Trying to meditate but can't let go!

[tiffalee]

I keep trying to meditate/pathwork and it's like my mind finds every little thing to hold it in. "Blocked", somehow. I've been feeling very pent-up lately, and am still shaky from someone dying on my shift in the nursing home last night... Working with elderly with a very bad fear of death isn't always a good idea. But I recently switched from days to overnights, and with the strain the flip-flop does on my body, I was trying to... Well, 'release' it. But I'm blocked. And very rambly, sorry. :/

Ideas?

Thanks

~Tiffa

[Amethyst]

I keep trying to meditate/pathwork and it's like my mind finds every little thing to hold it in. "Blocked", somehow. I've been feeling very pent-up lately, and am still shaky from someone dying on my shift in the nursing home last night... Working with elderly with a very bad fear of death isn't always a good idea. But I recently switched from days to overnights, and with the strain the flip-flop does on my body, I was trying to... Well, 'release' it. But I'm blocked. And very rambly, sorry. :/

Ideas?

Thanks

~Tiffa

 
I personally also have trouble meditating. Have you meditated before and had success, or is this relatively new to you? Because someone told me that very few people can successfully meditate right away. I'm not blocked exactly, just very distracted. However, I've found that counting as I breathe really helps. I breathe in for a count of 7, hold for 7, breathe out 7, wait 7, and repeat. Maybe if you have one thing to focus on (the counting) instead of everything, it might help?

Someone with more meditation experience might have more proven suggestions - this is just what seems to work for me.

[Laveth]

I keep trying to meditate/pathwork and it's like my mind finds every little thing to hold it in. "Blocked", somehow. I've been feeling very pent-up lately, and am still shaky from someone dying on my shift in the nursing home last night... Working with elderly with a very bad fear of death isn't always a good idea. But I recently switched from days to overnights, and with the strain the flip-flop does on my body, I was trying to... Well, 'release' it. But I'm blocked. And very rambly, sorry. :/

Ideas?

Thanks

~Tiffa

 

This might sound counter-intuitive, but it's one of the few things that works for me in such circumstances where everyday stress proves to be too much of a distraction.

Don't try to shut out the thoughts. Let them float in, and right back out, of your mind. Acknowledge each of them, and then let them leave your frame of mind. You can deal with all that another time. Often, the ones that refuse to leave you alone are the ones that you really need to meditate on (or otherwise deal with) in the immediate future.

When those have either left your thoughts, or have been dealt when, then you will be able to 'let go.'

Like I said, that's just what works for me. Maybe worth a shot.

[tiffalee]

I personally also have trouble meditating. Have you meditated before and had success, or is this relatively new to you? Because someone told me that very few people can successfully meditate right away. I'm not blocked exactly, just very distracted. However, I've found that counting as I breathe really helps. I breathe in for a count of 7, hold for 7, breathe out 7, wait 7, and repeat. Maybe if you have one thing to focus on (the counting) instead of everything, it might help?

Someone with more meditation experience might have more proven suggestions - this is just what seems to work for me.

I have been able to before just fine. My schedule switching has caused me to not sleep a lot, with family wanting me to be up during the day, so I prolly just need sleep

[Annie Roonie]

I keep trying to meditate/pathwork
Ideas?

Thanks

~Tiffa

The breathing technique and the allowing and releasing of thoughts as mentioned so far have worked for me as well.

I can add two things that might help.

1. Don't worry about pathwork just yet. Allow yourself some time to just meditate and then once you're able to more successfully do that, moving further might come easier.

2. If thoughts are coming too much and too intensely for breathing techniques and wiping thoughts to work well, you might try substituting thoughts. Not with complex ones, but with ones that will serve to move you closer to your goal, like imagining each part of your body relaxing. Tense up the muscles and then relax them moving from one part to another. Focusing on this task could help calm the flow of other distracting thoughts, and the visualization is a bit easier as you may actually be able to see your muscles tense and relax. If it helps further, imagine heat or light or whatever relaxes you infusing each area as your relax it.

Stressful times are the most difficult for me when it comes to meditation but I think they may be the most necessary times to do it.  I think adding pathwork during these times can add to stress because the feeling like you need to accomplish something can overwhelm the feeling of simply being and letting go.

Good luck to you!