That is the task for this week in the Joy diet. A book written by Martha Beck
Jamie is hosting this book blog event at
The next chapter: Joy diet every Friday..
The first chapter of the book states you are to do NOTHING for 15 minutes a day.Sounds easy enough.Not.
I can do nothing, in fact I am very good at doing nothing now.
But she is talking about quieting your mind. Like meditation.
tai chi works for some people. I have not learned all the steps as yet.
This is some thing I have never achieved. My brain never shuts up.
It is always thinking, analyzing, planning.
In the past, I have read books on transcendental meditation, but I could not achieve that level of quiet. I have learned self hypnosis. But when my mind quiets. I go to sleep.
This week though I was looking on line for Mandalas and I found a you tube video that hit the spot on relaxation. Link After that I did the Life choices labyrinth below. It was like all the pieces of the life puzzle came together. I already knew we choose our path in life. Every choice puts us on a new path. But not till lately did I realize we can take a step back and choose a new path at any time. It too is our choice to get caught up in the maze of the lost. When we feel trapped and depressed. Because we choose not to let the issue go mentally or physically . And try hard to recover. It is all a positive attitude of I can do it. I can achieve any thing I put my mind to. You may think you did not choose what happened , but every decision we make puts us in a new event.
Sorry back to meditation. I think the creativeness that I have been experiencing with art has been a quieting of the mind. It to is relaxing and a joy.
I find swinging on a glider, a way to still the mind. A relaxing bath. Listing to water run. Listing to nature. The birds sing or frogs croak etc.
So give it a try. Do nothing for 15 minutes a day.
I am thankful I gave this book a try.
If you learn just 1 thing it is worth the price.
Thanks Martha Beck
, & Jamie!
Have a wonderful day and remember to laugh and play.
31 comments:
You know sometimes my best meditation experiences come when doing creative stuff... the steady of stitch or the unfolding of zentangle... :) Happy Nothing to you Grammy! and miracles too! k-
It's like Jamie said in her video: just relax and no effort, just TRY it.
I think it's so tough to stop your mind. One can be lucky, if this happens only for a minute or so!
There are so many ways to quiet the mind and you've named many good ones. Painting does it for me as does rocking in a chair. Now there are times when I try to apply the idea of conscious relaxation while doing the dishes...some times it actually works! I'm heading back to your post to follow the mandala link and the labyrinth of life choices project. Very cool!
This next week looks more challenging for me. Facing our truths...oh boy!
once you get the hang of doing nothing, it can become quite addictive :) i love the theme of your blog!
What a wonderful post this morning. Thank you for sharing your words. It all hit me where I needed it. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
I recently started doodling. I never knew it could be such a peaceful act! I have been loosing myself within it and it feels great! I'm glad we are all reading this book together!
Thanks for the link on the Mandalas, I love Mandalas. I can also relate to your comment on creating as meditation.
See you next week!
Wonderful ideas...sitting on a glider, listening to water or nature...I find being at the ocean and listening to the waves extremely freeing and I really do not think about anything other than how I feel. Rocking is another wonderful motion and now that I'm thinking about this, I remember all the times I spent as a child (and sometimes as an adult) on a swing, just pumping my legs and going higher and higher. I thought about nothing then as well. Now to go find myself some swings...
I think we would all be happier (and healthier) if we took 15 minutes per day to do nothing except enjoy our blessings. What a great idea.
We all deserve 15 minutes don't we? I do this best in the glider as well. I'm going to remember this one:) Thanks for sharing E (love your art today:)
Greetings. I have a chatty cathy mind as well. I like your mandala. It is so beautiful. I'm finding it so interesting how many ways there are to quiet the mind. I think both tai chi and using mandalas are two very good ideas. Have a great week.
i LOVE your mandala! How utterly beautiful! Mandalas themselves are a wonderful way to silence the mind and let the heart speak. Bravo!
Sounds nice sweetie.
Sounds like you have found a nugget, thanks for sharing.
I find knitting very meditative. That why this week was hard for me, I prefer doing something with my hands while I quiet my mind.
Isn't this doing "nothing" interesting? I also find that when I do this practice daily, my artwork is more inspired and flows better. In fact, simply the act of creating is, in a way, a meditation. Great to be sharing this journey with you!
Loved the mandala link - I love creating them, especially with kids!
Thanks for your insight about paths!
This is why I have such a hard time meditating. I can't quiet my mind.
Yes!! Sounds of nature are wonderful to meditate to.
:)
My brain never shuts up either! I find when I stop fighting it though, that's when it starts whispering.
I love your arts as a way to quiet the mind <3
hey Grammy you are doing great on this project too I see!
Your mandala is wonderful. And it is true that that activity helps settle the mind. When I first began painting my stones, people told me I should paint bigger things to gain more credibility; I bought some canvasses, but they didn't appeal to me at the time. I think, then, I needed the meditative quality of working small in a confined space. Now, I enjoy bigger things, too. But I sometimes teach classes called "Stone Painting as Meditation" and people love doing that - it is almost like doing a mandala.
Have a great week with truth!
I love mandalas, too, although I find them online to color (I don't drawl very well). Great tips for alternate ways of doing nothing!
I can zone out when I'm *hand working* ... a great way to find NOTHING. I really like you mandala. Good idea.
I love your Life Choices Mandala - Beautiful and your talk about choices and learning to choose again.
Nothing is hard - our brains are all running way too fast - I felt it, too.
Glad we are on the journey together again, Grammy! Have a great weekend!
The Mandala that you created is just beautiful. I also find that sometimes doing creative acts allows me to slip in to a meditative like state. Thank you so much for sharing the Mandala video. It is very powerful.
Oh, I know how hard that can be. I read a book called The Way of Energy or something like that. They recommended that you stand like a tree for 5 minutes a day, working up to 15. It is hard!!!! To stand there and not move. To quiet the mind too. Very difficult. But it does work when you do it. Good luck. Sounds like you're off to a good start. Your Mandala rocks!!
I like mandalas,too!!!! I find them a wonderful way to quiet the mind. I love to do them backstage.
The glider sounds nice - I have a porch swing. I love to sit in it and listen to the cicadas this time of year.
i like what you had to say about making choices on our path and/or choosing to be in the land of the lost. it's very powerful to be reminded about choice... that we not only have choice, but we make the continuously.
I find listening to flowing water very relaxing. Making choices? I find letting things go to be difficult. I make the choice then think about whether it is the right choice. What will be, will be.
your mandala is great! I just finally started the book and doing nothing wasn't too hard for me, as long as I was able to do something repetitive at the same time, that is what saved me (jogging, walking, sewing)..
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