The Calm Corner Update Wednesday 25th March 2020

Good morning fellow meditators,

I hope you are persevering with a little practice, even if it's extra challenging at the moment as we all have to absorb new, worrying facts about Covid-19 and its rapid spread.

Did any of you try the Loving-Kindness Meditation yesterday? You can opt out of sitting practice at any time you want or need to and just do that as an alternative on days where it's difficult or impossible to practice Mindfulness.

I'd like to suggest adding something into your meditation practice from today. Firstly add in a few minutes of extra sitting time, if you can, but it is fine to stick with the ten minutes if you aren't yet ready. Better a short sit with concentration than a long one without.

But then a new technique for when you first notice that a thought has intruded while you are observing your breath. I'd like you to label it.

An example: You suddenly find yourself thinking of something you need to do later, like, say, buy some cheese.

To try to stop the thought returning to you for the rest of your meditation, deal with it by naming it in some way. How doesn't matter so much as just labelling it.

If it helps, and it's something I do, you can visualise a chest of draws or filing cabinet in front of you, and mentally pop in the thought as you name it. Don't get caught up with what to call it and which drawer to place it in. That's not the aim. It's a technique to help you to deal with unwanted thoughts, not a tidying up exercise! If you can categorise it quickly, fine, but if not, have one of those drawers we all have at home for 'junk', or 'later'.

Good luck with that, and let me know if it helps.

Happy meditation everyone.

Stay safe and well, and be happy.