Comments on: The Lazy Man’s Guide to Regaining Control of Your Mind http://www.pluginid.com/regaining-control-of-your-mind/ Personal Development Blog to Plug You Into Your Identity Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:59:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Akexander http://www.pluginid.com/regaining-control-of-your-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-4177 Akexander Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:55:33 +0000 http://www.pluginid.com/?p=1578#comment-4177 "If you can be completely present in this moment, you will have no problems." Yeah, neither do you when you have your brain removed. Great advice! “If you can be completely present in this moment, you will have no problems.”

Yeah, neither do you when you have your brain removed. Great advice!

]]> By: Glen http://www.pluginid.com/regaining-control-of-your-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-3673 Glen Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:47:57 +0000 http://www.pluginid.com/?p=1578#comment-3673 <blockquote>1. Am I permitted to change the object for every session?</blockquote> Sure, I don't see why not <blockquote>2: What are the parameters of fully concentrating on an object? E.g. If I am staring at an apple, is thinking of the tree it fell from counted as concentrating on it? Or should I just keep on staring saying “Apple, Apple. Apple….” ad infinitum in my mind!</blockquote> The point is that you shouldn't be saying anything. Just see if you can give the object your full attention <strong>without</strong> mentally labelling it or 'talking' to it. You will notice that this is VERY DIFFICULT at first. Which is why in the post I said: <blockquote>This exercise will help you realise how little control you have over your mind, and how you and your mind are actually separate. After all, if you want to focus on the object for 5 minutes, who is having the distracting thoughts and reactions that take away your attention?</blockquote>

1. Am I permitted to change the object for every session?

Sure, I don’t see why not

2: What are the parameters of fully concentrating on an object? E.g. If I am staring at an apple, is thinking of the tree it fell from counted as concentrating on it? Or should I just keep on staring saying “Apple, Apple. Apple….” ad infinitum in my mind!

The point is that you shouldn’t be saying anything. Just see if you can give the object your full attention without mentally labelling it or ‘talking’ to it. You will notice that this is VERY DIFFICULT at first. Which is why in the post I said:

This exercise will help you realise how little control you have over your mind, and how you and your mind are actually separate. After all, if you want to focus on the object for 5 minutes, who is having the distracting thoughts and reactions that take away your attention?

]]> By: Chris J http://www.pluginid.com/regaining-control-of-your-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-3671 Chris J Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:31:47 +0000 http://www.pluginid.com/?p=1578#comment-3671 I tend to lack the concentration to fully complete any project be it large or small or if I do complete it fully, its usually rushed or done half heartedly. I guess I was hoping this exercise would give me the ability to take rein of my mind and allow me to fully concentrate and hence fully complete the task ahead of me. Also 2 questions: 1. Am I permitted to change the object for every session? 2: What are the parameters of fully concentrating on an object? E.g. If I am staring at an apple, is thinking of the tree it fell from counted as concentrating on it? Or should I just keep on staring saying "Apple, Apple. Apple...." ad infinitum in my mind! :) In response to your second question, if I hadn't done the exercise then I probably wouldn't have felt like I wasted my time though knowing me, chances are I would have wasted my time doing something else! I'd like to keep the sessions up though and practice more if only to satisfy my curiosity about such exercises (Tony Buzan and more!) and to waste my wasted time. :) Thanks again, Chris I tend to lack the concentration to fully complete any project be it large or small or if I do complete it fully, its usually rushed or done half heartedly. I guess I was hoping this exercise would give me the ability to take rein of my mind and allow me to fully concentrate and hence fully complete the task ahead of me.

Also 2 questions:

1. Am I permitted to change the object for every session?
2: What are the parameters of fully concentrating on an object? E.g. If I am staring at an apple, is thinking of the tree it fell from counted as concentrating on it? Or should I just keep on staring saying “Apple, Apple. Apple….” ad infinitum in my mind! :)

In response to your second question, if I hadn’t done the exercise then I probably wouldn’t have felt like I wasted my time though knowing me, chances are I would have wasted my time doing something else!

I’d like to keep the sessions up though and practice more if only to satisfy my curiosity about such exercises (Tony Buzan and more!) and to waste my wasted time. :)

Thanks again,
Chris

]]> By: Glen http://www.pluginid.com/regaining-control-of-your-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-3637 Glen Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:31:38 +0000 http://www.pluginid.com/?p=1578#comment-3637 Just out of curiosity Chris, what were you expecting to happen to you after the 5 minutes? This is a <strong>practice</strong> that you have to keep going, which will help you keep full control over your mind. This will in-turn allow you to begin to choose your thoughts and feelings. <blockquote>I kept my mind focused on the object 100%, now I just feel like I’ve wasted 5 minutes that I could have used doing something a bit more constructive.</blockquote> Exactly, now what is the benefit of this negative feeling that you have of wasting your time. If you can feel anything, why would you choose to feel bothered and like you have wasted something that doesn't even exist. Maybe more practice is in order, thanks for the comment. Just out of curiosity Chris, what were you expecting to happen to you after the 5 minutes? This is a practice that you have to keep going, which will help you keep full control over your mind. This will in-turn allow you to begin to choose your thoughts and feelings.

I kept my mind focused on the object 100%, now I just feel like I’ve wasted 5 minutes that I could have used doing something a bit more constructive.

Exactly, now what is the benefit of this negative feeling that you have of wasting your time. If you can feel anything, why would you choose to feel bothered and like you have wasted something that doesn’t even exist.

Maybe more practice is in order, thanks for the comment.

