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- A NEW way to meditate for focus (simply explained)
A NEW way to meditate for focus (simply explained)
Try this technique when anxiety becomes overwhelming.
You’re sitting on a chair…deep breath…a dirty thought pops up.
So you let it pull you into a fantasy you’d never share in public.
*gasp
Shame on you! Just kidding.
Happens to me all the time. We’re only human, right?
So get over it 🙂
But what you can’t get over, is how dreadful meditation feels some days, especially when you’re overstimulated.
Let me help.
If you don't like traditional meditation, but you still want focus and peace of mind – check this out.
I discovered a new way to meditate that helps you make sense of arising thoughts.
However, this won’t replace it completely.
Think of meditation as mental training. This new technique is like a new machine at the gym to make your practice more enjoyable.
So add this to your focus toolbelt so you can STICK to the practice even on your worst days.
It's a combination of two techniques.
Super simple but vital to help you with overwhelming anxiety.
The creativity and learning benefits are bonuses.
It’s called: meditative journaling.
Technique Explained
Mindfulness meditation has you sit for a set period like 10 minutes.
You attempt to concentrate on your breath, and when your attention drifts, you begin again.
Sounds boring right?
That’s because it’s supposed to be.
Maybe you’ve developed a bad habit along the way like forgetting to focus in the first place
You let your mind drift off into whatever thought that you might find enticing.
Like your former high school glory days (past) or your car that’s been needing repair for a while (future).
This takes you out of the present moment and robs you of calm and clear focus.
This is the real trick to meditative journaling:
Instead of trying to redirect your attention within your mind, you write down your thoughts as they appear.
So let's say for example you:
Close your eyes
Headphones on
Ambient sounds
Deep breath
And a thought comes up,
“Oh, I just remembered this weekend. That grass needs cuttin”.
When the idea comes up, write it down.
Once written, that’s your signal to come back to your breath. Repeat the process for whatever time you’ve chosen.
Here’s how you make it easier on yourself.
I carry a little pocket notebook daily where I write ideas, notes, or todos as they come.
mini-commonplace notebook (left), soon-to-use Field Notes (middle), current everyday carry - mini sketchbook from Walmart (right)
Now I don't have to use a distracting phone to capture ideas.
You're getting the benefits of both meditation and journaling (for us efficiency snobs).
After your meditation, you'll have a glimpse into your subconscious mind. You’ll get a better picture of what's going on outside of autopilot mode.
Thoughts after a 10-minute meditative journaling session (sorry for my crappy handwriting).
These are signals and potential solutions to problems you're having.
They allow you to decompress the anxiety-ridden thoughts by getting them out of your head and onto paper.
Now, you can process or let them go with confidence.
Just don’t let anyone read about your funny fantasies hehe.
Try this and let me know how it feels!
Stay calm, clear, and creative,
Brand Marz.
P.S.
Having a simple pocketbook on hand has worked wonders for my focus.
Why?
Because I can’t use the excuse of checking my phone when I jot down my ideas.
Now I can leave my phone at home when I go for a walk with my family or a gym session without getting dragged in by IG or YouTube.
Grab a small pack on Amazon if it’s not too much clutter (affiliate link at no extra cost to you).
It’s made a huge difference!
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