How to Overcome the 4 Most Common Thoughts that Create Mental Agitation

Your mind is always busy. You really notice just how busy it is when you finally sit down to meditate. Those racing thoughts are perfectly normal. In fact, Eastern teachings liken the mind to a monkey that has been bitten by a scorpion jumping from tree to tree. It won’t stop no matter how much you try to make it. The good news, though, is that in order to meditate, you don’t have to. That’s the secret. There are usually four different types of mental agitation, and the way to slow the discourse of your incessant thoughts is simply by observing them without judgment. What All Forms of Meditation Have in Common There are many types of meditation. You can utilize methods from around the globe, steeped in the traditions of many cultures. From prayerful meditation, to insight, to meditation, and even concentration on a Zen koans, there is one thing all of these tools have in common – they will cause you to become aware of just how you think. We are constantly trying to name our experience. We quantify it, ruminate upon it, and then re-hash it, yet again. This is human nature. So, what do you do to calm this rushing tide of thinking when all you want to do is achieve a state of blissful Nirvana already? 4 Types of Thoughts that Arise During Meditation The first step is to identify the types of thoughts that will arise when we meditate, and know from whence they come psychologically, so that we can just acknowledge them and dismiss them – allow them to pass over like clouds over our head. We see them, we are aware that they are there, but we give ourselves permission not to get caught up in them. Painful Memories Worrying About the Future Background Noise Thoughts About Present Commitments The easiest type of thought to calm concerns the last type – the thoughts about our commitments. Most of us are over-scheduled and over-committed in our lives, so it is no wonder that we are always thinking about what we have to do next, and for whom. One of the easiest ways to lessen these types of thoughts in our meditations is to simply let go of some of those commitments. We all want to be productive and contribute to society and our families, but ask yourself how many of those commitments are really necessary. Then get rid of the ones that are not vital to your well-being. Background noise refers to the sounds we use to try to calm our minds, but that usually do the opposite. This means the noise on the radio when you are driving home from work or the television that you turn on the minute you walk in the door. This is the second easiest type of meditative noise to quiet. Many esoteric teachings ask meditation students to go into caves or other quiet spaces, simply because it lessens background noise that [...]