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Stumble It!Mental Noise: The Silent Killer
by amac
I'd like to write about something that causes a fair amount of disturbance in my mind. I suspect that it does for everyone, not just me; but I think many people aren't even aware of it. So I'd like to hear some ideas and thoughts from the community on their experiences with this "menace" and how to combat it.
The culprit is "mental noise," also known as the inner monologue. It's a voice that ceaselessly runs in our heads from the time we wake up until we go to sleep at night. Often it even follows us to sleep! It's analyzing everything about our lives and surroundings. We actually have a voice in our head that's just talking to itself! It's like we're all loonies!
Although useful for problem solving, I think several things are troublesome about this mental noise when it's left uncontrolled:
1. Most of the thoughts are repetitive. "The same old tapes playing over and over again" as one of my favorite authors, Eckhart Tolle, once said. Often we relive negative situations or fantasize about things that will likely never happen. I think it makes us feel like our current lives are not good enough or causes us to re-experience pain from the past.
2. We're usually thinking about the past or future, which prevents us from enjoying the now. If we're doing this 99% of the time, which I am, we're missing out on life! Perhaps in a 100 year lifespan, we're only "here" for 1 of those years!
3. I think compulsive inner monologue disturbs our peace. I don't know why. Probably because it causes some kind of "anxiety gap" between the now and the future or past we're pondering. I notice that when I'm in moments of clarity or peace, like when I'm taking in a marvelous sunset or dropping in on a massive wave while surfing, I'm not thinking. I'm just aware. Just being aware without analyzing is the greatest peace I've ever experienced, but I can't hold it for long.
I think a good first step is for us to realize that often we're just not there. I learned about this from reading "The Power of Now" 5 years ago. I've made little progress in actually eliminating the background static of my mind though.
The challenge for me is that I'm always analyzing everything. I mostly analyze the future, things I need or want to do. I also analyze my day, yesterday, and the distant past. When I'm doing this, it's more like dreaming versus living. It's like I'm asleep and unable to fully appreciate that I'm alive, here and now.
Of course it wouldn't behoove us to totally stop thinking forever. Inner monologue is a critical tool. But I'd like to achieve a state where I can think when I need to, like solving an acute problem, and then after that I can just be. Just be in the moment, where I am. The Buddhists, who have some philosophies I admire, call the state of being in the present "mindfulness."
So far, I can do this for about 2-5 seconds on average. Then the voices start again. At rare times of great clarity where it all "makes sense," I can last for maybe 30 seconds to a minute.
These little glimpses of the peace of mental stillness leave me longing for more. But no matter how hard I try, it seems like life just sucks my brain back into analyzing everything, like a black hole of voices.
I've been practicing non-religious forms of meditation morning and night for about 4 years. That helps a lot, but I still haven't achieved the ability to just be as often as I'd like.
And don't get me wrong, I'm still a very happy person. In fact, I'm in awe of the rapture of life and grateful for everything I have. But like everyone, there are still things I can make better.
If anyone out there is having better luck with mental noise, I'd love to hear some tips. I'm sure many others would benefit too.
The culprit is "mental noise," also known as the inner monologue. It's a voice that ceaselessly runs in our heads from the time we wake up until we go to sleep at night. Often it even follows us to sleep! It's analyzing everything about our lives and surroundings. We actually have a voice in our head that's just talking to itself! It's like we're all loonies!
Although useful for problem solving, I think several things are troublesome about this mental noise when it's left uncontrolled:
1. Most of the thoughts are repetitive. "The same old tapes playing over and over again" as one of my favorite authors, Eckhart Tolle, once said. Often we relive negative situations or fantasize about things that will likely never happen. I think it makes us feel like our current lives are not good enough or causes us to re-experience pain from the past.
2. We're usually thinking about the past or future, which prevents us from enjoying the now. If we're doing this 99% of the time, which I am, we're missing out on life! Perhaps in a 100 year lifespan, we're only "here" for 1 of those years!
