Meditation has been a staple of spiritual and mental health practices for thousands of years. If this was a waste of time then people wouldn't have been doing it for so long. It has been proven to help people reduce stress, increase focus, and improve overall wellbeing. I meditated for 10 minutes everyday for 18 months straight... then I stopped for 1 year and my mental health suffered. I wasn’t as driven and motivated. I became more passive, I felt like I’d lost my edge and something was missing. Speaking from experience, there's definitely something in meditating regularly.
Understanding the nature of consciousness is a key component to getting the most out of this practice. Once I grasped this idea by reading a book called the untethered soul, meditating made way more sense. And after developing a habit over an 18 month period, the things happening in my head made way more sense as well. It was like I went from living my life in a washing machine on the spin cycle, tumbling around with all my thoughts and feelings to stepping out and being able to just watch the chaos without being caught up in it. This will hopefully make sense to you guys by the end of this blog.
Consciousness Explained
What if I told you that our true self is not our thoughts, emotions, or physical body, but the observer of these experiences?
I know it sounds mental right? That’s what I thought when I first read it.
Lets dive deeper into this, I’ll and break this down in the most no BS way possible.
What is consciousness?
Have you ever noticed a voice in your head that just won't stop talking?
Whether it's giving you compliments, criticising your every move, or just constantly narrating the world around you, this voice can be a real pain. The voice can be like living with an annoying chatterbox roommate that won’t shut up. But have you ever stopped to question whether that voice is actually you?
The truth is, it's not. You are the one who hears it, not the one who speaks it.
That's right, you are not the voice in your head, you are just the one who hears it. The voice is just a voice, and it can never be more "you" than anything else. Just like you are not the objects you look at, you are the one looking at them.
Think about it like this: if you were to see an object in front of you, you would recognise it as an object, but you wouldn't see it as a part of yourself. Similarly, the voice in your head is just something you're aware of, not something that defines you. The voice in your head is just a stream of thoughts and feelings that arises within you. It's like a movie playing in your mind, but instead of sitting back and watching the show, we often get lost in the drama and forget that we are the audience, not the characters.
In the first three chapters of "The Untethered Soul," author Michael Singer explores this idea of the voice in our head and how we can detach from it to lead a more peaceful life. He explains that this voice is a collection of thoughts, memories, and emotions that we have accumulated over time. It's like a library of information that we have gathered and can access whenever we want. But just because we have access to this information doesn't mean we have to listen to it all the time. And when you actually think about it, most of what the voice says is meaningless and just a waste of time. Life is going to unfold regardless of what your mind says about it, just like the sun rising and setting.
By simply becoming aware of the voice in your head, you can start to separate yourself from it and take back control of your thoughts and emotions. Instead of getting caught up in the thoughts and emotions it presents, we can simply observe them as they come and go and let them pass by like clouds in the sky. This allows us to gain a sense of distance and perspective, making us less likely to get lost in the chatter. This process may take some time, as the voice in your head is deeply ingrained, but with practice, you can begin to experience a deeper sense of peace and clarity in your daily life.
Meditation is one of the best ways to put this concept into practice. When we meditate, we're not trying to eliminate the voice in our head, but rather to observe it without getting caught up in it. See how much of it is just meaningless chatter. By focusing on our breath and staying present in the moment, we can watch our thoughts and emotions come and go without being attached to them. Meditation is simply the practice of observing the voice in a non-judgmental way.
Over time, this practice helps us to develop a deeper sense of self-awareness and create more space between us and the voice. We can train our minds to be more focused and aware, and develop a greater sense of control over our thoughts and emotions, which is the ultimate goal of meditation. So, the next time you sit down to meditate, remember that you are not the voice in your head, you are the one who hears it, and simply observe it with a sense of detachment.
So to answer the heading of this section, consciousness is the awareness of your own thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.
Identifying with our thoughts and feelings
In the days of our ancestors, life was much different than it is today. People lived in small communities as hunters and gatherers, relying on nature for their survival. There was no time for getting lost in thoughts and emotions - the focus was on staying present and attuned to the environment in order to find food and avoid danger.
