Same. I’ve struggled with having periods of my life where I became obsessively aware of what should be automatic bodily functions-especially blinking and swallowing. So the focus on breathing car kept me afraid of meditation my whole life. Now I’m trying to do it but struggling.
I love the way you explain things. I don’t want to be too forward but I thought that I would share something that helped me. I heard someone talking, as you do, about meditation from a neuroscience standpoint. It made a lot of sense to me as an anxious person who has disliked meditation, apparently for the following reason. There are people who are mainly interoceptive, very aware of the stuff inside our skin, thought, emotions, breath, heartbeat, physical sensations etc. which can be expressions of anxiety. There are people who are exteroceptive. Mainly noticing things outside of them, they may not know how they are feeling or be aware of their physical or emotional sensations. 40% of our brain is dedicated to exteroception, stuff outside of us, using our eyes. When we close our eyes we shut that off and are much more interoceptive, in our skin and feelings. Anxious people tend to be much more interoceptive. Breath or body based meditation with eyes closed makes us much more inside of us which can put us where our anxiety lives. It's good for exteroceptive people who have trouble being aware of what's going on inside of them. For us inner focused people it can be damaging and uncomfortable, it reinforces our natural bias towards constantly being in our thoughts and bodily sensations. It’s better if we open our eyes, strengthening exteroception, and practice focusing on something outside of us. A flower, a vase, a tree on the horizon, pretty much anything that is not inside of us. The principle of focus and exercise is the same but the location of the focus, in or out us us, is different. Strengthening our ability to get out of our sensations and heads.
Thank you Douglas! I really appreciate this share. I'll be sure to keep in mind, in order to help others struggling similarly. Really great feedback!! Thank you! ❤️
This needs more views - people need to know that it’s okay not to be able to meditate. Sometimes it just takes too long to get into that state of mind and the road there is a little too much for some of us.
When I manually breathe when I meditate, that's what throws me out of it. It seems strange to say but it's like my own mind is disgusted that I am noticing it and then my breath grows unsteady and then I cant keep my eyes closed and I feel sick.
It takes time. Continue to meditate and notice with curiosity and openness that that keeps coming up for you. If you take the time to keep noticing, you’ll notice things shift. It’s when you don’t take the time or enough time that the unconscious patterns persist without change.
If you’d like to watch more topics about thriving in life you might want to visit my new sister channel youtube.com/@thriveforcewithvivphd?sub_confirmation=1
Practice acceptance. Instead of trying to control your thoughts, just let whatever thoughts come up be as they are. It's natural for the mind to wander.
That is normal. There can be many reasons. If you are anxious it could be fear or trauma related. I had clients with child abuse histories that had great difficulty with keeping their eyes closed. It's the limbic system trying to protect you and make sure you are safe. Using hypnosis and brain retraining like DNRS or GUPTA can really help, but you can also meditate with your eyes open - no problem! Hope that helps, warm regards, Viv
My wife meditated daily and swears by the it, but in my case meditating just winds me up and makes me really bored and angry. Hence why my wife meditates and I don't.
Whenever I try mediation, I get anxious and get shortness of breath. If I focus on my breathing, I can breathe properly
Same problem for me
Same. I’ve struggled with having periods of my life where I became obsessively aware of what should be automatic bodily functions-especially blinking and swallowing. So the focus on breathing car kept me afraid of meditation my whole life. Now I’m trying to do it but struggling.
Same 😭😭😭😭
I love the way you explain things.
I don’t want to be too forward but I thought that I would share something that helped me.
I heard someone talking, as you do, about meditation from a neuroscience standpoint.
It made a lot of sense to me as an anxious person who has disliked meditation, apparently for the following reason.
There are people who are mainly interoceptive, very aware of the stuff inside our skin, thought, emotions, breath, heartbeat, physical sensations etc. which can be expressions of anxiety.
There are people who are exteroceptive. Mainly noticing things outside of them, they may not know how they are feeling or be aware of their physical or emotional sensations.
40% of our brain is dedicated to exteroception, stuff outside of us, using our eyes.