3. I think compulsive inner monologue disturbs our peace. I don't know why. Probably because it causes some kind of "anxiety gap" between the now and the future or past we're pondering. I notice that when I'm in moments of clarity or peace, like when I'm taking in a marvelous sunset or dropping in on a massive wave while surfing, I'm not thinking. I'm just aware. Just being aware without analyzing is the greatest peace I've ever experienced, but I can't hold it for long.
I think a good first step is for us to realize that often we're just not there. I learned about this from reading "The Power of Now" 5 years ago. I've made little progress in actually eliminating the background static of my mind though.
The challenge for me is that I'm always analyzing everything. I mostly analyze the future, things I need or want to do. I also analyze my day, yesterday, and the distant past. When I'm doing this, it's more like dreaming versus living. It's like I'm asleep and unable to fully appreciate that I'm alive, here and now.
Of course it wouldn't behoove us to totally stop thinking forever. Inner monologue is a critical tool. But I'd like to achieve a state where I can think when I need to, like solving an acute problem, and then after that I can just be. Just be in the moment, where I am. The Buddhists, who have some philosophies I admire, call the state of being in the present "mindfulness."
So far, I can do this for about 2-5 seconds on average. Then the voices start again. At rare times of great clarity where it all "makes sense," I can last for maybe 30 seconds to a minute.
These little glimpses of the peace of mental stillness leave me longing for more. But no matter how hard I try, it seems like life just sucks my brain back into analyzing everything, like a black hole of voices.
I've been practicing non-religious forms of meditation morning and night for about 4 years. That helps a lot, but I still haven't achieved the ability to just be as often as I'd like.
And don't get me wrong, I'm still a very happy person. In fact, I'm in awe of the rapture of life and grateful for everything I have. But like everyone, there are still things I can make better.
If anyone out there is having better luck with mental noise, I'd love to hear some tips. I'm sure many others would benefit too.
Posted 10/18/2007 9:22:04 AM
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AM
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Cardiff by the Sea, CA
About the Author
AM
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Cardiff by the Sea, CA
Interests: Science, philosophy, nature, outdoors, surfing, mountain biking, investing, business, art, music
This blog is written by an individual Wellness.com forum member and does not necessarily state the views of Wellness.com Incorporated or any of its affiliates.
Community Comments!
lottelotte 10/17/2007 6:00:41 PM
Amac, I think you should consider yourself lucky to have so much time for mental noise. Time to ponder and analyze is a luxury that many people don't have. My mental noise was replaced by actual real loud noise when I became a new parent. It's also equally great and disturbing at the same time. Before that when it was just mental noise I agonized over everything. I tried meditating. I wasn't very good. Or I was just not that serious about it, although I did buy a book. I gave it up with the notion that it was just not for me. Like you I get a lot of pleasure or peace of mind from physical activities. It's not something I can hold, it only last while I'm in that moment. I don't know if this is a form of meditation, but being appreciative of all the good things in my life has given me clarity and peace of mind. I spend time enjoying my family and the people that they are. Staying grounded and in touch with the people who matter to me has helped me eliminate my mental noise.
greenlantern 10/17/2007 6:07:43 PM
I actually like my inner monologue. It reminds me of things I have to do and I can think about things of the past I enjoyed. Guess it has two sides to it. I've never experienced "mental stillness" so I guess I wouldn't know how great it is.
nwaite 10/18/2007 7:56:12 AM
My inner voice is what guides me through life. I trust it and depend on it like a loyal foot soldier. It doesn't disturb my day as you are describing...only when I am really concerned or troubled over a decision I need to make. Everyone is different but we all need our inner voice. Try to focus more and work with your inner voice instead of pretending it isn't there. The more you try to ignore it, the more it will be saying "Hey Amac can you hear what I'm saying? Do you hear the words that are coming out of my mouth?"
10/18/2007 9:16:46 AM
Thanks for the advice, nwaite. Just to clarify, I'm not trying to pretend it isn't there. And as I mentioned, it's an important tool. However, there are times when we need to learn to shut it down and just be. It's almost like meditating throughout daily activity when we don't need the inner voice to solve a problem. The reason I'd like to learn to turn it off more often is because great peace and joy spring from mindfulness. I feel that peace for small (sometimes longer) periods of time every day time and I'd like to be able to maintain that state longer.
