Tools For Excellence
In the same way that a builder needs the right tools to construct a house, a selfcentered person needs the right tools to stay connected, clear, and focused.
When you come to one of our events, you will learn and experience a number of different techniques that will take you deeper into your own authentic inner-silence. But for now, these two are a great place to start.
The Breath Awareness Technique
Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and put your attention on softening the body. Once you feel settled, shift your focus to your breath. Put your full attention on hearing, feeling, and experiencing each breath. Slowly make each breath deeper, longer and more relaxed. Notice that you have complete control over each inhalation and exhalation. Feel each breath as it rises up through the stomach, chest, neck, and head and slowly release with the same level of awareness. Know that you are breathing in and know that you are breathing out.
You will soon soften into a quiet, comfortable place. This is often when the mind begins to drift. That's very natural - don't worry about it. Simply acknowledge that your attention has wandered and shift your focus back to the breath. In any given selfcentering session, you might have to go back and forth between the thoughts and the breath many times. That's totally cool. But if you shift back to the breath after every distraction, you will always settle back into a present moment space.
The Sound Technique
 Studies show that you have between 60,000 → 80,000 thoughts per day. This means that for better or worse, your life has been consumed by thought. So when you sit down to get selfcentered, don’t be surprised when your mind wants to stay active even though you have decided it’s time to simmer down. That’s why people with promiscuous minds often appreciate the sound technique.
Words are sounds that have meaning and promote the mind to think. The sounds we use have no meaning which allows the mind to quiet down.
A good starting technique is the “So Hum” sound. So Hum is the sound of the breath. During every inhalation, think the sound “sooooo” and during every exhalation, think the sound “hummmm”. When you find that your attention has drifted away to a thought, a sound in the environment, or a sensation in your body, gently shift your attention back to the sound. At a certain point after going back and forth between the distractions and the sound, you will settle into a quiet space where there is no thought and no sound. That’s when you’re in the gap; and it’s pretty cool.
|
|
 |