When we close our eyes we shut that off and are much more interoceptive, in our skin and feelings.
Anxious people tend to be much more interoceptive.
Breath or body based meditation with eyes closed makes us much more inside of us which can put us where our anxiety lives.
It's good for exteroceptive people who have trouble being aware of what's going on inside of them.
For us inner focused people it can be damaging and uncomfortable, it reinforces our natural bias towards constantly being in our thoughts and bodily sensations.
It’s better if we open our eyes, strengthening exteroception, and practice focusing on something outside of us.
A flower, a vase, a tree on the horizon, pretty much anything that is not inside of us.
The principle of focus and exercise is the same but the location of the focus, in or out us us, is different.
Strengthening our ability to get out of our sensations and heads.
Thankusomuch
Thank you Douglas! I really appreciate this share. I'll be sure to keep in mind, in order to help others struggling similarly. Really great feedback!! Thank you! ❤️
This is the best I've ever heard it explained. Thank you
Never would have thought of it like that. I think I can't meditate because I keep wondering. THANK YOU
Thank you Viv..... that’s exactly me trying to meditate a while ago.... I have to start trying again. Xo
:) I know the feeling! That's why I made the video. Let me know how it goes!
This needs more views - people need to know that it’s okay not to be able to meditate. Sometimes it just takes too long to get into that state of mind and the road there is a little too much for some of us.
Thanks Andrea. Absolutely!
thank you, of all the videos that I've watched you make it very simple and tangible
That's very kind feedback. Thank you.❤️
Thank you. I am stuck with wanting to meditate. And I am not consistent. But I guess I'll try it everyday from now on
How did it go?
Love this! Thank you so much
That's so true, Vivian
love how you simplified it.
Awww... thank you. Be well Ahmed.
Thank you! That's what I needed to hear I guess
So glad! You're so welcome!❤️
This is really helpful. Thank you.
When I manually breathe when I meditate, that's what throws me out of it. It seems strange to say but it's like my own mind is disgusted that I am noticing it and then my breath grows unsteady and then I cant keep my eyes closed and I feel sick.
❤ thank You ❤
You're welcome 😊
I can't find paper. Please Help me to look for it :(
My EMDR therapist doesnt recommend meditation for me, because I dissociate from body even more. Only small amount of grpunding and body work.
This was such an excellent explanation! A+
great video
So how do I become nonjudgmental of myself and my thoughts? Some of them that pass by I can’t stop myself from wanting to destroy it
It takes time. Continue to meditate and notice with curiosity and openness that that keeps coming up for you. If you take the time to keep noticing, you’ll notice things shift. It’s when you don’t take the time or enough time that the unconscious patterns persist without change.
If you’d like to watch more topics about thriving in life you might want to visit my new sister channel youtube.com/@thriveforcewithvivphd?sub_confirmation=1
in meditation, for ex when they say feel your heart i focus but i can not feel anyting.
Good luck
great video, just one tip, my awernes says that the sound is slightly more late than the video
Thanks for the tip Petr. I'll have to look into this. Are you sure it wasn't your connection?
I tried but can’t focus concentrate I don’t know why
I can't bring back my mind from different thoughts, it keeps on wandering. What do I do.
Practice acceptance. Instead of trying to control your thoughts, just let whatever thoughts come up be as they are. It's natural for the mind to wander.
You look very similar to the Danish prime minister
I’ve been trying to meditate for a while and I just can’t keep my eyes closed so u know why that is??????
That is normal. There can be many reasons. If you are anxious it could be fear or trauma related. I had clients with child abuse histories that had great difficulty with keeping their eyes closed. It's the limbic system trying to protect you and make sure you are safe. Using hypnosis and brain retraining like DNRS or GUPTA can really help, but you can also meditate with your eyes open - no problem!
Hope that helps, warm regards,
Viv
My wife meditated daily and swears by the it, but in my case meditating just winds me up and makes me really bored and angry. Hence why my wife meditates and I don't.
I want to see my crush: Ziya Khan
Can u help me please