Anyone else found meditation helpful?

[Bliss]

Streangth and peace, that is a great way to say it:)

I am so grateful you posted about insight timer:) cant express enough thank u's!!! it is exactly what i had been looking for for years, safe and non threatening, go at your own pace, can stop and take breaks, instruction for all levels and types, guided and unguided, the power of thousands of others medaitating at the same time but not close enough to distract! So many great teachers and discussions on top of it! I couldnt ask for anymore. I skimmed the posts in the thread and anyone intersted in learning more this to me is the safest way to stick your toe in. Can pull out anytime.

Thanks again

 

[heyheyhey]

Hey, guys!! Would be cool to update each other on how our practice is going :). I've been meditating for two-three years now, on and off - but fairly regularly for the past year. Something I noticed more recently, is that I'm a lot more aware of all my reactions - it like puts the negative under a magnifying glass, yet it gives me sense of peace, happiness and insight from which I can look into those things, if that makes sense. It's almost like all the negative thoughts and behaviours in myself have been magnified, but it kind of makes me want to steer away from them rather than fuel them/or just automatically give into them; I can see all the negative aspects clearly and it's inspiring me to choose to think and act differently. It's quite cool, though not a 100% positive experience. Just thought I'd share as an example of how some things can come up :).

 

[Teasel]

@Bliss Glad you like it! Me too, I hope they don't "new and improve it!"

 

[Teasel]

Hey, guys!! Would be cool to update each other on how our practice is going :). I've been meditating...

That makes sense - this might be a bit different to what you're saying but lately I find I'm more aware of what I'm doing and what's going on in my mind.

So when it comes to automatically heading straight for coping habits (including old ones that aren't necessarily helping me now) I am more likely to stop and look at my thoughts, feelings and body sensations.

Which helps me figure out what's behind it. But then also - instead of getting well into my story in my head, and going over and over it - I try to just feel it - physically.

And sometimes that's enough. Sometimes not - got a long way to go.

Body memories have defo increased - I comfort myself when that happens as I don't feel ready to feel them fully.

Is this the sort of thing you mean? :)

 

[Teasel]

And yes - I find it helps give me space in which to choose if I want to behave in the usual ways or not. Been looking after myself so much better lately :)

 

[Bliss]

Hey, guys!! Would be cool to update each other on how our practice is going :). I've been meditating...

Yes I am in on updating each other, it is great to have people to talk to about it and the PTSD really affects it. not sure if you mean on this thread or another way, let me know, good idea and I like your flower .

Yes I know exactly what you mean by increased awareness of everything, which is great in the long run and can be challenging in the immediate, i try to focus on being extra kind and compassionate during these high learning times, like now.

My medation feels like it is being challenged by a return of symptoms since I came back "home" two weeks ago. That is why it was so awesome Berlinda brought up insight timer, because when symptoms rear up I need to return to basics, paying attention to breath, loving kindness, simplicity. The guided medations focusing on sleep, relax action, peace are super great right now. When under stress like this my breathing gets off so just working on remembering to breathe is good.

I was extremely fortunate to have been traveling the country camping since August with my dog so I could really live my practice. My thinking, emotions, physical were pretty balanced so I could easily do 1/2 hour, couple of times a day. I have been dabbling in this for twenty years, and have been laying a pretty good, easy foundation for a daily practice for about six. So I was to a place where I could "trust" my mind and body during medation to not scare the hell out of me:). I have been healing from trauma since I was twenty and 51 now. Done many years of thearpy, and self help. Yoga was a life saver. Learning tai chi now.

Reminding myself I have not lost this now, although it feels like it. I am in a motel with Internet connection, which I don't usually have so I am using the time to try out lots of different medations.

Great idea @heyheyhey , excited to hear what you all are up to, feel so much more energized thinking about this.

Do you think this thread or a new one to keep each other updated?

 

[Bliss]

@Bliss Glad you like it! Me too, I hope they don't "new and improve it!"

Yes like starting to charge!!! Can't believe it is free, it is reassuring to see.

 

[Bliss]

@Berlinda, i am pretty new here, not sure how much we try to keep to the topic that was originally posted, please let me know if we should do anything different. Thanks for the subject

 

[Teasel]

I love the idea of catching up with everyone and how they're getting on with meditation, though I've been dabbling and reading about meditation for years this is the first time I've decided to try every day so am very much a beginner in daily practise.

I think I'd find it great to read what others have to say!

honestly have no preference for it to be in this thread or a new dedicated one. Have no idea of wanting the topic to stay on the original question either

@Bliss your summer sounds gorgeous and simple. And being in nature and with a dog to boot! Can easily imagine it must been properly calming :)

 

[whiteraven]

Delighted to see this thread! I am Buddhist and practice mindfulness meditation, although the two are not mutually exclusive. You definitely don't have to be Buddhist to meditate! An interesting thing, I didn't start practicing regularly until I started having serious trouble (like at-the-end-of-my-rope kind of trouble) with my depression and PTSD, and mindfulness is the ONLY thing that has helped me. I've been on countless medications, tried all kinds of therapies and diets, and I keep coming back to mindfulness.

I am lucky in this one regard - my therapist is a Zen priest and mindfulness expert/teacher. When I was looking for a new one a few years ago, I tried to find someone "different," because I was in a super bad place and nothing was working. It's totally true that "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear." LOL I'd had a Buddhist background, so it ended up being a perfect fit.

My PTSD doesn't allow for a lot of "sitting" at meditation these days, but I practice "on the go." With mindfulness, everything is meditation. For me, being able to incorporate this into my daily activities, bringing the present into everything that I do, helps calm the anxiety and panic and anger. And the practice helps esp. during time of intense emotion, because it shows me that *nothing* is permanent, and it allows me to acknowledge the feelings and let them pass on their own, without burying them.

I also do metta practice. What a beautiful thing! I think, though, learning and being willing to show compassion to yourself is sooo hard. I don't do this as often as I would like. Mine goes like this:

May I be free from fear.
May I be happy.
May I be healthy.
May I dwell in peace.

Then, I do the same for others. What is very powerful, is when I am angry with someone or feeling particularly annoyed with someone, and can stop and say:

May (insert name here) be free from fear.
May (insert name here) be happy.
May (insert name here) be healthy.
May (insert name here) dwell in peace.

This has just dissolved me into tears more than once. And put others' in a whole new light. In truth, imo, people act and respond out of their own suffering. It's just so hard to recognize that.

Thank you for reminding me how important this practice is.

And metta (loving-kindness) to all of you!

 

[heyheyhey]

That makes sense - this might be a bit different to what you're saying but lately I find I'm more awar...

Yes, this is what I mean :). I find the longer you do it, the more into focus things become. I was listening to a talk by Pema Chodron the other day, and she was saying how all the horrible catastrophes of what you are come into focus, but you experience it in a joyful way; it sounds like a paradox, but I think that there is joy in this because you see that you are free, free to think, feel and act in a different way and that there is some unmovable sense of peace and goodness in you that can't be dismantled by anything.

 

[heyheyhey]

Yes I am in on updating each other, it is great to have people to talk to about it and the PTSD really af...

Wow Bliss, that's incredible - you have been practicing for ages!! That is awesome and awesome that you had the the time to dedicate to your practice as you travelled, hopefully you get back into the groove of it again :). I love this practice :)!