Thanks for the advice, nwaite. Just to clarify, I'm not trying to pretend it isn't there. And as I mentioned, it's an important tool. However, there are times when we need to learn to shut it down and just be. It's almost like meditating throughout daily activity when we don't need the inner voice to solve a problem. The reason I'd like to learn to turn it off more often is because great peace and joy spring from mindfulness. I feel that peace for small (sometimes longer) periods of time every day time and I'd like to be able to maintain that state longer.
spiritofadventr 10/18/2007 11:30:27 AM
AMAC- perhaps you should rename your blog as I dont agree that mental noise is a "killer" of anything. How does Mental Noise: "The Silent Detractor" sound?
lottelotte 10/18/2007 12:56:53 PM
My mental noise was "mental." So I had to stop listening and start focusing on other things. If your mental noise is "intuition", then nwaite that is great advice. If your mental noise is just "stress" and you need a way to wind down with meditation. I haven't figured that out.
10/18/2007 1:04:31 PM
Good point Lotte. The "noise" I'm talking about isn't stress or intuition. It's just unnecessary analysis. It's hard to explain. In fact, I think I've done a poor job of communicating it because it doesn't seem like anyone knows what I'm talking about. Here's an excerpt from a book I like called "Stillness Speaks" by Eckhart Tolle. It's a decent description of what I'm talking about. It's not perfect, but it's better than I can explain it myself:
Does that resonate better than my explanation?
Good point Lotte. The "noise" I'm talking about isn't stress or intuition. It's just unnecessary analysis. It's hard to explain. In fact, I think I've done a poor job of communicating it because it doesn't seem like anyone knows what I'm talking about. Here's an excerpt from a book I like called "Stillness Speaks" by Eckhart Tolle. It's a decent description of what I'm talking about. It's not perfect, but it's better than I can explain it myself:
The human condition: lost in thought. Most people spend their entire life imprisoned within the confines of their own thoughts. They never go beyond a narrow, mind-made, personalized sense of self that is conditioned by the past.
In you, as in each human being, there is a dimension of consciousness far deeper than thought. It is the very essence of who you are. We may call it presence, awareness, the unconditioned consciousness. In the ancient teachings, it is the Christ within, or your Buddha nature.
Finding that dimension frees you and the world from the suffering you inflict on yourself and others when the mind-made "little me" is all you know and runs your life. Love, joy, creative expansion, and lasting inner peace cannot come into your life except through that unconditioned dimension of consciousness.
If you can recognize, even occasionally, the thoughts that go through your mind as simply thoughts, if you can witness your own mental-emotional reactive patterns as they happen, then that dimension is already emerging in you as the awareness in which thoughts and emotions happen - the timeless inner space in which the content of your life unfolds.
The stream of thinking has enormous momentum that can easily drag you along with it. Every thought pretends that it matters so much. It wants to draw your attention in completely.
Here is a new spiritual practice for you: don't take your thoughts too seriously.
How easy it is for people to become trapped in their conceptual prisons.
The human mind, in its desire to know, understand, and control, mistakes its opinions and viewpoints for the truth. It says: this is how it is. You have to be larger than thought to realize that however you interpret "your life" or someone else's life or behavior, however you judge any situation, it is no more than a viewpoint, one of many possible perspectives. It is no more than a bundle of thoughts. But reality is one unified whole, in which all things are interwoven, where nothing exists in and by itself. Thinking fragments reality - it cuts it up into conceptual bits and pieces.
The thinking mind is a useful and powerful tool, but it is also very limiting when it takes over your life completely, when you don't realize that it is only a small aspect of the consciousness that you are.
Does that resonate better than my explanation?
nwaite 10/18/2007 1:29:03 PM
You are correct. I think Ghandi may know what you mean but to most folks it sounds like something that should be practiced by a Shaolin Monk. I call that spirit of awareness Beer-thirty. You are a much deeper and more spiritual than I. I hope you find a way to stop over-analyzing things and find your chi.
