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These are just some of my random thoughts.
Thursday, 31 May 2012
Monday, 14 May 2012
How Homer Simpson Is Helping Me To Breathe
Recently, I made a post about how I was starting the practice of Mindfulness Meditation. I said in that post, regarding any changes that I may notice as a result of the practices that "As these evolve, I may share some of them here." In fact, I am going to change that slightly and not share a change per se, but a process I am struggling with, but beginning to improve upon -- all with the help of my hero, Homer Simpson.
A key component of Mindfulness is to pay attention to the breath to help develop attention training.
I have been finding this very difficult. I am still finding it quite challenging, but hey I am in the process of learning. I have just embarked upon this practice. I would not expect myself to become fluent in a language I cannot speak instantly. I would need to spend time on my verbs, or trying to figure out why if I only want to thank one person I still say thanks when I think it should be just "thank". Anyway, I digress.
Yes, so focusing my attention on the breath. What I found has been happening, is that as soon as I turn my attention to my breath, it feels awkward, unnatural and forced. I think what is happening here in part is that I am making a judgement on what it should/shouldn't feel like and trying to force my breathing to fit that idea, instead of just letting the breath be.
Enter Homer Simpson. What I've been practicing is to pretend that I am Homer Simpson. One of the scenes that Homer is often shown in is repeating the simple action of something. In this case below, you'll see him activating a hospital bed. "Bed goes up, bed goes down, bed goes up, bed goes down", and so on. I am trying to just have that notion of "notice the breath goes in, notice the breath goes out" (whether that be noticed in the nostrils, abdomen or whole body experience). The only point of difference from the video is that Homer is making the bed go up and down, where as I am just noticing when the action of breath takes place.
If you're like me (first contact your doctor and ask to see their psychiatrist), and struggling to breath properly, let Homer help you. He is a man of great wisdom.
Mmmmm forbidden happiness.
A key component of Mindfulness is to pay attention to the breath to help develop attention training.
I have been finding this very difficult. I am still finding it quite challenging, but hey I am in the process of learning. I have just embarked upon this practice. I would not expect myself to become fluent in a language I cannot speak instantly. I would need to spend time on my verbs, or trying to figure out why if I only want to thank one person I still say thanks when I think it should be just "thank". Anyway, I digress.
Yes, so focusing my attention on the breath. What I found has been happening, is that as soon as I turn my attention to my breath, it feels awkward, unnatural and forced. I think what is happening here in part is that I am making a judgement on what it should/shouldn't feel like and trying to force my breathing to fit that idea, instead of just letting the breath be.
Enter Homer Simpson. What I've been practicing is to pretend that I am Homer Simpson. One of the scenes that Homer is often shown in is repeating the simple action of something. In this case below, you'll see him activating a hospital bed. "Bed goes up, bed goes down, bed goes up, bed goes down", and so on. I am trying to just have that notion of "notice the breath goes in, notice the breath goes out" (whether that be noticed in the nostrils, abdomen or whole body experience). The only point of difference from the video is that Homer is making the bed go up and down, where as I am just noticing when the action of breath takes place.
If you're like me (first contact your doctor and ask to see their psychiatrist), and struggling to breath properly, let Homer help you. He is a man of great wisdom.
Mmmmm forbidden happiness.
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Hope For My Amygdalae
For me, the Amygdalae are the most interesting part of the brain. Known for its role in the processing of memory and emotional reactions, it is thought to play a key role in the response of fear.
My interest is largely due to having had a rather strained relationship with amygdalae. Having suffered from anxiety, sometimes to a highly debilitating level for many years, it is probably fair to say that I have somewhat of an "overactive amygdalae"! I like that it's there - I'm most likely alive because of it, but sometimes I do wish it would quieten down a bit. I find it quite humourous that I am talking a part of me as if it's a separate character. I suppose we'll leave the debate on what makes a person, a person for another time though!
Anyway, it seems as though there is hope for "me" and my amygdalae and all I have to do is to search in a place rather close to home - myself.
For some time now, I have been interested in the practice of Mindfulness. There are several opinions as to its exact definition, but as I understand it, it's a form of meditation in which you pay very close attention to the present moment in a non judgemental and compassionate way. My interest has, up until quite recently been passive, in the sense that I have had an interest in its concept, dabbled in it a bit, but never really got to a practicing stage. Very recently, this has begun to change. I have noticed a few positive changes already, enough to make me want to stick with it too (which is impressive as I usually get all impatient and give up on anything that hasn't worked after 30 seconds!). As these evolve, I may share some of them here.
Right, I'm mindful of the fact I'm beginning to waffle. So to get the point. Recent FMRI (Functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans taken from Buddhist monks have shown that practicing mindfulness can actually have a effect on the amygdalae and down-regulate it. Chances are I'll never become a Buddhist Monk (orange doesn't suit me for a start!), but the good news is that changes have been observed in those regular folk who have only practiced it for a short period of time. So, there is hope for my amygdalae!
I would recommend highly that you take one hour of your time to watch the video below, in which the above is described in more detail (around the 15 minute mark if you don't have time to watch the whole thing). It's about a program developed by Chade-Meng Tan, an engineer at Google called "Search Inside Yourself" and is designed to cultivate your "Emotional Intelligence". I found it to be insightful, inspiring and humourous.
I wish you happiness.
My interest is largely due to having had a rather strained relationship with amygdalae. Having suffered from anxiety, sometimes to a highly debilitating level for many years, it is probably fair to say that I have somewhat of an "overactive amygdalae"! I like that it's there - I'm most likely alive because of it, but sometimes I do wish it would quieten down a bit. I find it quite humourous that I am talking a part of me as if it's a separate character. I suppose we'll leave the debate on what makes a person, a person for another time though!
Anyway, it seems as though there is hope for "me" and my amygdalae and all I have to do is to search in a place rather close to home - myself.
For some time now, I have been interested in the practice of Mindfulness. There are several opinions as to its exact definition, but as I understand it, it's a form of meditation in which you pay very close attention to the present moment in a non judgemental and compassionate way. My interest has, up until quite recently been passive, in the sense that I have had an interest in its concept, dabbled in it a bit, but never really got to a practicing stage. Very recently, this has begun to change. I have noticed a few positive changes already, enough to make me want to stick with it too (which is impressive as I usually get all impatient and give up on anything that hasn't worked after 30 seconds!). As these evolve, I may share some of them here.
Right, I'm mindful of the fact I'm beginning to waffle. So to get the point. Recent FMRI (Functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans taken from Buddhist monks have shown that practicing mindfulness can actually have a effect on the amygdalae and down-regulate it. Chances are I'll never become a Buddhist Monk (orange doesn't suit me for a start!), but the good news is that changes have been observed in those regular folk who have only practiced it for a short period of time. So, there is hope for my amygdalae!
I would recommend highly that you take one hour of your time to watch the video below, in which the above is described in more detail (around the 15 minute mark if you don't have time to watch the whole thing). It's about a program developed by Chade-Meng Tan, an engineer at Google called "Search Inside Yourself" and is designed to cultivate your "Emotional Intelligence". I found it to be insightful, inspiring and humourous.
I wish you happiness.
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