins or so, and am therefore trying to build up the length of my meditation, a minute at a time almost.
Have been aware recently, even while I have been feeling low, of a definite expansion, almost a feeling of warmth, in the heart area, which carries over into my normal day. Nice.
Ruth: have a good holiday!
Glad you're feeling better, Mary.
Sat for 40 minutes this morning. I'm so glad I'm sitting. It's a weird time at the moment - good in some ways, but weird.
Mary, I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better! I liked the way you described a feeling of warmth in the heart area that carries over - sounds lovely.
Jean, I feel happy that you are able to see some good in the weird times of the moment. Life is like that a lot for me, full of weirdness that is hard but has good mixed in. It goes easier when I can see that there is good, and remember that it won't always last. Obviously, I haven't attained enlightenment, have I! ;-)
Sat for 22 minutes. The first, I don't know, perhaps ten minutes were totally off course, then five minutes maybe of continually bringing myself back on course, and then a surprisingly centered time. I arose feeling relaxed, calm, warm, loving. I do like it when it works that way, which of course it does only some times.
Mary, it's good to see you are feeling better; I hope it continues. What a wonderful feeling to have.
Jean, hope all is well.
Moose, I hope it passes soon, too, but I've been on bedrest for several weeks and look to be here for a few more. Alas. Nothing to do but settle in and let it be. I'll be hitting month 3 pretty soon. The time has been rushing past.
Ruth, I'm sorry you experienced something so painful, but glad you were able to both connect and let go. I miscarried this summer, and I think it lends an anxiety to this process that I wouldn't otherwise have. It seems I've been unwilling to connect with my baby, terrible as that sounds. Thank you so much for your thoughts and compassion; maybe I can learn a little from your experience. (Thought I'd mention, I also often use imagery of the tide when meditating. It's wonderfully calming.)
I have yet to meditate today, but got a few minutes in yesterday and found it a bit easier to let things slide past me.
Oh Moira, I didn't know you are confined to bed. That's hard! Will they be letting you up and about when you reach 3 months? I hope so. I can only imagine the tension that a previous miscarriage must add. I'm sorry. I hope that you will get some relief soon, on many fronts.
Ruth, I was very sorry to read your story, also. Life is wonderful, but definitely not fair.
Ruth: I have just read your comment from Saturday, and am very touched. Thank you so much for sharing that.
Moira: Now I see why "doing nothing with impunity" resonated. Thinking of you.
Meditated, was able to breathe off the physical discomfort, but my thoughts bounced all over. Rooted them down somewhat by focusing them on my breathing, my hand on my belly, and my heart beating.
Moose, I imagine I'll be up and about as soon as my body is able. It's been written that most women feel better during their second trimester, so maybe in a month or two? The pregnancy itself seems to be holding strong; I'm not experiencing much in the way of the more dangerous/frightening symptoms.
I've been reluctant to say much at all, but this (meditating, finding some small bit of inner peace) is one area where I really want to make progress,and I haven't been able to do it on my own. I'm much more comfortable remaining silent; it must seem to you as if I am a stranger suddenly dropping in from the blue. Well, and so I am, really. So there it is: shyness, and shame(!) at being sick, when really I'm just pregnant and I should be able to do... x and x and x and x. So thank you all for your support, and being so accepting as I pop up out of my invisibility.
{{{Moira}}}
First trimester is usually hardest, I think. Certainly was for our two.
I don't think the phrase "just pregnant" should be allowed! & Certainly not in your case.
Remember that you don't have to stop the thoughts from arising. Just return from them when you recognize that you've been distracted. That's all you have to do. You can't make the mind the settle down. You just create the conditions in which it might settle down, and wait. Don't judge your success by how still you mind has been -- you don't have any control over that. Judge your success by quickly and consistently you bring your mind back once you recognize it's been swept away. That's the part you do control. As Kalu Rinpoche said -- choosing his words carefully -- if you bring your mind back immediately every time you recognize you've been distracted, you're meditating *perfectly*.
Dale, thank you for that reminder. It's easy to forget in my enthusiasm. ;)
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