In this world, emotions were not seen as a hindrance, but as a valuable tool for survival. Negative emotions like fear or anger were often seen as warning signs, alerting the person to potential danger. Positive emotions like joy or contentment were experienced in response to finding food or accomplishing a task.
However, these emotions were not dwelled upon or analysed. They were simply experienced, and then let go, allowing the person to stay focused on the task at hand. In this way, our ancestors were able to remain grounded in the present moment, and in tune with the world around them.
In contrast, modern society has created an environment that often encourages people to get lost in their thoughts and emotions. We are bombarded with images and triggering messages that encourage us to focus on our feelings, to identify with them, and to make them a central part of our lives instead of just being aware of them and letting them go. This attachment to our emotions and heavily weighted focus on our internal experience has lead to stress, anxiety, and a sense of disconnection from the world around us.
From a young age, we are taught to associate our thoughts and emotions with who we are as a person, rather than simply experiencing them for what they are, temporary, passing experiences. I see it happening first hand with my nephew, his encouraged to talk about his emotions freely and when his feeling sad he'll say "I'm sad". This association becomes deeply ingrained over time and we start to believe that our thoughts and emotions define us, rather than just being experiences that are passing through us. Your words shape your thoughts, emotions, and actions. When you say "I am" followed by a thought or belief, you are affirming that thought and creating a self-image based on that belief. Over time, repeating these affirmations can shape your identity and influence your behaviours and actions in life.
The Role of Validation
Society is often driven by external validation, where people seek approval from others to validate their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Social media and the constant comparison to others' perceived perfection also play a significant role in this attachment. People tend to attach themselves to their thoughts and emotions, as a way of establishing their own identity and gaining validation. However, this attachment can lead to a distorted view of reality, where they become overly focused on their emotions and thoughts, losing the ability to regulate them and making it harder to gain a broader perspective on situations.
Society's emphasis on instant gratification, self-promotion, and the projection of an ideal self, drives people to become attached to their thoughts and emotions, leading to mental illness and decreased overall well-being.
Emotions are a normal part of life, but becoming too attached to them can have negative consequences. When we let our emotions take over, we can lose perspective and make impulsive decisions. This can lead to increased stress and anxiety, difficulty regulating emotions, and missing out on opportunities. When we're overly attached to our emotions, it's easy to get lost in them and to see the world through a limited lens. This can prevent us from gaining a broader perspective and understanding of situations, and can cause us to react in knee-jerk or impulsive ways. But by being mindful of our relationship with our emotions and practicing self-awareness, we can gain control over our experiences. It's all about finding the right balance between feeling our emotions and not letting them control us.
By embracing the more mindful and present-focused approach of our ancestors, we can learn to experience our emotions in a healthier and more balanced way.
Why Outlaws Meditate
Our ancient ancestors, the hunter-gatherers, lived in a vastly different world than the one we know today. In that world, surviving was the top priority and their daily lives were deeply connected to nature. Survival in those times meant meeting basic needs such as food, water, shelter, and safety. This often involved hunting and gathering stuff to eat, finding sources of clean water, creating or finding shelter, and protecting themselves from threats such as wild animals or other tribes. In this environment, survival was dependent on individual and group cooperation, as well as adaptability to changing conditions. As a result, living in close-knit communities and being in tune with their environment and their emotions was a must. This is the natural condition and environment that humans are still adapted to live in today.
Our modern world, on the other hand, is fast-paced and disconnected from nature, with constant stimuli and distractions vying for our attention. This can make it challenging for us to fully understand and connect with our emotions in a meaningful way. Survival for humans in modern times, means different things, psychological well-being is now our top priority. It encompasses building strong relationships, pursuing personal and professional goals, finding meaning and purpose and avoiding mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Maintaining physical health is also important, but with the availability of food, shelter, and medical care, it is typically low on the priorities list for survival. It also involves adapting to technological advances and facing challenges with resilience, as well as striving for growth, development, and self-improvement. Ultimately, survival in modern times goes beyond just fulfilling our basic needs, and includes a holistic approach to thriving and living a fulfilling life.
