The unsettled mind

“The simplest, most fundamental, most basic, and most important meditative skill of all is the ability to settle the mind” (Chade-Meng Tan, 2016).

Sometimes our daily lives are just too high stress, to competitive, too driven and sometimes life is just full of drama, and not in a good way.

Regardless of age you will have experienced an unsettled mind and unsettled thoughts at some point in your life and so many of us are experiencing very unsettled thoughts at the moment. 

There are times when settling your mind is a job of work and exceptionally difficult and other times when it takes just a moment to reset.  It is one area where practice really does make perfect.  The more that you practice the methods that suit you and your lifestyle the easier it becomes over time.

Here are a few of the simplest techniques that I have found to be most useful.  Each takes a minute (or as long as you wish, but even a minute will make a world of difference).

Grounding – Take a moment to notice where you are sitting, where your body touches the surface that is supporting you.  For one minute, bring gentle attention to the breath, or the body. If attention wanders away, gently bring it back.

Sit into the feeling – Put no pressure on yourself just sit with the feeling. Say to yourself; “There is nowhere to go and nothing to do for this one moment, except to rest.” Continue to breath and if your attention wanders away, gently bring it back. 

Learn to be – just Be.  Sit without agenda. Just think about sitting. Just sit and experience the present moment, for the duration of one minute.

If you need additional support at the moment please do get in touch.