Sort:  

Definite resteem. This is incredibly useful.

The way I see it, the brain is constantly working throughout the day, on both the conscious and subconscious level. Then you do to sleep, and the brain is in overdrive once again once you dive into the dream realm.

Meditation is the only opportunity that your brain will get to rest. And like anything, after a rest, it will begin to work more efficiently.

I started it to improve my memory, as I did a fair few A class drugs in my teens and felt I damaged my brain a fair bit. It helped me with my memory, but also helped me accidentally learn to control my dreams, sleep a lot easier just like you, improved my focus and my patience and I also don't think I have been sick since more than a couple of times since I started it a good few years ago.

I'd definitely recommend it also, but it is certainly not easy when you are just starting out. Like anything, it is a skill that needs to be cultivated, so if you are going to give this a try, don't give up so easily. The benefits far outweigh the potential frustration you might have whilst learning how to do it.

Thank you. Yes for sure it is something that needs practice. That's why I did the course. It got me into the habit of doing it and now I can easily switch into mindfulness mode whenever I have a moment here or there or I'm waiting for something.

Yes, it becomes a lot easier once you have been doing it a while.

I can't get anywhere near as deep as I used to go, I'm guessing perhaps because of a diet change. But, when I was going very deep into meditative states, it's crazy how similar the feeling actually was to that of the A class drugs I was doing in my teens, specifically ecstasy in this case.

I think whatever chemical is induced by the drugs is naturally secreted during deep states of meditation, so it can be utterly euphoric as well as healthy for your mind and body. There's really no good reason not to be doing it..

I can't get anywhere near as deep as I used to go, I'm guessing perhaps because of a diet change

You might try doing it in a group - it seems to make it more intense for me at least.

I think whatever chemical is induced by the drugs is naturally secreted during deep states of meditation, so it can be utterly euphoric as well as healthy for your mind and body.

Yes I think so. I suspect that that the neurotransmitter profile may be quite similar to some drugs - without the side effects!

I haven't tried it in a group, but I did try it with one other person before and I just fell asleep. Definitely something I shall give a try if returning to my previous diet, which I plan to do very soon, doesn't have the desired effect.

Thanks for the advice!

Agree and thanks taking the time to shine some light on mindfulness! I was introduced to the practice a few months ago and it has been a lifesaver, to say the least. There are a lot of great ios apps too!

Yes actually I forgot to mention the apps thanks for bringing them up!

Medication won't solve the problem/stress...mindfulness takes some good practice..one's brain will play tricks...but practice makes perfect & things start click into bigger picture...I've started recently 30 days of yoga challenge, now on day 20, it does make a difference :)

Yes medication on it's own rarely does much more than giving some short term assistance (or helping to reduce the risk of relapses) - you need other strategies to deal with stress.

Very nice and easy to understand summary... in my personal experience, this kind of natural is far more effective than pharmaceuticals for stress, anxiety and more. AND it doesn't "shred your liver" and 400 other side effects.

I started doing "walking meditations" about 10 years ago, and it radically reduced my stress levels... and my blood pressure. I know it's not exactly the same thing as MM, but it still involves active awareness of the body, steps and breath. I just like it because it adds movement to the mix.

I started doing "walking meditations" about 10 years ago, and it radically reduced my stress levels... and my blood pressure.

Actually walking meditation does count - I learned it myself and use it when I am walking. That's the great thing about MM there are lots of ways to do it so you can pick what works best for you:)

Nice post...
As the modern world continues to spiral faster and faster, people are becoming lost, then purposeless and finally depressed. It is because their mind is no longer under their personal control and confusion overwhelms.
Mindful Meditation will help them re-calibrate.

Yes I think so. Thank you:)

More of this content will bring a wilder variety of people to find interest in steem and build up the community

Thanks I hope people find it interesting.

sooo good! Why does in not have a Resteem button? (i am new here)

I think because it is an old post.

so for how long is it possible to share. Do you know?

Probably until the post pays out.

Thank you for sharing. I upvoted your post and you have a new follower.

Thank you so much for your support :)

Gosh, I miss having time to meditate. I was super obsessed with meditation, techniques, practices, philosophies, etc. Jon Kabat-Zinn is a great a author. So is Eckhart Tolle. I also recommend you look into Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. I believe they both have YouTube Channels. After a stressful day, I will lay next my cell phone an listen to one of Tara's talks until I fall asleep. I think I should do that right now. Thanks for the post! I needed a reminder to be in the present moment! Whenever I have time I plan on writing a lot about the subject, since I used to study different types of buddhism and have learned a lot along the way. Take care. :)

Cool thank you for sharing your experiences and the links will check them out:)

Great writeup! I'll resteem this post.

Thank you so much :)

upvote resteem and follow

Thank you very much :)

Thank you for the reminder, It's just what I needed right now. Great article too.

No problem glad you found it useful:)

I worked at a resort that encouraged mindfulness for its employees and guests. I remember in the orientation we met with a nutritionist and she talked about mindful eating. We were served a nice plate of food and told to eat slowly and think about the taste and texture of the food. This was a whole new experience for me and secretly thought it was kind of a joke. I then realized how often I had eaten without even enjoying it or thinking about it. I could go on about my experiences but my point is I remember those experiences like yesterday and still practice many of them.

Thanks for the post and the reminder!

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

We were served a nice plate of food and told to eat slowly and think about the taste and texture of the food.

This is a common exercise in mindfulness courses - I think it is also in one of Kabat-Zinn's books.

It is surprising how much of life we go through mindlessly instead of mindfully.

I recount reading a study several years back about how mindful eating had been successfully used to help treat obesity.

It did not solve the entire problem for people who were overweight but it did help them as part of combined treatment.

I have had my own issues with overeating in the past and a couple of years ago when I went to see a dietitian I was impressed to see she actually mentioned this research and the importance of mindfulness when eating!

I could see how that would be very helpful for people who want to have more control over their weight. I don't think we had a single person in orientation with a weight issue. I am certain that the majority of us seldom mindfully ate and that could lead to weight issues in the future.

Interesting. I also think that often overeating (for me at least) just like alcohol is a self-medication or mental escape strategy.

it is not interesting for the mind to meditate, or even relax ... that's why meditation seems so out of reach for many ... it is like a paradox because how can we become more mindful if we don't even want to stop distracting ourselves?

it is truly a miracle that can happen when we find ourselves in a tough spot, a space of limbo, perhaps emotionally, or even physically, and are looking for a way out of this predicament
this miracle is our Willingness to move into a direction that is relaxing, calming, centering, balancing, harmonizing, and clearing ...
even if our mind is screaming to feed it with more of the substance of mass distraction that it is addicted to

Thanks for sharing these super powerful insights @thecryptofiend!
Sharing 💚