Lack of concentration and chatter in
mind
People are worried about their concentration
and want to improve it.
The inner chatter consists of the inner
conversation that you hold with yourself, discussing, commenting, comparing,
analyzing, and repeating words and thoughts. It also consists of your thoughts
about what other people say or do, about your problems, about what you want to
do, and about what you think you can’t do.
“The natural tendency of the mind is to be restless.
The act of thinking is a continuous and ongoing activity.”
“The restless mind jumps from thought to another,
allowing thoughts to come and go incessantly, from morning till night, giving
us no rest for a moment. Most of these thoughts are not exactly invited; they
just come, occupy our attention for a while, and then disappear, making place
for others.”
“Thoughts are the like clouds drifting through the
sky. Like the clouds, they are not permanent. Due to their incessant movement,
they distract or attention and disturb our focus.”
“Thoughts also resemble the waves of the ocean, which
are always in a state of motion, never standing still. The mind always thinks
and analyzes whatever it contacts. It likes to compare, to reason, and to ask
questions, and to constantly indulge in such activities.”
Everyone use a certain method to control mind,
which allows it to accept, let in certain thoughts, and reject others. This is
the reason why some people occupy their minds with thoughts about a certain
subject, while others don't even think about the same subject.
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The reason for this is the mental strength
This is
an automatic unconscious filter. We never stop and say to certain thoughts
'come', and to other thought we say, 'go away'. It is an automatic activity.
This method was built during the years. It was, and is being constantly built
by the suggestions and words of our parents and teachers, and by the people we
meet, and as a result of our daily experiences.
The Activity of the Mind
Every situation,
or word, has an effect on the mind, which produces thoughts in accordance with
them. Our mind is like a thought factory, working continuously and producing
thoughts.
The
mind also gets thoughts directly from the surrounding world. The space around
us is full of thoughts, which we constantly pick, let pass through our minds,
and then pick up new ones. It is like catching fish in the ocean, throwing them
back into the water, and then catching new ones.
This situation
of the restless mind occupies our attention all the time. Now our attention is
on this thought, and then on another one. We spend a lot of energy and
attention on these passing thoughts, most of them being unimportant, wasting
our time and energy.
This is
lack of freedom. It is as if some outside power is always putting a thought in
front of us, making us pay attention to it.
It is
like a relentless boss constantly giving us a job to do.
This
shows lack of inner freedom. We enjoy real freedom only when we are able to
choose our thoughts or still our mind. There is freedom, when we are able to
decide which thought to think, and which one to reject. We live in freedom,
when we are able to stop the incessant flow of thoughts.
Stopping
the flow of thoughts might look like an infeasible feat, but concentration
exercises and meditation, can eventually lead to this condition.
The mind is like an untamed animal. It has
to be taught self-discipline and obedience, concentration and meditation, and this will lead to
control of the mind and of thoughts, and to becoming the boss of your mind.
It is within your reach to calm
the restless and constantly thinking mind, and to enjoy inner peace.
The Power of focused mind Practicing
Concentration Exercises
To make
our mind focused it requires practice, like everything else in life.
Do you
go to the gym? If you do, how many times a week and for how long?
Have
you studied a foreign language? If you did, for how long did you practice,
until you had a basic knowledge of the language?
to
developing our concentration we need training and practice. Even only ten
minutes a day of concentration exercises will do you good.
our
mind does not like discipline, and will resist our efforts to discipline it. It
loves its freedom more than anything else, and won't let you master it. It will
make you forget to do the exercises, tempt you to postpone performing them, or
make you feel too lazy. It will find many tricks to occupy your attention with
something else.
The
choice is yours, to be mastered by the mind or to be its master.
By
practicing mental exercises, it is possible to train the mind and master it,
and put it in its proper place, as your servant, and not as your boss and
master.
we are
not the mind, nor the thoughts that pass through it. Though it might be hard to
accept this idea, the mind is not you, the real you, but only a tool that we use.
It is a tool, which has great value, but it has to be taught to obey you.
Most
people believe that they are the mind, and strongly believe that controlling
the mind means holding themselves back and denying their freedom. They feel
that controlling their mind is not natural, and that it is some sort of
repression. These beliefs are not correct.
we are
not the mind comes with training. Accept the idea in theory, and in time, as
your control over your thoughts grows, you will know it as a fact. In reality,
you, the real you, is the one mastering the mind. It is not the mind mastering
itself.
tips for Practicing the Concentration Exercises
sit
crossed legged on the floor, or on a chair. Sit with your spine erect.
Take a
few calm deep breaths and then relax your body, by directing your attention to
it, and relaxing each muscle, from head to toe.
Practice
each of the exercises below for about 10 minutes, and after a few weeks of
training, lengthen the time to 15 minutes.
