LifeFlow: A Year Later

[Midnight]

Thanks Stefan.

Sent you an email.

[Kauil]

Midnight: But how did you find out what you were afraid of? If there's some trauma that induces delusional fears in my life now, how can I access those fears to feel them? Therapy? I feel I come from a similar background to what you described yours to be (social anxiety mostly) but I'm not sure how this guide to panic attacks directly relates to these issues...?

[Midnight]

Generally I was afraid of emotions that would come up. Tension, anxiety, worry. I was afraid of all those things. I was just honest with myself about what I was fearful of. Whatever brings up these feelings is usually a good sign that you've stumbled across a fear that you've kept hidden away.

I don't believe you have to go directly to the root of these fears right away. They will come up to the surface on their own. Feel whatever is there right now, no need to hunt down or force out anything, because that is just another form of resistance.

I didn't use the entire technique, but the most notable step was to call out your fears and tell them to do their worst to you. After a few days of doing that, I was able to see that fear in general is unnecessary. It's kind of funny when you can see through it.

[JoRich]

Great post Midnight and thank you for sharing your experience and other techinques you learned. A fantastic lifter-uper for anyone struggling initially with attaining the great benefits of meditation if they persevered.

Cheers

Jo

[era1213]

I truly agree with the power of meditation. Although some claims that meditation does not work for them.,I say "why does mediation not work?" is simple! Meditation doesn't work for most of us because they haven't spent many, many years learning how to do it and practicing it! If you have ever tried to meditate then you know just how difficult it can be. Just relaxing your body can prove to be a challenge. You get itchy, want to move about and feel restless. Even if you succeed at getting your body into the required relaxed posture you are then required to still the mind through meditation practices that are new and strange to you. It is almost impossible.

But if your heart and mind is willing to let go of any anxiety or any stress you are having you will surely work your way to learn appropriate meditation.

[GilesC]

Although, it's not so much about the fact that we get itches, or restless during a meditation practice, that's the problem, but that we often believe we are not meditating properly if this happens and get attached to the idea that we are "failing" at meditation.

The meditation is working. It is just that practice makes it easier and the state of meditation last for longer periods, as we more easily let go of those moments of "distraction".

Hugs

Giles

[Midnight]

I've found mental relaxation comes from the power of complete acceptance. Which is why I think LF is speeds up peoples' progress, because it can develop the mind to a point where it realizes resistance is pointless for something that already is.

Tbh, the first 8 or 9 months after I started meditation were filled with doubt and anxiety the majority of the time. I didn't understand why things just seemed to be so hard. Finding the truth i've posted about over and over about emotions, and how to heal yourself from your past hurts was like the answer to every question I had ever asked myself.

Just remember that you are consciousness, and not any of the things that consciousness brings with it. That does not at all mean the benefits it brings will go away, but that you don't get caught up in things that aren't you.

[writingupastorm]

Thanks for this post. It has gotten me very excited to learn!