Are we addicted to thinking?
written by
on Friday, October 16th, 2009
I talk to lots of people about meditation. We were just at the Yoga and Pilates Conference in Vancouver where I heard about participant’s experience with meditation. Interestingly, the thing we heard most was ”I can’t meditate because I can’t stop thinking …” Imagine that, the very thing we are trying to get a little control over, a little respite from, is the very thing stopping us from the thing that will heal us. Perhaps because, of what Ekhart Tolle claims we may all be suffering from, ”an addiction to thinking.” We want to be in charge of our thoughts, we understand the importance, and are starting to digest the science that proves that our outer world is directly affected by our inner world – literally and measurably – and yet we still find it extremely difficult to committ to a practice or a way that facilitates healing our thought addiction. I guess that’s the nature of addiction, but that’s another post.
What I wish I said to those participants is “it should be called meditation process not practice.” Because all of it, from the cushion to the drama we experience around the actual sitting, is a part of the meditation process to undergoe to heal. Our thoughts are not our enemy nor are we trying to stop thinking but we also need to work at putting them into propper perspective by more than hoping or thinking it so. This is a part of the gift of a daily committed meditation pracitice/process. It takes time (our thoughts don’t love that idea) and all of it, from the great meditations, to the meditations made-up of “where will I get my hair cut?” to meditations that become 20-minute daydreams are all valid and a part of the process.
Sometimes painful and difficult meditation experiences (thoughts and emotions) are also a part of the process. I teach yoga and always say with postures that bring-up negative emotions, “it is a process, first it comes up, second you experience it and third it dissolves or disappears.” But there is no going from ‘first’ to ‘third,’ you must experience it, because it is in the experience that we are able to release it. Same with meditation and the thoughts around starting or doing your meditation, don’t dwell in the negativity or react to the negativity, sit still or be still, and the resistance or negativity will dissolve. Sounds easy? It is not. Sometimes our thoughts get away from us before we can do anything about it and that is why it is a continual, daily process. This is not to belittle or dismiss the often very painful stuff that can come up. If it is too difficult to do on your own, if it is ‘too much,’ reach out for support, get some help before you continue. Know that your thoughts and emotions are not you, not who you are.
This is a process and for those of you not ready to dive-in, no problem, start practicing throughout the day by watching your thoughts objectively once in awhile, see what happens. For those of you who have just started your first 21-days, congratulations and let us know here or in the forums, or me directly, when you start so we can hold the space for you too.
Simone
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by Maggie Rose on October 19, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I appreciate what you say about thinking and how difficult it is to stop the continual barrage of information floating into to my consciousness. This is the main reason any attempts at meditation in the past have been short-lived. I try it for a few days and then quit. Both in the meditation audios and here again you take a gentle approach to this happening. I have been kinder than usual to myself when I catch myself, many times in the course of a few minutes, thinking about something that just floats in from nowhere. I am not a very patient person sometimes, and give up on things too easily. I am committed to seeing this through, and hope I can continue my daily practice no matter how long it takes to get some even small breaks from my monkey-chattering head.
Thanks for your help,
Maggie Rose
by YeShey on October 28, 2009 at 3:19 pm
This is a very interesting and provocative blog, thanks for bringing it up Simone.
At first I thought that I did not agree that thoughts are an addiction – it is the nature of the mind to think. So I looked up the word addiction in the dictionary definition:
“the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma”
And now I am quite sure I do not agree.
Thoughts are not a habit, thoughts are only a segment of the mind (which we explore in depth in Step 3). Thoughts are not the enemy. The way that we respond to the thoughts is what causes us to create habits and result in trauma.
The whole point is HOW we react to the thoughts.
When we react to anything we create a seed that will give fruit. If we do it over and over again we create habits. If our reactions make very light impressions, they are easily eradicated, and do not create habits. When our reactions are strong they make deep impressions, and habits that are difficult to overcome.
It is true that we would love to have respite from the constant barrage of thoughts that Maggie refers to. This brings great peace to the mind and spirit. It is also true that the thoughts are incredibly difficult to control. The good news is that we are learning how to overcome this constant barrage of thoughts and when they do come, to not react to them so intensely.
During meditation, treat thought like wind that blows through a house that has the front and back door open. No harm, no foul. Just the wind, just thoughts.