Don’t believe everything you think. Thoughts are just that - thoughts.
- Allan Lokos
Week Five:
This week we begin to explore Mindfulness of Thoughts. In mindfulness, the goal is not to stop thinking but grow our ability to stop becoming absorbed in our thoughts. To recognize them as thoughts and, as with all other phenomenon, become aware of their presence and allow them to take their natural course, without being consumed by them, lost in them and agitated by them.
This week we also reviewed more deeply the concept of self-compassion, particularly the aspect of common humanity. The ability to treat ourselves kindly, as part of a greater connected humankind, can be a great antidote to sticky and painful thoughts brought on by a comparing and judging mind.
Week #5 - January 30, 2022
Week Five Guided Meditations
Mindfulness of Thought meditation by Jill Shepherd (20 minutes)
“Our life can become quite simple when we stop believing everything we think”
This Week’s Home Practice
Daily Sit:
Continue your daily formal meditation practice adding into your awareness the phenomenon of thinking. Notice how thoughts spontaneously arise and, if not ‘stepped into’ can fade away on their own. Practice “noting” the type of thought (planning, worrying, rehearsing, remembering, etc.) Two guided meditations on Exploring Thinking are included for your practice this week.
I have also included a formal compassionate practice called Affectionate Breathing. If you would like to explore this, there is a guided meditation included above that gives instructions on how to use the breath as a soothing and relaxing support.
Informal Activity:
When you are in a moment of stress, struggle or overwhelm, continue to practice the Self Compassion Break we introduced in class. Acknowledge the pain (perhaps giving yourself a soothing touch), note this is a function of being human - that we all, at some point, share this pain, and then see if you can respond to yourself with kindness.