3 Easy Ways to Develop Meditative Focus in Your Favorite Forum!

[Abitofzen]

So obviously... we enjoy spending time in forums.

And while this can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience on many levels...

• How can we take it to the next level?
• How can we make it even more useful?
• How can we turn our 'forum time' into an extremely powerful method of personal development?

The simplest way is to Practice a little bit of deeper focus and awareness as you read and post!

Here are 3 methods I have played with:

Meditation 1 - The Classic (Pay Attention to the Breath)

If this technique wasn't still so powerful, it would have to be retired based on it's age and constant use.
But breath work is still incredibly powerful. Have you tried rhythmic breathing while reading Steve's forum (or anyone else's)?

If you have one or more breathing exercises that you practice, then

• play with one while reading on the forum.
• Just pour about half of your focus into your breathing technique, and the other half into reading the forum.

If you aren't familiar with any breathing exercises... then just

• pay attention to the breath as you read.
• Again, place about 50% of your focus on the breath.
• Breathe a little bit deeper than normal (a little is all it takes), and
• breathe as relaxed and evenly as possible while you continue to read and/or post on your favorite forum.

Do your best to give even attention to reading/posting and breathing. If your attention drifts... no big deal... gently bring it back. You can even use the image on the computer screen... or the sounds of the computer/keyboard to remind yourself to bring your attention back to the sensations in your body. When you are finished, notice how your heightened focus changed the experience.


Meditation 2 - Notice the Feelings that arise while reading.

This technique can be a lot of fun. When I say "feeling", I want you to pay attention to the raw physical sensation in your body.

• Is it a tightness in your shoulders?
• Is it a warmth in your stomach?
• What quality of sensation is it (warmth, tingle, expansion, chill, pressure, etc.)?
• How intense is it?
• Where is it?
• How does it move and flow?
• Simply pay attention to these feelings that arise as you read a post (you can start with this post if you like ).
• Continue to bring your awareness back to the sensations in your body as you read the post.
• If internal talking, or internal images arise... allow them to be a gentle reminder to focus on the sensations in your body.

If you want to make this a little more challenging/enjoyable... do this with a post that really gets under your skin. Or practice this while reading a series of posts from a forum member who really pisses you off. See how well you can remain focused on the sensations in your body as you read!

When you are finished, notice how this increased focus changed the experience of reading the forum.

Meditation 3 - Notice the images that you are attempting to communicate as you post.

This one is challenging!

While you are thinking about what you want to convey, and how you want to say it... pay specific attention to the images that come to mind... see if you can notice the images you want to share with others through the words in your post.

If you don't yet know how to consciously visualize, then just pay attention to the sensations in the body (just like Meditation 2).

You can even specifically describe the image you see or want to convey as you write. For example, as I write this, I think of an image that for me, is the archetype of focus. It is a relaxed, peaceful face with a focused, intent look in the eyes.

Also, I think of a smile... because I want you to recognize this focusing process is enjoyable for me and can be for you as well.

Finally, I can see the faces of readers... with wowed look of new realization... beginning to really develop an understanding... starting to understand how easy it is to play with this... and just how valuable it can be.

I strongly suspect there were many more images in my mind as I wrote this... the important thing is not that you are consciously aware of every single image... but that you pour as much focus as possible into the images that you are aware of!

It is important to note that focus develops more and more over time!

The more consistently you practice, the better your results will be.

I encourage you to play with one of these methods, or play with all three... if you haven't already, you can play with them as you read this and reply to the thread with your results.

If you are looking for a more in depth source for building Awareness and meditative focus, then check out: At Last… Learn How To Build Concentration Right Now!

If anybody else has powerful tips for developing awareness and meditative focus... I would love to hear them... please post your reply!

keep smiling,

Ben

[Abitofzen]

I really would love to hear your experiences!

Does anyone else play with meditation during daily activity?