CET 10/19/2007 9:49:33 AM
I know EXACTLY what you mean AM, and it is something I've wrestled with my whole life. The chatter in my head is really noisy, and it never stops. It's not just one voice either, usually it's 2-3 different voices, all talking at the same time, about different stuff, and it's REALLY REALLY distracting.
I've found that the more I try to silence them, the louder they get. The few moments of quiet emptiness I've experienced are when I've been able to let go of them, and just allow them to do what they do. Eventually, they fade into the background, become softer, and sometimes become entirely quiet.
The problem is, when I realize that they've stopped, they start again. :-/
Just letting go is what works for me. Thinking about them, wrestling with them, listening to them, these are all forms of attachment.
What we're looking for is non-attachment, right? ^_^
I've found that the more I try to silence them, the louder they get. The few moments of quiet emptiness I've experienced are when I've been able to let go of them, and just allow them to do what they do. Eventually, they fade into the background, become softer, and sometimes become entirely quiet.
The problem is, when I realize that they've stopped, they start again. :-/
Just letting go is what works for me. Thinking about them, wrestling with them, listening to them, these are all forms of attachment.
What we're looking for is non-attachment, right? ^_^
10/19/2007 11:13:15 AM
OK, all. I realized some new ways to explain this. Here's a related question I have to someone who doesn't understand what I'm talking about:
For how long can you sit in a chair, in a room, in silence, by yourself, while still awake, do nothing, and not be bored or restless? The tendency is to require some sort of entertainment or something to keep us busy like talking to someone, working, thinking, reading a book or magazine, surfing the web, or watching TV/movies. There are many reasons for this need to keep busy, but I think it all comes down to people not wanting to be trapped in their thoughts.
But that state where we are at such peace that we don't require anything external to be happy is sublime. I think we all get glimpses of it throughout the day and I've found that through practice I can be in that state more of the time.
Much of the time when we're in this peaceful state, we're not talking to ourselves. We just are. Does that make sense?
Oh, and CET, your description is so accurate, but I think most of us don't realize that this happens in all of us. So when you describe it, it almost sounds like schizophrenia. :-)
OK, all. I realized some new ways to explain this. Here's a related question I have to someone who doesn't understand what I'm talking about:
For how long can you sit in a chair, in a room, in silence, by yourself, while still awake, do nothing, and not be bored or restless? The tendency is to require some sort of entertainment or something to keep us busy like talking to someone, working, thinking, reading a book or magazine, surfing the web, or watching TV/movies. There are many reasons for this need to keep busy, but I think it all comes down to people not wanting to be trapped in their thoughts.
But that state where we are at such peace that we don't require anything external to be happy is sublime. I think we all get glimpses of it throughout the day and I've found that through practice I can be in that state more of the time.
Much of the time when we're in this peaceful state, we're not talking to ourselves. We just are. Does that make sense?
Oh, and CET, your description is so accurate, but I think most of us don't realize that this happens in all of us. So when you describe it, it almost sounds like schizophrenia. :-)
10/19/2007 11:18:30 AM
Nwaite, I'm not deeper or more spiritual than you. I wouldn't want anyone to think that. As far as I'm concerned we're all equal. For you it sounds like "beer" is your spiritual practice. :-) It makes you happy, so it's spiritual. I like creativity, nature, travel, and pondering/studying the cosmos. I'm not sure what the word "spiritual" means to me anyway these days. It's often associated with religious feelings towards a Creator, but I define it as what makes us feel at peace and one with life. I don't know what being at one with everything means, but I think it's a feeling we all know.
Nwaite, I'm not deeper or more spiritual than you. I wouldn't want anyone to think that. As far as I'm concerned we're all equal. For you it sounds like "beer" is your spiritual practice. :-) It makes you happy, so it's spiritual. I like creativity, nature, travel, and pondering/studying the cosmos. I'm not sure what the word "spiritual" means to me anyway these days. It's often associated with religious feelings towards a Creator, but I define it as what makes us feel at peace and one with life. I don't know what being at one with everything means, but I think it's a feeling we all know.
nwaite 10/19/2007 3:49:38 PM
For how long can you sit in a chair, in a room, in silence, by yourself, while still awake, do nothing, and not be bored or restless? I don't know. For me, I read that question and say, about as long as I would sit on train tracks while a train approaches. That's just me.
