Let go of the need to control your thoughts during meditation from "summary" of The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness by Andy Puddicombe
When we sit down to meditate, it's common for our minds to be filled with thoughts. Sometimes these thoughts flow easily and sometimes they feel sticky and we find ourselves unable to let them go. It's human nature to want to control the mind, to try to push away the thoughts we don't want and hold on to the ones we do. But in meditation, we're not trying to control our thoughts. We're simply trying to be aware of them, to observe them without getting caught up in them.
When we try to control our thoughts during meditation, we're actually creating more tension and resistance in the mind. We're adding another layer of thinking on top of the thoughts themselves. This can make meditation feel like a struggle, like we're fighting against our own minds. But the truth is, we don't need to control our thoughts. We don't need to push them away or hold on to them. We just need to let them come and go, to allow them to pass through our awareness without getting entangled in them.
By letting go of the need to control our thoughts during meditation, we create space in the mind. We create a sense of openness and freedom, where thoughts can come and go like clouds passing through the sky. We can observe them with curiosity and interest, without judging them or trying to change them. This allows us to develop a more relaxed and accepting attitude towards our thoughts, which can help us cultivate a sense of inner peace and clarity.
So the next time you sit down to meditate, remember that you don't need to control your thoughts. You don't need to push them away or hold on to them. Just let them be, and allow yourself to be present with whatever arises in your awareness. In this way, you can cultivate a sense of mindfulness and develop a deeper understanding of your own mind.
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