Start
with the first exercise. Practice it every day, until you are able to do it
without any distractions or forgetfulness, and without thinking about anything
else, for at least three continuous minutes.
Every
time you get distracted, start again, until the 10 or 15 minutes pass away.
You
have to be honest with yourself, and proceed to the next one, only after you
are convinced that you have practiced it correctly and with full concentration.
There
is no timetable, since this could be frustrating. If, for example, I tell you
to practice a certain exercise for a specific number of days, two things might
happen. You might get disappointed, if you cannot get the desired concentration
within the allotted time period. You might also proceed to the next exercise,
without practicing correctly the previous one.
Mastering
the exercises successfully can take days, weeks, months and sometimes even
more.
Put
your whole attention into the exercises, and do not think about anything else.
Be careful not to fall asleep, daydream or think about other matters. The
moment you find yourself thinking about something else, stop the exercise and
start again. After you become proficient, lengthen the time, and if possible,
include another session in the afternoon.
Do not
attempt too much at the beginning, and don't try to perform them all at once.
Go slowly, without overdoing them If you find it too difficult, or thoughts
distract you and make you think about other matters, don't despair. Everyone
encounters difficulties along the way. If you persevere and never give up, in
spite of difficulties and disturbances, success will crown your efforts. Remember,
even those with powerful concentration had to exercise their minds.
It does not matter if your concentration is weak now. It can be
developed and strengthened like any other ability, through training.
In
time, you will find out that you can concentrate anywhere, anytime, no matter
where you are. You will be able to focus your mind, think and function under
the most trying circumstances, while remaining calm, relaxed and collected. The
reward is worth the effort a thousand fold.
. For
the full benefit, it is must to practice each exercise for one additional week,
after you are convinced that you are practicing it correctly and with full
attention.
Concentration exercises
Exercise
1Count backwards in your mind, from one hundred to one.
Exercise 2Count
in your mind from one hundred to one, skipping each three numbers, that is 100,
97, 94, etc.
Exercise 3Choose
an inspiring word, or just a simple sound, and repeat it silently in your mind
for five minutes. When your mind can concentrate more easily, try to reach ten
minutes of uninterrupted concentration.
Exercise 4Take a
fruit, an apple, orange, banana or any other fruit, and hold it in your hands.
Examine the fruit from all its sides, while keeping your whole attention focused on it. Do not let yourself be carried away by irrelevant thoughts that might arise, or thoughts about the grocery where you bought the fruit, how and where it was grown, its nutritive value, etc. Stay calm, ignoring, and showing no interest in these thoughts.
Examine the fruit from all its sides, while keeping your whole attention focused on it. Do not let yourself be carried away by irrelevant thoughts that might arise, or thoughts about the grocery where you bought the fruit, how and where it was grown, its nutritive value, etc. Stay calm, ignoring, and showing no interest in these thoughts.
Just
look at the fruit, focus your attention on it without thinking about anything
else, and examine its shape, smell, taste and the sensation it gives you when
you touch it.
Exercise 5 After becoming
proficient with the above exercises, you may try this exercise.
Draw
on a piece of paper a small triangle, square or a circle, about three inches in
size, and paint it with any color you wish.
Put
the paper with the drawing in front of you, and concentrate your whole
attention on the shape you have drawn. For now, only the drawing exists for
you, with no unrelated thoughts or distractions.
Keep
your attention on the drawing, and avoid thinking about anything else. Be
careful not to strain your eyes.
Exercise6 Try for at least five minutes, to stay without
thoughts. Do this exercise, only after you have practiced all the previous ones
successfully. If you practiced the preceding exercises correctly, you will be
able to impose silence on your thoughts, even if this is at first, just for a
short while.
Constant practice is
the secret of success. The more time you devote to the exercises the faster you
progress, but you should do it gradually. Start with ten minutes, and as it
becomes easier, and your ability to concentrate improves, increase the time.
When you start to see
results, you will begin to love the exercises. You will be able to concentrate
your attention easily and effortlessly, upon anything you want to concentrate
on.
After some practice,
it will be easier to concentrate, and your mind will learn to be calm and
relaxed. People, circumstances, and events that used to agitate and anger you,
will not disturb you. You will experience happiness and contentment, and gain
self-confidence and inner strength. You will be able to cope more easily and efficiently
with the outer world.
You will feel a new
form of consciousness growing in you, bringing you peace of mind. At first, you
will experience it sporadically and for a brief moment, but in time, it will
grow and fill you completely. You will be able to make the mind work for you in
a most efficient way, and you will also be able to silence it when you want.
After your
concentration gets stronger, your attitude and reactions to events and people
will change, and you would discover many things about the mind, how it
functions, and how to use it efficiently.
“Lets spread
positive vibration’”
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