The Quiet Mind
Here’s a question: Is a quiet mind a prerequisite for good writing? How do can a writer quiet her mind?
I began a meditation class a few weeks ago in the hopes of centering my energy. I’ve been distracted lately and my powers of concentration have felt nonexistent.
I know exactly why. I’ve been gathering papers, meeting with my lawyer and trying to get my divorce finalized. My son began a new school and a new schedule.
I’ve meditated before but never in the consistent way that I know bring the greatest rewards.
Perhaps the most surprising thing that meditation has taught me is now cluttered my mind feels most of the time. When I begin a meditation, my mind drifts all over the place.
No wonder I’m not settled into the new project.
Today I’m going to try an experiment. I’m going to meditate and then sit down to write.
I’ll try this sequence for a few days to see what happens.
Whispering: Mindful meditation.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:26 pmThat’s what I’ve been trying to do too, but there are always a million things on my mind!
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:57 pmThank you for sharing. I’ve gone through a divorce and I tell you it has the worse experience ever…never thought I would make it through. BUT I did, and I tell you - Nothing could have “trained” me more for quieting my mind when you just don’t know what to do. One thing that helped me was to stay away from the TV.
I also fast from the phone and girlfriends. When things start to get overwhelming, i stop talking. Let them know that I need to step away from the advice and conversation to listen to my spirit and work it out. It may only take a day, but sometimes it has taken me a week to get my brain quiest so I can work through things.
September 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pmhaveAWonderful
September 29th, 2008 at 12:55 pmThanks for stopping by the blog and for the great suggestions about tv and chatter.
Meditation, I’ve never tried it and doubt I will since a way I define myself is by those incessant conversations going on in my head. I mean who would I be without all of those words?
I find that while my mind wanders from topic to topic it will settle down when it touches on one topic that I am ready to write about. At that point the flow starts and I feel comfortable enough to push at it and focus all of those thoughts on that one idea.
Best to you with the divorce process. Remember, you are not the process.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:02 amI love this post. I think about ways of quieting the mind all the time. I would say: 1. Meditate or sit quietly with a soft gaze “in your work environment” for 10- 15 minutes b4 beginning, and allow things, voices, and issues to flow in and out until your mind suspends 2. Declutter the work desk throughout the day 3. break down tasks into actionable micro units so you get the feeling of completion throughout the day 4. Take 5 minute meditative breaks throughout the day to refocus and recharge 5. drink tea or hot water.
October 12th, 2008 at 8:52 pm