Slippers

I have read this book several times in my life and each time I find a new perspective within it. In short, I have grown into it! Perhaps not the usual book on a self help reading list but a good read nonetheless.

Hi After reading a few journals on here, I have taken a leaf out of somebody's journal and committed to meditating and recording my feelings, thoughts and mood for just one week. Here goes: Ok, last night I set out to meditate for just twenty minutes using the "do nothing" technique. I lasted fourteen minutes of classic monkey mind: what did I need to do? When do I need to do it by? What about this and what about that?......next I started to fall asleep. Today, I m lazy and avoidant; procrastinating on studying, chores and anything else, also i indulging on lots of negative thinking and ruminating on all sorts of stuff. more to follow.....

third go To help get started I visualised a lighted candle flame flickering. I quickly lost focus and began to imagine a blue form. My thoughts were about day to day rubbish like what to say in my next job interview etc.. Each breath seems to provide a break in the thoughts. I'm committed to doing this meditation and recording the results for one week so I shall continue but tbh I don't see the point in meditation.

Ok, second attempt. This time lasted fifteen minutes, I became very aware of my hands and they seem move further away from me at times. Tbh I can't remember what thoughts came and went, I must remember to write it down. Today I feel more energised than normal, keener to do things and more together, if that makes sense? more to follow tomorrow....

This is my favourite quote. For me, it's about self-awareness, the veil of denial which is often lifted in the early hours of the morning and the effort involved in not reverting back to your original state. “The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you Don't go back to sleep! You must ask for what you really want. Don't go back to sleep! People are going back and forth across the doorsill where the two worlds touch, The door is round and open Don't go back to sleep!” Rumi

hi Yes, I have exactly the same problem. Here's my solution: write the down four tasks you want to focus on like emails, exercise, reading, cleaning the floor. Make sure the tasks alternate between inactive and active, so exercise is active followed by reading which is inactive. do the tasks in order for exactly twenty minutes for each task, using your iPad or something similar so that you don't have to think about it. When you get to the bottom of the list, start again at the top. If you haven't finished the task in twenty minutes, move on to the next task anyway and pick it up again the next time round. Keep repeating this until the day is finished. OK that's it. I been using this technique for thirty years, it works for me. Good luck.

If you are at peace with yourself having a drink (or two) why would you mention it on this forum? I apologise for my bluntness here but in my humble opinion, you are looking for someone to agree with you so you feel can better about it.