Unit 8: Choosing Two Practices

Even after nine weeks of class and practice, the only meditation we've done that I enjoyed is the Subtle Mind exercise. Maybe it's just that my days are so mentally active (conference calls, meetings, analysis, technical troubleshooting, etc.) that when I sit down to calm my mind, the questions and activities in some of the exercises is just not what my mind needs to calm itself. I'm looking for the absence of thought or the abaility to focus on something so specific that I don't feel like my mind is everywhere looking at things, and images, and thoughts. I think what I've better been able to take away from this class is not the exercises themselves but of finding news ways of integrating the exercise that works for me into my daily routine--even when time is limited. Since I spend almost four hours commuting each day, I've found that I can use a subtle mind 'like' meditation during my commute. I can even meditate for a few minutes while I'm waiting for others to join a conference call. My eyes have sort of been opened to the idea that meditation can be what you need it to be. It doesn't have to be on a pillow in the lotus position for an hour for it to be effective. So rather than choose two practices, I'd rather say that I've chosen AT LEAST two new ways in which I can incorporate my practice into my routine. That seems to be the best of both worlds for me. It's a type of practice that I enjoy and it's interspersed throughout the day, especially at stressful or high anxiety moments. I don't have to wait until I have a chunk of time that I can set aside to refocus and regain a sense of calm.