I guess I just don't have as many voices in my head as Amac and CET or I have subconsciously mastered the art of feeling peaceful all the time. I achieve the most peaceful restful state through something called sleep. :) Seriously I have no ability to relate with what you are saying. I'm at peace watching a Football game on a Sunday, or playing softball with friends. I'm at peace driving down the coast watching a surfer catch a wave, eating good sushi or spending time with friends. I just don't get any joy out of experiencing nothingness nor do I have any desire to try. I crave external stimulation. We are all different and look to different avenues to find peace and happiness in life. I think it's cool that you're working toward findng what gives you peace.
I guess I just don't have as many voices in my head as Amac and CET or I have subconsciously mastered the art of feeling peaceful all the time. I achieve the most peaceful restful state through something called sleep. :) Seriously I have no ability to relate with what you are saying. I'm at peace watching a Football game on a Sunday, or playing softball with friends. I'm at peace driving down the coast watching a surfer catch a wave, eating good sushi or spending time with friends. I just don't get any joy out of experiencing nothingness nor do I have any desire to try. I crave external stimulation. We are all different and look to different avenues to find peace and happiness in life. I think it's cool that you're working toward findng what gives you peace.
CET 10/31/2007 6:47:08 AM
At first, the very idea of sitting still for 5 minutes seemed impossible to me.
DrLauraMarkham 11/1/2007 4:44:59 AM
Amac,
I'm really enjoying this thread. I do meditate, almost daily. It has changed my life. Just sitting, without thought, allows waves of delicious presence to sweep over me. God? Well-being? Who knows? But I do find I have to sidestep the usual chatter of my mind to feel it.
These waves of "beyond thought" do have some kind of nonverbal content, though; a deeper knowing and intuition that guides me not only during meditation but now in much of my life.
I find that this awareness beyond thought allows me to have some perspective if something upsets me. For instance, if my child gets upset and I start to get upset in response, there is a wiser, deeper part of me, watching with compassion for everyone involved, that keeps me calm. It's true that I am a psychologist, but I think that meditation is the real secret of why I am such a good mother.
Buddha says that meditation creates "unconditional friendliness to the self." As a therapist, I notice that most people spend their whole lives learning to love themselves more. I've seen meditation be a shortcut to love for many people. If I had to sum up what meditation does, I would say it increases love, for the self and for others.
In my own blog today, I talk about the hormone oxytocin, which is increased in our body when we meditate. It is also increased, though, by connecting with other humans, and doing anything else that makes us feel love (singing, dancing, yoga, nursing a baby.) Both men and women make oxytocin, which researchers call the "Love Hormone." The great thing is that the more oxytocin we make, the more receptors our body makes, so the more love we feel. So people who don't relate to meditation can increase their happiness and love quotients with activities that work for them.
My own experience has been that meditation is a shortcut, but that's just me.
warm regards,
Laura
Dr. Laura Markham
YourParentingSolutions.com
I'm really enjoying this thread. I do meditate, almost daily. It has changed my life. Just sitting, without thought, allows waves of delicious presence to sweep over me. God? Well-being? Who knows? But I do find I have to sidestep the usual chatter of my mind to feel it.
These waves of "beyond thought" do have some kind of nonverbal content, though; a deeper knowing and intuition that guides me not only during meditation but now in much of my life.
I find that this awareness beyond thought allows me to have some perspective if something upsets me. For instance, if my child gets upset and I start to get upset in response, there is a wiser, deeper part of me, watching with compassion for everyone involved, that keeps me calm. It's true that I am a psychologist, but I think that meditation is the real secret of why I am such a good mother.
