If you’ve been on our list or following Ziva for any length of time, there’s a high probability that you’ve heard me say this:
“Thoughts are not the enemy of meditation…effort is.”
Say what?! “But Emily, then why does everyone say you need to clear your mind to meditate?” you may be asking yourself.
Well, I’m here to clear up some misconceptions.
For so long, we’ve been hearing the same song and dance that you need to clear your mind to meditate. I always joke there’s this one dude running around and spreading this rumor.
Y’all, we gotta find this guy and teach him how to meditate.
So why are thoughts allowed in this type of meditation practice? Let me explain.
At Ziva, we utilize something called a mantra which is Sanskrit for “mind vehicle.”
A mantra is not a statement or affirmation like “I’m a strong woman!” or “I deserve abundance!” It is simply a tool we use during our time in the chair.
So this mantra goes in and de-excites the nervous system which incites a list of responses: your metabolic rate decreases, your heart rate slows and your body temperature cools. These things help give your body deep, healing rest.
One of the things your body is healing from? Stress. And as you’re undergoing this stress release, your mind is going to start to launch into a little bit of activity.
What is mind activity? Thoughts!
Behold, those thoughts you’ve been trying so hard to stop having while you’re meditating? They are actually proof that your body is ridding itself of a lifetime of stress and ushering you into a higher state of consciousness.
Still not convinced? I got you.
Check out the video below where I go deeper into this concept and share a shower analogy I think might seal the deal.
So here’s a quick takeaway before you dive into this video: The mind thinks involuntarily, just like the heart beats involuntarily. So if you’ve ever judged yourself as a meditation failure because you couldn’t turn off your thoughts, this video will change your mind.
I’m so excited to hear what you think.