Thinking in Place

 

         Running in place can happen to the best of us, but it’s also a good thing, too. It could be a literal occurrence, as exercise at work out facilities. It could also be defined as metaphorical – moving through life but not actually going anywhere. One of these is more optimistic than the other. I bet it’s easy to guess. What has yet to be considered, though, is the concept of thinking in place. Thinking in place is meditation. The surroundings are still but thoughts are in motion while running in place!

 

                                               Treading the Mind

 

         The mind is like a treadmill. Being electric—it’s all plugged into a dialogue. The mental chatter that is familiar to all of us is the conveyor belt to a whole identity. Without the movement, there would not be a life. Without a temporal track, there would not be anything to tread upon in terms of thought processes and mental intentions. 

         This is how it goes: We wake up every morning, immediately starting a mental workout. Some of us work harder at it than others. However, in this three-dimensional world, we are usually physically in positions of existing in a room of still space, mostly empty space, in fact. 

The truth of the matter is is that thought processes are more active when compared to the environment. Minds may be busy, but when a person observes by looking around the room, they find that reality is much more still than the internal mind.

 

                                               Mind in Motion

 

         Besides active events such as a party, or a ride in the car, mental patterns are the treadmill to a mind in motion, existing in a still environment. Eckhart Tolle suggests that, in the case of trying to quiet the mind, it is best to try to sync oneself with the empty space of the surroundings. This could create harmony, syncing mind with stillness.

         Many people are led to believe that they cannot meditate because they cannot silence their mind. If this were the objective to meditation, then it would be equivalent to standing on a still treadmill, without moving. That’s not exercise! One needs to try, actually put effort into the activity. Meditation, also known as mindfulness, is all about exercising the mind. Just like weight training, the mind also strengthens through resistance. This could be accomplished through simple acts such as refraining from checking the phone, not following wandering thoughts, forcing yourself to sit a certain way, or just simply having the discipline to do nothing, one of the hardest activities of all.

 

                                              Invest, Don’t Regress

 

         Gym memberships tend to be very good at creating workout habits. But exercising the mind also requires investment. Although some people can work out on their own, meditators should keep in mind that their meditations can be enhanced through the investment of memberships to mindfulness apps, books, and other tools to bring about a successful practice if they are going it alone.

         Mindfulness paraphernalia can help bring about desired effects for a clear mind. Clear space can also be beneficial. This can be done by purifying the meditation space which might include burning sage or using essential oils, setting the stage for a more cleansing practice. Just like stretching for a gym workout, both can benefit from a ritual-like routine

 

                                               Mental Scenes

 

         Have you noticed? Our minds are perpetually in motion. The direction is up to individuals. That, in part, has to do with how one starts off. While some people make the mental trek forward, others are caught on a conveyor belt that is going in reverse. This is evidenced in mental health issues, addiction, and moral dilemmas. The goal in life is to go forward, without getting bored, as it strengthens the mind through mental progress. 

         Although people like having a place to meditate, switching up that scenery is okay, too. Most importantly, a big part of a practice is to actually make an effort. Mindfulness actually requires a lot of mental movement, much more than people realize. The goal is not just to sit in place, but to rather make progress with mental patterns while “simply” sitting back and observing one’s mental chatter like they are movie scenes. 

 

                                            Don’t Blink Your Mind’s Eye

 

Why would any successful meditator want to watch a mind, like a movie, while looking away? Thoughts shape the meditation like the way a scene shape a movie. Just as people do not watch a movie with their eyes closed, people cannot meditate with their minds switched off. Eyes opened or closed during meditation does not matter. The point is that it would take away from the scenery if your mind is totally blank, if the eye observing the mind is totally closed. Then there would be no lessons learned and no adventure taken!

         Every mental workout brings a different thought pattern to the mental scenery. Although the place may always be the same, the beat to the meditation may be different, like a new music playlist each day at the gym. This music sets the stage for a workout, the same way a track in the mind creates the foundation for a reflective meditation. 

 

                                               (For) All the Rage

 

Thinking in place—It’s all the rage for a spiritual exercise to enhance the mind, brought to us all by the movement of consciousness. The intention and action add positivity to your life just like mindfulness as a movement contributes to a less agitated society. 

Mindfulness truly sets the stage for a more progressive lifestyle, equipped with big breaths, embracing a running mind. Just follow that race track of a mind – one foot in front of the other. The effort that you make will build up your mental stamina and build strength, paving the way for a better life—a better world for yourself as well as all beings. Think of it as movement within a movement of consciousness.