I have written about this concept before, back July, I think, or early August last year. Essentially, and very briefly, it is the art of “being in the moment”.
It is something I have tinkered with a few times over the last 15-20 yrs, but not in any structured, serious way. That is about to change.
I have had this book on my wish list for several months
I had seen it recommended on more than one forum when I was withdrawing from cymbalta, and a fellow blogger also recommended it. And now, I have it in my possession 🙂
If I had seen this title in passing, I might well have dismissed it as perhaps a guide to surviving the zombie apocalypse. When in fact it is a guide to ‘surviving life’, a means of coping with stress, illness, chronic pain, with mindfullness at its core.
Thr programme it teaches spans 8 weeks and includes daily meditation. I am intrigued. So intrigued I have bought the app of guided meditations that are used in the actual course. There seemed little point in just reading the book without being able to actually “do” what it recommends.
I’ve never been very good at meditation. My grasshopper brain skedaddles all over the place, so this will be a challenge for me. But I am going to give this a go.
The book advises “just do it” basically. Do it and reserve judgement until the end of the 8 weeks. I can do that. I think.
I would like to report back here on what it’s like, however. But is it possible to do that without giving some kind of judgement? Not sure. But I can certainly try.
I have read the lengthy forward, which includes scientific research into the effectiveness of the programme, including research done by a nobel prize winner.
I have also just finished reading the introduction. I have the app. So after this sleep, I shall begin 😀
Chaos, Cats and Chronic Pain 
Great post, I hope it will help you. I tried some years ago and found it difficult in the beginning and more easy later.
Judgments are never needed, just give yourself time enough and tell us how it is working for you 😉
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Thank you 🙂
Do you still practice it?
What I find most frustrating about meditation is that my mum taught me and my brother when we were early teens. It’s not like riding a bicycle for me. Or it could be I just havent properly relaxed for 20 years *sigh*
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No, I find it more easy to do my meditation in peace.
I have also had problems about never relaxing totally, but it becomes more easy by daily practice. I do still have days, where I can’t find the inner peace and then I can’t do my meditation that day.
I often use the beach as a place for meditation, no matter what time at the year. To walk there helps me.
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I love the sea. I find just being on a beach or by a lake, even, soothes me like nothing else (apart from music), but I live at least an hrs drive away now, and walking on sand with FM isincredibly hard. I can’t go alone.
It is reassuring that it gets easier with practice tho 🙂 knowing that will help bypass my inherent impatience 🙂
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Maybe you go to a harbor, where there are no sand or to a lake. They do also offer us the wet element.
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Oh I am excited to hear about this. I have another blogger who has been trying to get me to do mindfulness. I am horrible at meditation. Yes, I know, odd…what with DID..LOL…but I have tried tiny little bits…for tiny little things…and it somewhat works…however nottt for anything remotely middle sized.
Excited to see what someone who is not into Zen or anything thinks. 🙂 -CC
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Hi CC,
It will be interesting to see how this pans out. Maybe a structured course like this will be better than my hotch-potch attempts. But the meditation part does worry me.
But I shall definitely let you know 🙂
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PS…….Zen? That takes all the fun out of a good rant! LOL
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I knowwwwww LOLOL I am sorry hahaha xxx CC
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LOLOL – No need to apologise 🙂 xx
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I do so love your rants too. Please forgive me. I am laughing. I feel the same. Hahaaaaaa. ..zen…ikr..lol
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😀 😀 😀
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one gently breath in awareness
at a time 🙂
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I am a practitioner of Shinnyo-en Buddhism. Been connected for nearly two years and it has helped me greatly in dealing with stress, depression, illness and life in general. Prior to my joining Shinnyo-en I was a prescription drug addict. Even after I kicked the habit I had to find a way to deal with my problems, to be accountable to myself. Happy to say since Shinnyo-en I no longer tempted or need any more anti-depressants. Now I only take my hypertension medication and my blood pressure has been at normal levels for several months. I still have my challenges but now I can put trials and tribulations into their proper perspective.
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I know this is a kind of ‘sideways’ reply, but after my experiences of anti-depressants and other drugs prescribed for FM and pain, I think it helps a great deal to just be free of them. They seem to cause more problems than they solve. Or they have for me.
Well done for kicking your addiction! That can’t have been easy. And you are right – we need a coping mechanism of some kind. I’m glad you found one that suits you 🙂
I have a feeling it might take me longer than 8 weeks to get into this one, but I’m going to give it a damn good go 🙂
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Go for the Gusto Moongazer!! It took me longer than 8 weeks also. But I thought of it as a choice. I could give into temptation and wallow in despair or fight for my right to happiness and sanity without being a pill factory. I don’t just want to survive I want to thrive. In these last two years I’m beginning to see some of my creative dreams come true. I got tired of being in a drug fog like a denizen from the walking dead. I want to have a clear mind and a healthy body. Life is all about moving forward despite setbacks. I wish you all the Best!! 🙂
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Yes! That is exactly what I am aiming for after my year of hell – to move forward and to thrive again 🙂
Thank you for your encouragement, it means a lot 🙂
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I’m interested in hearing how you get on with this. I have tried meditation but when my back spasms, it removes me from the relaxation!
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My back spasms too. It bloody kills doesnt it 😦 (((hugs))) Part of this systems appeal for me is it’s designed to help you deal with pain.
I’m finding the book slow going at the moment. That could be me tho rather than the writing. It keeps stressing the importance of perserverence, so I keep reading LOL. But I’m almost at the part where the meditations begin. The app was only £6 – much cheaper than the cd. I will definitely be reporting on my progress 😀
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