Allow thoughts to come and go without getting caught up in them from "summary" of The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness by Andy Puddicombe
When we sit down to meditate, it's not uncommon to find ourselves in a constant battle with our thoughts. We might try to push them away, ignore them, or even get caught up in them. But one of the key principles of meditation is to simply allow thoughts to come and go without becoming entangled in them.
It's like watching clouds pass across the sky. We don't try to hold on to any one cloud or push others away; we simply observe them drifting by. In the same way, we can observe our thoughts without attaching any significance to them or trying to control them.
This doesn't mean we need to force ourselves to stop thinking altogether. That would be impossible. Instead, we can acknowledge our thoughts and then gently redirect our attention back to the present moment, whether that means focusing on our breath, our body, or the sounds around us.
By practicing this nonjudgmental awareness of our thoughts, we can begin to see them for what they are: fleeting mental events that arise and pass away on their own. We don't need to react to every thought or believe that they define us in any way.
When we let go of the need to control our thoughts, we create space for greater clarity and peace of mind. We can learn to observe our thoughts with curiosity and compassion, rather than getting caught up in a cycle of rumination and worry.
So the next time you find yourself getting carried away by your thoughts during meditation, remember to simply observe them with an attitude of openness and acceptance. Allow them to come and go, like clouds in the sky, knowing that you are the calm, clear awareness that remains unchanged amidst the ever-changing landscape of your mind.
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