Mindfulness Week 4: Thoughts

This week was my fourth mindfulness session.  All of those attending felt that are being more thoughtful and coping better with issues in our daily lives.

We agreed that the three minute breathing meditation could reset us for the day and give us a few minutes of time out.  We were encouraged to keep this up.

The topic in week 4 is thoughts.  We discussed how we deal with negative and positive thoughts and whether it was constructive to dwell on negative thoughts.  Our teacher suggested that we try to label our thoughts – we could use our own labelling system.

If you write down your positive and negative thoughts through the week – you can think about how you are dealing with them.

Our teacher told us that it is like waiting for a bus.  Instead of getting on the bus we wanted to and going on our expected journey, our thoughts can be like getting on the wrong bus and going on a totally different journey.  We need to try and bring ourselves back to the present and refocus.

We did a body scan meditation and when our minds wandered, we had to think about the thoughts we were having and try and label them.   I found this really difficult as usually I relax during the meditations but as I was trying to label my thoughts I became fidgety.

We finished with a three minute breathing meditation and were asked what emotion we felt at the end.  Some people felt negative emotions and this is something that they need to work with.

So far in Mindfulness, I am trying to stay in the present, be aware of what emotions I experience through the day, not let negative thoughts take over, be more aware of my every day activities so I am not running on autopilot and to reset daily through meditation.

The women in our group have found the meeting very constructive and said they would like something to follow on.  I was very happy to announce to them that I am setting up The Purple Tent, where we can meet and work together with other women to be positive and nurturing.  Talking with other women who are experiencing similar life situations to you can be incredibly enriching.  Read more about The Purple Tent here and contact me if you are interested in attending or setting up a group (joyce.harper@ucl.ac.uk).  Please also read about The Red Tent here – aimed at younger women.  Global women also hope to run some Red Tent events in 2017.

And do not forget that kids can practice Mindfulness too – the image is from a post about kids using the 3 minute meditation.

Image credit – http://blogs.psychcentral.com/stress-better/2014/12/a-mindful-minute-3-fun-mindfulness-exercises-for-kids-illustrated/

Read More:

Mindfulness Week 1:  Introductions and breathing

Mindfulness Week 2: Bodyscan and negative energy

Mindfulness Week 3: Movement, breathing and problem solving