Buddha says that meditation creates "unconditional friendliness to the self." As a therapist, I notice that most people spend their whole lives learning to love themselves more. I've seen meditation be a shortcut to love for many people. If I had to sum up what meditation does, I would say it increases love, for the self and for others.
In my own blog today, I talk about the hormone oxytocin, which is increased in our body when we meditate. It is also increased, though, by connecting with other humans, and doing anything else that makes us feel love (singing, dancing, yoga, nursing a baby.) Both men and women make oxytocin, which researchers call the "Love Hormone." The great thing is that the more oxytocin we make, the more receptors our body makes, so the more love we feel. So people who don't relate to meditation can increase their happiness and love quotients with activities that work for them.
My own experience has been that meditation is a shortcut, but that's just me.
warm regards,
Laura
Dr. Laura Markham
YourParentingSolutions.com
CET 11/1/2007 10:44:59 AM
Wow! If that is true, then I'm DEFINITELY going to step up my practice! Do you have any resources that I can read to learn more about the effects you're describing?
pogaplayer 11/3/2007 8:27:15 PM
Amac, I feel that if you claim to be always analyzing everything, Maybe you might also find the need to always be right. Also when you always need to be right, you may not really want to understand the other person's point of view, because you are always stuck on your own view, which takes us right back to "The Slient Killer". Sometimes if you will just let down the guard to always wanting to be right, always wanting it to go your way, only then thru practice you can achieve this. I feel thru all your post's you seem to be a person who is very much in controll, and that you can put it all out on the table, but you just pretend that you want to control this, when I truely feel you just want to educate other's on what you already know and do... For someone who is trying to control this, you sure have alot of information on it....
DrLauraMarkham 11/4/2007 6:32:18 AM
CET-
I highly recommend Stephen Levine's classic book on meditation, "A Gradual Awakening."
I also highly recommend the Emwave biofeedback machine by Heartmath. I'm hesitant to mention this because I generally don't promote products and of course you don't need a biofeedback machine to learn to meditate. And I have nothing to do with the Heartmath company. I mention it because after years of meditating, I stumbled on this this little biofeedback machine (it is smaller than a cellphone) last year and found that it really deepened my meditation. It makes it very easy to enter a deep meditation state, without those frustrating times that meditators sometimes encounter, where you sit and your mind races. Even without the emwave, now when I sit down to meditate, I very quickly find myself in a "zen" state. I should add that I had done a lot of meditation before this, so that might be a factor, but If I were starting out as a meditator today, I would definitely use the Emwave.
Laura
Dr. Laura Markham
Your Parenting Solutions.com offering
I highly recommend Stephen Levine's classic book on meditation, "A Gradual Awakening."
I also highly recommend the Emwave biofeedback machine by Heartmath. I'm hesitant to mention this because I generally don't promote products and of course you don't need a biofeedback machine to learn to meditate. And I have nothing to do with the Heartmath company. I mention it because after years of meditating, I stumbled on this this little biofeedback machine (it is smaller than a cellphone) last year and found that it really deepened my meditation. It makes it very easy to enter a deep meditation state, without those frustrating times that meditators sometimes encounter, where you sit and your mind races. Even without the emwave, now when I sit down to meditate, I very quickly find myself in a "zen" state. I should add that I had done a lot of meditation before this, so that might be a factor, but If I were starting out as a meditator today, I would definitely use the Emwave.
Laura
Dr. Laura Markham
Your Parenting Solutions.com offering
11/6/2007 5:16:48 PM
I've heard of those biofeedback machines too. I almost bought "Stress Eraser" a while back (www.stresseraser.com) because it got good reviews and is rooted in science (not pseudoscience). It helps you regulate your breaths to maximize the relaxation response. It was $300 so I opted not to buy it.
Dr Markham, thanks for the comments. I think meditation helps improve my intuition as well. By intuition, I don't mean anything metaphysical, but just a "wiser" higher perspective. Some scientists believe most of our actions may be governed by the "unconscious" parts of our brain. Part's we're not aware of. Perhaps that part of us is smarter than the superficial "what have you done for me lately, life?" part of our brain.
