SOPHY DAVIS-RUSSELL

14.03.2016

 

Honestly this week the stress of job hunting and damn woman hormones have meant that my mind's been all over the place the last few days and I need to centre it a little. A thoughtful friend got me a really good book for my birthday this year, 'Mindfulness for Everyday Living' by Christopher Titmuss, that's easy to read on the train and really helps you refocus on the mind. Within it there are some helpful methods to calm your thoughts, and these are the most useful to me.

 

No unhealthy speech.

"Practise renouncing a particular pattern of speech, such as the need to complain, express anger, repeat gossip or indulge in memories. Start each day with a commitment to let go of the impulse to use unwise speech. Try to make your speech unhurried, calm and thoughtful, even in the face of provocation so that in the renuncation of unhealthy speech, wholesome speech comes naturally."

 

Get rid of the ego.

"Reflect on 'I,' 'me' and 'my' from the aspect of whether it is a simple use of language or charged with ego. The ego shows itself in unhealthy states of mind such as greed, anger, delusion, fear, pride and so on. Select one pattern of mind and make it a practice to work with it for its transformation."

 

Settle the mind.

"Treat going to sleep as a meditation in relaxation. Experience the full length of your body in the horizontal posture. Allow every part of your body to relax into the mattress. Stay completely still so that your mind is settled quietly into your body."

 

Focus on the feeling.

"Sit comfortably in a chair with a straight back and in a relaxed posture. Close your eyes and turn your attention inwards to see if there is a particular place or location in your body where you experience an unpleasant feeling. It could be in your chest, stomach or another part of your body. Notice the outer edges of that feeling, the centre of it. Stay quietly focused and in touch with its location in your body."

 

Accept change. 

"Meditate on change, on impermanence. Be mindful of all the changes that take place during the day - inwardly and outwardly. Hold onto none of them to remain as open as possible to all new experiences."

 

Be patient.

"Impatience easily shows itself in tone of voice, attitude and body language. Use breathing exercises to allow the cells to relax. Remind yourself that your practice is to develop patience. Acknowledge that you will experience setbacks. Keep practising patience for your own peace of mind as well as to take the pressure off others."