Mindfulness

[nailit]

Has anyone ever done a 'mindfulness' course?
Just done the 5th week of an 8 week course (only one day per week).
First couple of weeks were ok but am now thinking thats its all a bit of new age woo woo.
Cant say that repeated concentrating on my 'breath' and 'been in the moment' has greatly increased my sense of self worth or emotional well being.
In fact talking to others after the group has only confirmed my suspicions and yet during group discusion everyone seems to want to believe that its all beneficial in some way. (but saying something different away from the teachers).
Thanks

[Baldric]

What's the aim of the course, why are you doing it and what do you hope to get out of it?

[Zacs-Master]

Sounds like horse *** to me. Although I do use a breathing technique to get me back to sleep some times. Ommmmmmm.

[nailit]

Baldric, I was reffered to it by the mental health services (that probably says it all...) supposed to be a way of calming the mind and living in the moment (whatever the *** thats supposed to mean) Am doing it because it was strongly reccomended and was hoping to get a bit more out of it than counting my breaths.

[Baldric]

Ah, ok thanks

[nailit]

Beginning to think Zacs is right, pile of horse ***

[Old_Geezer]

It probably is what you make of it. Stilling the mind or concentrating awareness. Taking control, or meditation, it's all good stuff isn't it ?

[anneasquith]

finish the course and then evaluate it ,

[Baldric]

. . . . . . . . . . but bear in mind you'll never get those 8 days back!

[Zacs-Master]

Some homework might help nailit
http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22

[woofgang]

nailit, all the talking type therapies are the same. They work for some and not for others and different ones work for different people. If any part of your problem is an inability to put down the past or you spend time worrying about what the future will hold , then learning to control your thoughts and live in the present can help. Mindfulness can help some people learn to do that (although not me either) The problem arises when practitioners go from "this is a tool that can help some people" to "this is the only solution to your problems. And yes its a fairly common phenomenon for people who really really want something to work, to talk and behave as though it is working "in class" in the vain hope that this will make it work.

[DaisyNonna]

nailit, complete the course. Think of the Brownie points.
Then, write a report. Did any of 'The powers that be' suggest it.
If so, send it to them, if not, keep it to remind yourself that you have no reason to doubt your self worth whilst those running this course should doubt theirs.

[Tilly2]

I think anything that you do which helps you step away from your problems can only be beneficial. Never mind the claptrap. Enjoy the feeling of being caught up in something other than yourself.

[elliemay1]

I did a 6 wk meditation course but didn't enjoy it. Some people in the group went into ecstasy saying how it had changed their lives, set them up for the day etc but I just couldn't relate to that. When it came to my turn to speak I just agreed with the others as I didn't want to appear different! Apparently the secret is to keep practising every day which I didn't do. So I suppose it works for some and not others.

[nailit]

//Some people in the group went into ecstasy saying how it had changed their lives, set them up for the day etc but I just couldn't relate to that. When it came to my turn to speak I just agreed with the others as I didn't want to appear different! //
My experience exactly. People saying how good it all was in the group but privately saying differently...the power of 'groupthink'

[Tilly2]

never mind 'group think' What do you think, nailit?

[DaisyNonna]

There is no stigma in being an individual. If it did not work for you then you are entitled to say so. You are an articulate person and have a right to your own opinion.

[Elina]

Hi nailing,
personally, I can experience 'emotional wellbeing' closing my eyes & listening to a piece of classical music or favourite track.

[Elina]

Sorry, predictive text .. nailit.

[nailit]

Tilly, as I said in my original post, beginning think its a load of woo woo.
My thoughts were my own until others started to express the same same misgivings.
It appears that the only people to benefit from this is the people that get paid for running the course.
Wish it were not so.

[Jackdaw33]

I'm with nailit on this one. Many is the time I have had to endure these type of sessions incorporating the latest 'philosophy'. Most of the time is taken up with silly rules and silly games, an insult to the thinking person.