The bottom line for me, is that one thing I'd like to improve is to be able to be in the moment when driving to work, home from work, doing chores, or running errands, etc. So many moments of joy go unnoticed when we're off in fantasy land in our minds.
I've heard of those biofeedback machines too. I almost bought "Stress Eraser" a while back (www.stresseraser.com) because it got good reviews and is rooted in science (not pseudoscience). It helps you regulate your breaths to maximize the relaxation response. It was $300 so I opted not to buy it.
Dr Markham, thanks for the comments. I think meditation helps improve my intuition as well. By intuition, I don't mean anything metaphysical, but just a "wiser" higher perspective. Some scientists believe most of our actions may be governed by the "unconscious" parts of our brain. Part's we're not aware of. Perhaps that part of us is smarter than the superficial "what have you done for me lately, life?" part of our brain.
The bottom line for me, is that one thing I'd like to improve is to be able to be in the moment when driving to work, home from work, doing chores, or running errands, etc. So many moments of joy go unnoticed when we're off in fantasy land in our minds.
daren_h 5/26/2008 3:36:31 PM
I've struggled all my life to control my "mental noise". I have a lot of anxiety and sometimes I just can't shut off my mind. Sometimes it's extremely hard to concentrate. Plus the thoughts that I get are negative and get into a downward spiral. I've been reading books and have taken up meditation. One book that I read about coping with anxiety is "10 Simple Solutions To Worry" by Kevin Gyoerkoe and Pamela Wiegartz. Even if you don't have anxiety and just want to control your mental noise, I think this would be a good book for you to read. They state that the mind has two ways of thinking. We think in terms of words or images. I think if you are thinking in terms of words, then the inner monologue will be used. If you are using your imagination to think then the voice will be shut off. I'm going to try thinking by using images instead of words. That might help to shut off the noise and what you could do is visualize yourself being in the moment and enjoying it. I don't think it's possible to shut off your mind but if you use images instead of words, I think you'd have a better chance of obtaining your goal.
remezsa 6/13/2008 11:52:24 PM
Shutting down the mental noise is not achieved by reading books. It comes gradually, and over a long period of training the mind through concentration exercises and meditation.
People often say that they meditate, but yet, cannot calm down their mind. If the concentration power is weak, and the mind easily wanders from one thought to another, how can one meditate? Sitting down to meditate, but letting the mind run where it wills, thinking and visualizing all kinds of things, is not meditation. This is why it so important to develop at least some degree of concentration before starting to meditate.
When the power of concentration increases, you will be able to meditate without words, without thinking. Then, the inner peace would gradually increase and deepen, First while meditating, and then in your daily life, while working, reading, talking, etc. It is a state of inner silence, yet at the same time being fully awake and alert. The mental noise would cease in a natural way, without effort. This condition will not make you unable to think. On the contrary, when you need to think, you will be able think very clearly. Your mind will become more alert, focused and powerful, but you will be able to shut it down when you don't need it or when you have finished thinking or analyzing or planning
Here are two articles about the power of concentration, which also offer a few exercises:
www.successconsciousness.com/index_000004.htm
www.successconsciousness.com/index_000005.htm
People often say that they meditate, but yet, cannot calm down their mind. If the concentration power is weak, and the mind easily wanders from one thought to another, how can one meditate? Sitting down to meditate, but letting the mind run where it wills, thinking and visualizing all kinds of things, is not meditation. This is why it so important to develop at least some degree of concentration before starting to meditate.
When the power of concentration increases, you will be able to meditate without words, without thinking. Then, the inner peace would gradually increase and deepen, First while meditating, and then in your daily life, while working, reading, talking, etc. It is a state of inner silence, yet at the same time being fully awake and alert. The mental noise would cease in a natural way, without effort. This condition will not make you unable to think. On the contrary, when you need to think, you will be able think very clearly. Your mind will become more alert, focused and powerful, but you will be able to shut it down when you don't need it or when you have finished thinking or analyzing or planning
Here are two articles about the power of concentration, which also offer a few exercises:
www.successconsciousness.com/index_000004.htm
www.successconsciousness.com/index_000005.htm
daren_h 7/2/2008 12:56:43 PM
remezsa -
Thanks for you comments and advice. While I agree with much of what you say, I also don't agree with everything. Not every person is the same. Maybe what works for you doesn't work with someone else. Or maybe what works for one person won't work for you.
