Switch everything off. Close your eyes. Relax. Listen to the soft swoosh of waves dragging their cargo of sand and shells up the beach. Empty your mind. Do nothing. Think nothing. Good things will happen.But what sort of beach? Is it sandy or bumpy with pebbles. Is it in this country? Cornwall perhaps, or maybe a golden curving dream ringed with gentle palms. Is the sea rough or calm?
It doesn't matter what beach, just listen to the sounds of the waves, allow them to wash away your thoughts...
No, it's no good. I can't stop my imagination taking me on a whistle-stop tour of Conde-Nast's Top 10 dreamiest holiday hot-spots.
A candle, that's nice and simple.... Did I turn the stove off? I'm sure I did, but I know for sure I've forgotten to hang out the washing. What time is it? Only 5 minutes since I started, well I suppose technically I should begin again as I've been rather thought-filled...
What have I done with the book anyway, haven't seen it for a few days... I can't remember what is supposed to happen when you 'do nothing' anyway. Some sort of state of calm I guess... Hmm. I'm a bit peckish... I hate my job... Shall I quit? Is that the phone?
***
Well, no I haven't gone completely mad (well no more than usual). This is simply an open dialogue typical of my attempts at switching off this week. Together with a group of bloggers, we are working through The Joy Diet by Martha Beck. Week 1 required us to 'do nothing' for 15 minutes each day. It is not very easy. When I actually remember, I simply cannot switch off for more than about a minute at a time. However, I'm not overly bothered. I never for one moment thought that this was a skill that would come naturally. In fact, I also suspect that I'll learn most from reading others' experience. I'm off now to read up on what everyone else has been doing.
I'll keep trying anyway. Next week's chapter is called truth. OK, I admit it. Twas I that stole the cookies from the jar...
To see how everyone is getting on, take a look at 'The Next Chapter' with Jamie Ridler and the gang.
Posts
Hang in there! Try and try again. And, about that beach ... add the rocks, the stinky fish, the red tide (see how I build my beach!!!!!) ... if it brings you to NOTHING ... let it be!
ReplyDeleteYep, sounds like what I've been going through! I typically have a few seconds of quiet in my mind, and then it's off to the next thought. Yet, I'm ever hopeful that those seconds can expand to a few more seconds, a few more breaths, and that I can catch myself earlier in the process of going off on a thought, then another and another. I'm glad you're not overly bothered and continuing on. I'm planning to do the same.
ReplyDeleteSo the very last sentence was my favorite. Can't wait what you have to write about Truth! Anyway... I chased rabbits in my head for weeks (maybe months)... ok... I still do sometimes. But that's all worth it for those times when I really do slow down and can hear my soul talking. Magic!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your journey with nothing this week. I can so relate to your week of nothing. I had a hard time with switching off also and I just can't sit with my thoughts, it is too uncomfortable and i find myself in need of constant distraction. I did find some nothing time quite by accident at the end of the week when I went outside to sit for awhile and found myself actually thinking of Nothing! Now the trick will be getting myself to do this on a more regular basis, we shall see! Enjoy your week and see you next time.
ReplyDeletewell it seems you and I have a lot in common when it comes to our thought process...very hard to unplug the brain isn't it???
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I loved this...I mean, I'm sorry that it was a rough start, but you described it so well...how you are focusing on one thing and then "bing" in comes a thought and then "bing" in comes another thought!!
ReplyDeleteI do like the description at the beginning of the beach and the sand and the shells...keep with that...I think it's going to take you somewhere blissful...it's already got all the ingredients!!
Let's see how we do with truth this week!
So... nothing is hard... but everything is possible. Keep on keeping on.
ReplyDeleteI really related to your post and found myself laughing at how familiar it sounded! But I am going to keep on trying and hopefully someday I will be really great at doing "Nothing".
ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteI am doing the Artists Way and one of my tasks is to send out postcards. I thought I would send to people I like who I have never sent a card to and I'd like to send you one. Would you email me your address?
Kate
It's really so interesting what you learn when you try to meditate. About the constant chatter in your brain. It. Will. Not. Shut. Up! When you start listening to what it's saying? Yikes.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Now I need to go close my eyes and picture a beach. With no cloud cover like there was today. That's it. Sunny. That's a good start. :p)
Sounds familiar to me. Very familiar.
ReplyDeleteWe all have to give it a try. I think it could take years for a Western woman to stop thinking and maybe mothers (I don't know if you have kids, but most of us are mothers) are really bad in it, because of biological reasons. Always have one eye or ear on the kids.
Let's see how it will be next week! See you! :)
Don't give up because you will do it eventually. Mind chatter is perfectly normal when someone first starts to meditate but over time, as you learn to focus your mind, the chatter will become less. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is not a natural skill for those of us living in 2009. I also know from previous meditation attempts that you are right - it becomes easier over time. And I enjoy "active" meditations where I listen to a guide on a CD or something. Good luck this week!
ReplyDeletelol, that's usually how it is for me or I fall asleep. :D I saw this book on another bloggers page, as well. Looks very interesting. Can't wait to hear what else you read about.
ReplyDeleteXo,
Tammy
lol, i love your post. but once you get the hang of nothing, it gets a lot easier and can become quite addicting. at least it has for me! looking forward to sharing the truth with you.
ReplyDeleteOh dear... I've ordered the book and now I'm a bit nervous as I've no doubt my mind will react the same way to the struggle of 15 minutes. I love your attitude though and I'm sure it will help when my time comes. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHa- ha! Have you been inside my head??!! That sounds a great deal like the dialogue that runs through my mind!! I used to get upset with myself for not being able to stop my thoughts. It took me a lot longer than you to get to the place where I simply accept them and watch them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a peek into your process and I recogize some of those thoughts too. You know, I think that is how it works when you try to just watch your mind wander. Some interesting thoughts which get interrupted by things like, "Did I turn off the stove?" (for me it's always the coffee pot or flat iron). Thanks for sharing & good luck this week.
ReplyDeleteThis post was so real...I experience the same kind of wandering "monkey mind"...and you wrote it so realistically!
ReplyDeleteWe'll get it eventually...still trying!
I'm making my way slowly down the list of Joy Dieters, and so happy that I made it to your post! Your words made me giggle... Many blessings as you keep working toward nothingness.... and now onto our exploration of truth!
ReplyDelete