Time for teens.
I'm Gillian.
So much of our time we're not aware of our thoughts,
We're unconscious of our thoughts and the mind seems to run on automatic pilot.
Concentration needs practice.
The word relates to arrowhead,
Implying intense power.
Close attention often comes naturally,
Watching a film,
Using the computer,
Reading a book.
But to develop mindful awareness,
Paying close attention needs to be cultivated and practiced.
Being mindfully aware enables us to observe our patterns of thought,
The ones that are helpful or harmful to our daily life and the choices we make.
For some activities,
Like driving a car or riding a bike,
It's essential that our brain functions automatically.
However,
Unless we intentionally focus on a task,
We tend to react through a merge of conditioning and habits,
Like instantly judging whether we like or dislike a person just by what they look like.
Sitting silently allows us to realise just how active our minds are,
How it's constantly full of doing thoughts.
I invite you to sit silently for two minutes with your eyes closed,
Focused on your breathing.
Find a comfortable position,
Sitting,
Standing or lying down.
It helps if your eyes are closed if you're comfortable,
But if you're not comfortable closing your eyes,
Then gaze on something kind of in a fuzzy way.
Now as you settle,
Start noticing your breath,
Just noticing the in-breath and the out-breath.
Have thoughts popping in and that's okay,
It's normal,
It's what happens.
When this happens,
Notice that a thought has interrupted and let it go,
Let it go for another time.
Don't follow its story,
Just notice,
Oh,
That's a thought and let it go.
You might want to imagine it floating away like a fluffy cloud and then gently bring yourself back to noticing your breath,
The in-breath and the out-breath,
Impatient,
Wondering when this is going to end.
Just notice that you felt that way and let it go,
To the breath,
Breathing in and breathing out.
That's about two minutes.
Wriggle your fingers,
Wriggle your toes,
Generally give yourself a stretch.
What did you notice?
Did you notice all the thoughts popping in?
That's completely natural,
That's what the mind does,
It's always thinking thoughts,
Just like the heart is always pumping blood.
Thank you for joining me and I hope you join me another time.