There’s nothing objectively wrong about the modern world we’ve created, its way easier to survive now then it was before in a physical sense which is a massive plus. But in a mental capacity it’s probably the hardest it’s ever been to survive, this is shown in the rising suicide rates. The thing is, our biology is still adapted to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle, and this can create a disconnect between our minds and bodies. Our ancient ancestors lived in a world where their emotions were directly connected to their survival and well-being. They didn't have the luxury of ignoring or suppressing their emotions, they had nothing to distract themselves with. Being distracted would have got them killed real quick and as a result, they developed a deep connection to their feelings and the present moment. In modern society, we often ignore or suppress our emotions, leading to a lack of emotional intelligence and a disconnect between our mind and body.
So, while we may have created a modern world that is vastly different from the one our ancestors lived in, our biology is still adapted to the hunter-gatherer way of life. To truly thrive, we must reconnect with our emotions and find ways to live in harmony with our ancient biology, even in the modern world.
When you meditate, you tap into a deep well of inner strength and wisdom that can help you overcome life's challenges and triumph over adversity.
The practice of meditation provides an opportunity to step back from the noise and chaos of daily life and get in touch with your innermost thoughts and feelings. This can help you better understand your motivations and desires, and give you the clarity and focus you need to become the hero of your own story.
Meditation can also help you build resilience, so you are better equipped to face difficult situations with grace and determination. By regularly taking time to meditate, you can cultivate a sense of peace and calm that can help you stay focused and centered, even in the midst of life's biggest challenges.
In short, meditation can help you unleash the hero within, by giving you the inner strength and clarity you need to live your life with purpose and passion. So why not give it a try and start your journey to becoming the anti-hero of your own story today!
Becoming the Observer of the Mind
Imagine being able to watch your thoughts and feelings like a movie, and being able to choose how you want to respond to them. This is what it means to be conscious. This is what it means to be the observer. This is what it means to be aware. It's like we are the passenger in our own mind, watching what is happening, but we can't control it. We can only observe our thoughts and feelings, then decide whether we want to believe or act on them.
So, even if we have sad or anxious fearful thoughts and feelings, they are not who we are, they are just things happening inside our mind. This understanding can bring us peace, clarity, and liberation from negative thoughts and emotions. By recognising that we are not our thoughts and emotions, but rather the observer of them, we create some space between the feeling and our reaction. And in that space is choice. And with our choices we can begin to control our reactions to the stuff happening in our head. We can choose whether we want to engage in feelings of anger or sadness or anxiety or simply let them pass through us.
This is practice like with anything in life it will take time to get good at. You will have moments where you find it easy to let emotions pass through you and other times where you’re in your petty bag and you’re willing to go low.
Meditation 1 For Anxiety: The View from above
The Stoic meditation known as the "View from Above" is a powerful tool for shifting your perspective and gaining a fresh outlook on life. By imagining yourself from a distance, you can see yourself as a part of the larger picture, connected to everything around you.
Think of it like standing back from a painting and seeing the whole picture, instead of just the small details. By doing so, you can better understand the context of your life, and the problems and worries that come with it.
The meditation starts by taking a step back from your thoughts and emotions, and looking at yourself from the outside. This outside perspective helps you to see your problems and concerns objectively, without the emotional bias that can often cloud our judgement.
As you continue to distance yourself from your problems, you will begin to see the bigger picture of your life and the world around you. This broad perspective will help you to understand the root causes of your problems and find the best solutions.
The Stoic meditation "The View from Above" is a powerful tool for achieving peace of mind and a sense of detachment from the world around us. It involves taking a step back from our thoughts and emotions, and seeing our experiences from a higher perspective. The meditation is easy to do and can be done anywhere, at any time, so long as you have a few minutes to yourself. Here's how to do the Stoic Meditation "The View from Above":
Step 1: Start with Your Immediate Surroundings and Your Body
- Find a quiet place: Find a place where you won't be disturbed and where you can sit or lie down comfortably. Turn off your phone and any other distractions to create a peaceful environment.
- Take a moment to look around you and focus on what's in your immediate environment. Take notice of how your body feels and your physical sensations. Sit down or lie down and take a few deep breaths. Make sure that you are relaxed and comfortable, but not so much that you might fall asleep.
