It’s not about “turning off” our brain. Thoughts will naturally come and go within the first few minutes as you begin to relax, especially when you’re new to meditating or if you have “busy brain”.
Try observing your thoughts and let them go as quickly as they come rather than reason them, question them, and marinade them. Did you know that you can train your brain to stop overthinking? It is a muscle after all, and much like a bicep or any other muscle, you must train it to function and grow a certain way to alter a learned pattern. So, after setting your meditation intention and engaging the body with some deep breathing, get comfortable and settle as often as you need. As the thoughts roll in, let’s play a game where each thought that pops into your mind is put into a bottle. That’s right. Imagine now, literally, putting it into a bottle, corking it, and tossing it into a river. Watch as the bottle, with the thought inside, slowly drifts down the current and around the river bend. It may take a bit of discipline to visualize this but challenge yourself to do it. Creating details in this process is helpful and also sharpens your visualization skills which is useful during a BQH PLR session and in seeing with your mind's eye [Third Eye]. It will become easier as you go and you will find it will keep your mind busy enough to limit the thoughts coming in. One by one, put them in a bottle, toss and watch them drift away. Know that you will be able to go and collect them afterwards so should you desire. Tell yourself this, that you are only letting them go for this moment. As this moment belongs to you and not your thoughts. Part of your meditation intention should be to learn to quiet the mind and learn to honour yourself with a moment of peace. Whatever you must deal with, look after, and do, etc. will all be there for you when you are done. Meditation will not only offer the benefit of the aforementioned but you will find with these newfound boundaries and self reflection, you will be more able to handle the stresses on your mind in a deeper and clearer way than ever before.
Other activities to train your brain to slow down are simply star watching, cloud gazing, observing a body of water or fish in an aquarium, using binaural beats or guided meditations, creating art, music, dance, or mastering body movements like tai chi or qigong. All of these are suggestions that can start to train the muscle also known as your brain, to slow down and be present.
Deeper meditation can be explored once you are able to experience improved focus and better control of your mind.
~ Alternative Being with Christina