I used to never read and most of my leisure time was watching tv and movies or listening to music. For the last 3 months, I've been reading everyday. At first, it was very difficult to shut my mind off and focus on what I was reading. My mind wandered endlessly on many different things. And I would have to go back to where my mind lost concentration and start over. Just as you said that the more you exercise the easier it becomes. Since I've been reading everyday it's become easier to focus and concentrate. When I read this morning, I didn't have to go back and start over. I was able to focus on every word and sentance and understood everything that I read. My ablility to concentrate has improved by leaps and bounds. Of course, I still have much more room to improve.
I can understand why you wouldn't want to meditate using words but without thinking? How could you meditate and not think? I used meditation (relaxation and visualization) to improve my swimming time when I was in High school. About 2 or 3 times a week, I would play some new age music (Enya was what I preferred). I would then contract different muscle groups and release them while slowly and deeply breathing. When I reached a certain level of relaxation, I would visualize a nature scene that was very peaceful. For me, it was a lake that had trees and grass and was next to a waterfall something you might see in South America. I would visualize myself swimming in that water and then would change to visualizing about my race that I was going to swim. I would picture myself there. I would use all the senses. I would imagine the smell, the sounds, how things felt and what I would see. I would then picture myself going through my race with the perfect technique and with a very quick speed. Then at the end of the race I would visualize looking up at the time and seeing my goal time. When the day of my race actually came, I improved so much that I shocked everyone on my team. My coaches said that I didn't even look like the same person swimming because my stroke had improved so much.
So I don't really understand how you could meditate and not think of anything. What would be the purpose of meditating if you didn't think about anything? Seems more like veggitating. You gave some good exercises on how to develop concentration but you didn't say anything about how to meditate. All the books I've read about meditating use visualization.
Thanks for you comments and advice. While I agree with much of what you say, I also don't agree with everything. Not every person is the same. Maybe what works for you doesn't work with someone else. Or maybe what works for one person won't work for you.
I used to never read and most of my leisure time was watching tv and movies or listening to music. For the last 3 months, I've been reading everyday. At first, it was very difficult to shut my mind off and focus on what I was reading. My mind wandered endlessly on many different things. And I would have to go back to where my mind lost concentration and start over. Just as you said that the more you exercise the easier it becomes. Since I've been reading everyday it's become easier to focus and concentrate. When I read this morning, I didn't have to go back and start over. I was able to focus on every word and sentance and understood everything that I read. My ablility to concentrate has improved by leaps and bounds. Of course, I still have much more room to improve.
I can understand why you wouldn't want to meditate using words but without thinking? How could you meditate and not think? I used meditation (relaxation and visualization) to improve my swimming time when I was in High school. About 2 or 3 times a week, I would play some new age music (Enya was what I preferred). I would then contract different muscle groups and release them while slowly and deeply breathing. When I reached a certain level of relaxation, I would visualize a nature scene that was very peaceful. For me, it was a lake that had trees and grass and was next to a waterfall something you might see in South America. I would visualize myself swimming in that water and then would change to visualizing about my race that I was going to swim. I would picture myself there. I would use all the senses. I would imagine the smell, the sounds, how things felt and what I would see. I would then picture myself going through my race with the perfect technique and with a very quick speed. Then at the end of the race I would visualize looking up at the time and seeing my goal time. When the day of my race actually came, I improved so much that I shocked everyone on my team. My coaches said that I didn't even look like the same person swimming because my stroke had improved so much.
So I don't really understand how you could meditate and not think of anything. What would be the purpose of meditating if you didn't think about anything? Seems more like veggitating. You gave some good exercises on how to develop concentration but you didn't say anything about how to meditate. All the books I've read about meditating use visualization.
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