- Once you are relaxed, imagine yourself floating above the scene of your current situation. You can imagine yourself floating above a crowded street, a meeting at work, or any other scenario. The idea is to look down and see yourself and your situation from a different perspective.
- Detach yourself from your thoughts and emotions: As you imagine yourself floating above the scene, try to detach yourself from your thoughts and emotions. Do not judge or analyse what you see, simply observe.
Step 2: Zoom In on Your Home and Family
- Now, turn your attention to your home and the people you live with. Consider their emotions, relationships, worries, aspirations, and fears. Think about how you can support and care for them.
Step 3: Explore Your City and its People
- Next, zoom out and think about the city you live in. Ponder on the lives of the people you pass by on the street or in stores. Remember that they too have their own dreams, hopes, and struggles.
Step 4: Broaden Your Perspective to Your Country
- Expand your perspective even further and consider your country. Consider the diversity of lives, cultures, and social classes that exist within it.
Step 5: The Planet and Its Interconnected System
- Zoom out even further and contemplate the entire planet. Think about the hardships faced by people all over the world, as well as the interconnected systems that make up our world. Consider the impact of the rivers, mountains, wildlife, and weather on each other.
Step 6: The Solar System and Beyond
- Consider the vastness of our solar system, the planets, and stars. Realize how small our place in the universe is.
Step 7: The Universe and Beyond
- Keep zooming out and contemplate the universe and all of existence. Ponder on the vastness of time and space and appreciate your brief moment in a tiny corner of the Milky Way galaxy. This can be humbling and bring a sense of peace.
- Focus on the present moment: Focus on the present moment and the bigger picture. Try to see how insignificant and significant we are by seeing the situation from a wider perspective and understand that everything that happens is part of the larger flow of life.
- Repeat the meditation as needed: This meditation can be done as often as you need to help you detach from your thoughts and emotions. The more you do it, the more effective it will become.
By practicing this Stoic Meditation "The View from Above", you can learn to distance yourself from your thoughts and emotions, and achieve a sense of peace and detachment from the world around you. It is a powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety, and can help you find a sense of inner peace and calm.
Meditation 2 : Daily practice
Below are a few key tips that will help you get the most out of your meditation experience.
- Find a quiet place to meditate One of the most important aspects of meditation is being in an environment that allows you to focus and relax. Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed, and be mindful of any distractions like noise or bright lights. You can also try using noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs to block out external sounds.
- Get into a comfortable position Whether you choose to sit on the floor, in a chair, or lie down, make sure you're comfortable. Your body should be relaxed, and your breathing should be easy and steady. You can also try different positions to see what works best for you.
- Focus on your breath One of the simplest and most effective ways to start meditating is by focusing on your breath. Pay attention to the sensation of air moving in and out of your nose and lungs, and try to let go of any thoughts or distractions. When a thought pops up just let it go. Imagine your consciousness is like a sky that allows thoughts and emotions to come and go like clouds. We have the power to observe them objectively, rather than becoming lost in them. Every time you let a thought cloud go, thats one rep.
- Try different types of meditation There are many different types of meditation, each with their own unique benefits. Some popular types include mindfulness meditation, guided meditation, and transcendental meditation. Try different types to see which one resonates with you.
- Start small and build up gradually Meditation is a practice that takes time and patience. Start by meditating for just a few minutes each day, and gradually increase the length of your meditation sessions as you become more comfortable.
The reason so many people struggle with mental health issues is down to avoidant behaviour. It's common for people to think the root of men's issues stem from suppressing their emotions but its actually a case of avoiding them. Constantly distracting ourselves from our selves. Instead of confronting uncomfortable emotions and feelings, we turn our attention to social media, video games, netflix, porn, drugs, alcohol...
Regular meditation forces you to deal with the things going on in your mind. It forces you to be aware of what you think about. It forces you to confront why you think the things you think. This process can reduce anxiety and stress, improve focus and concentration, and increase feelings of happiness and contentment. It brings all the things you were avoiding into the light. And once something is out in the open it tends to lose it's power and allows you to deal with it. So why not give it a try and see for yourself the positive effects it can have on your life?