]]> By: Chris J http://www.pluginid.com/regaining-control-of-your-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-3634 Chris J Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:28:23 +0000 http://www.pluginid.com/?p=1578#comment-3634 Unfortunately, this didn't do anything for me. I stared at the thing for five minutes, taking note of everything about it, all its uses and every possibility attached to the object. I kept my mind focused on the object 100%, now I just feel like I've wasted 5 minutes that I could have used doing something a bit more constructive. I also don't understand how its going to get easier after a few more sessions. If anything it will be harder to concentrate on the same object week after week after exhausting all of its presence/connotations whatever... Thanks Chris Unfortunately, this didn’t do anything for me. I stared at the thing for five minutes, taking note of everything about it, all its uses and every possibility attached to the object. I kept my mind focused on the object 100%, now I just feel like I’ve wasted 5 minutes that I could have used doing something a bit more constructive.

I also don’t understand how its going to get easier after a few more sessions. If anything it will be harder to concentrate on the same object week after week after exhausting all of its presence/connotations whatever…

Thanks
Chris

]]> By: Stephen - Rat Race Trap http://www.pluginid.com/regaining-control-of-your-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2790 Stephen - Rat Race Trap Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:55:13 +0000 http://www.pluginid.com/?p=1578#comment-2790 This is great Glen. I have only just put my toe into meditation and so far it has been limited to focusing on my breathing to get into the present. I learned yesterday that by doing abdominal breathing, you can stimulate a nerve that causes your brain to release happiness neurotransmitters. No wonder it feels so good! It can be done anytime, anywhere This is great Glen. I have only just put my toe into meditation and so far it has been limited to focusing on my breathing to get into the present. I learned yesterday that by doing abdominal breathing, you can stimulate a nerve that causes your brain to release happiness neurotransmitters. No wonder it feels so good! It can be done anytime, anywhere

]]> By: Glen http://www.pluginid.com/regaining-control-of-your-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2721 Glen Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:17:21 +0000 http://www.pluginid.com/?p=1578#comment-2721 Hey Haider, I like this: <blockquote>Living in the present doesn’t simply improve your mood, but improves the quality of your life. You’ll be able to produce more and actually get things done when you accept the fact that things take time, and the future is the future and the present is the present.</blockquote> Very true, there are so many benefits to living this way. Exactly, I like the feeling of being 'transparent' to anything that comes over us, and just let it pass. Thanks for the great comment! Hey Haider, I like this:

Living in the present doesn’t simply improve your mood, but improves the quality of your life. You’ll be able to produce more and actually get things done when you accept the fact that things take time, and the future is the future and the present is the present.

Very true, there are so many benefits to living this way. Exactly, I like the feeling of being ‘transparent’ to anything that comes over us, and just let it pass.

Thanks for the great comment!

]]> By: Glen http://www.pluginid.com/regaining-control-of-your-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2720 Glen Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:16:08 +0000 http://www.pluginid.com/?p=1578#comment-2720 Thanks a lot Jonathan, I'm glad you liked the exercise. Haha, I'm glad you're feeling it too ;) Thanks a lot Jonathan, I’m glad you liked the exercise. Haha, I’m glad you’re feeling it too ;)

]]> By: Glen http://www.pluginid.com/regaining-control-of-your-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2719 Glen Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:12:52 +0000 http://www.pluginid.com/?p=1578#comment-2719 Thanks BNW You south african bru? Thanks BNW

You south african bru?

]]> By: Haider http://www.pluginid.com/regaining-control-of-your-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2709 Haider Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:09:10 +0000 http://www.pluginid.com/?p=1578#comment-2709 Hi Glen, Thanks for the post! I have a problem living in the present because my mind keeps projecting forward to when projects are completed, which means I don't get to enjoy the process of working on the projects and end up experiencing anxiety for not having completed my projects yet. Living in the present doesn't simply improve your mood, but improves the quality of your life. You'll be able to produce more and actually get things done when you accept the fact that things take time, and the future is the future and the present is the present. I actually have a different take on positive and negative feelings. I don't think negative feelings are a bad thing, as such. But just like physical pain, it's our body's way of bringing our attention to a part of our life that we need to work on. Physical pain tells us which part of our body is in danger, or needs care. Negative emotions tell us that there is something we need to pay attention to. Anxiety is intended to push us towards action. However, negative emotions are only bad when we do not respond to them correctly. When we sulk in depression, that's when it ends up harming us. Taking pain-killers without identifying why we experience pain is harmful to us, in the same way we try to dispel negative feelings, without knowing why they arise and how to deal with them. Hi Glen,

Thanks for the post!

I have a problem living in the present because my mind keeps projecting forward to when projects are completed, which means I don’t get to enjoy the process of working on the projects and end up experiencing anxiety for not having completed my projects yet.

Living in the present doesn’t simply improve your mood, but improves the quality of your life. You’ll be able to produce more and actually get things done when you accept the fact that things take time, and the future is the future and the present is the present.

I actually have a different take on positive and negative feelings. I don’t think negative feelings are a bad thing, as such. But just like physical pain, it’s our body’s way of bringing our attention to a part of our life that we need to work on. Physical pain tells us which part of our body is in danger, or needs care.

Negative emotions tell us that there is something we need to pay attention to. Anxiety is intended to push us towards action. However, negative emotions are only bad when we do not respond to them correctly. When we sulk in depression, that’s when it ends up harming us.

Taking pain-killers without identifying why we experience pain is harmful to us, in the same way we try to dispel negative feelings, without knowing why they arise and how to deal with them.

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