Mind mastery is the ability to stop thinking whenever you want. You use your mind as the amazing tool that it is, and then ‘put it down’ when you’re done. You are attentive to the context of stillness and think only occasionally, when it is useful. Being a master of your mind is not about manipulating it. Rather, it’s about having the ability to direct your attention towards or away from the mind at will.

As a result, a master of the mind knows that thoughts are nothing to fear and that no thought has any power to negatively impact their mood or lovability. They enjoy freedom from problems because they no longer take their mind so seriously. It is a wonderfully calm way to live – although it does take courage.

Heroes Wanted, Apply Within

The path of waking up from unconscious thinking by returning to stillness has been known by many names over countless years, with my personal favourite being the Path of the Hero. The more I meditate the more I can appreciate why it’s been called this.

Thinking all of the time is a habit, a destructive one at that. In my opinion, thinking is one of the most harmful habits on the planet. It causes a huge amount of conflict, self-violence, stress and suffering.

Have you noticed how people experiencing inner peace don’t hurt others? Peaceful people know we are all connected by the same one consciousness. So to hurt another person is to hurt oneself.

Yet, despite all the pain, fear and conflict linked with innocently forgetting Who You Are (e.g. peace-filled consciousness), thinking you are your thoughts, and buying into the endless judgements of the mind, it is a familiar habit, and with familiar comes a sense of (false) security. For many, stopping to think can seem like a scary prospect. So we cling to thoughts and thinking, as we might to the side of a swimming pool before we’ve learnt how to swim. Let me take a moment to reassure you.

Let go of thinking as you would at the side of the pool and I promise that you will discover that you float. In what, you might ask? The safe serene context of the mind. As you let go of the mind you naturally rest back into the deep, clear and infinitely loving sea of consciousness that has been holding you your entire life. For many, it feels like coming home.

Using Meditation For Context Awareness

Meditation provides a safe arena to practice letting go of thinking too much. You can sit in the safety of your own home and in the comfort of your favourite chair (but not so comfortably that you will inevitably fall asleep!) and explore what it is like to rest in the still silent context of your conscious awareness.

Cultivating the habit of context awareness requires the investment of your time and the courage to stop and meditate for about 10 minutes, 2 times each day. Irrespective of how busy your mind says that you are and how much you need to get done, you do it anyway. With this kind of commitment, you can move mountains.

What Is CALM?

Conscious Awareness Life Meditation (or CALM for short) is easy to understand and enjoyable to use. You can learn it in a few minutes and get practising immediately. CALM can help you to change your relationship with your mind by becoming more aware of the context of life. The natural by-product of you thinking less and being aware of your awareness is a happier, more peaceful and loving life.

CALM combines the power of ‘Om’ with nine pure intentions and focus points.

For years now, scientists have known that everything in the physi­cal world is vibrating. Ancient teachings have known this vibration to be the ‘om’. ‘Om’ is the vibration of creation. It is the first move­ment from stillness, the first sound from silence and the first some­thing that comes from nothing. Whatever you marry ‘om’ up with in your mind you can help to bring into creation. With CALM you align ‘om’ with nine pure intentions such as ‘peace’, ‘clarity’ and ‘wisdom’ that you bring to your mind.

To complete each CALM thought there is a location within or around your body upon which to focus your attention when you think the words. These focus points make the CALM thoughts more power­ful because they act as energy magnifiers for the pure intentions.

It has been said that ‘you are what you seek.’ These pure inten­tions are like seeds within you, however, they have become hidden under the content of thoughts and thinking. Using CALM regularly is like watering these positive seeds of life and giving them light to grow. over time you can bring the nine positive intentions into your everyday experience.

The Nine CALM Thoughts With Focus Points

1. OM CONNECTION  (Focus Point: Soles of Feet)
2. OM POWER  (Focus Point: Base of Spine)
3. OM PEACE  (Focus Point: Solar Plexus)
4. OM LOVE  (Focus Point: Heart)
5. OM TRUTH  (Focus Point: Throat)
6. OM CLARITY  (Focus Point: Centre of Forehead)
7. OM WISDOM  (Focus Point: Top of Head)
8. OM UNIVERSE  (Focus Point: Far and Wide)
9. OM PRESENCE  (Focus Point: In Entire Body)

How To Meditate Using CALM

Sit comfortably, close your eyes, be gently alert to now and notice whatever thoughts are happening in your mind for approximately one minute.

1. Then think ‘OM CONNECTION’ with your attention on the Soles of Your Feet ... let go of the words and focus point, and gently be alert to now until you notice that you’ve been thinking other thoughts.
   
   
2. Then think ‘OM POWER’ with your attention at the Base of Your Spine ... let go of the words and focus point, and gently be alert to now until you notice that you’ve been thinking other thoughts.
   
   
3. Then think ‘OM PEACE’ with your attention In Your Solar Plexus ... let go of the words and focus point, and gently be alert to now until you notice that you’ve been thinking other thoughts.
   
   
4. Then think ‘OM LOVE’ with your attention In Your Heart ... let go of the words and focus point, and gently be alert to now until you notice that you’ve been thinking other thoughts.
   
   
5. Then think ‘OM TRUTH’ with your attention In Your Throat ... let go of the words and focus point, and gently be alert to now until you notice that you’ve been thinking other thoughts.
   
   
6. Then think ‘OM CLARITY’ with your attention in the Centre of Your Forehead ... let go of the words and focus point, and gently be alert to now until you notice that you’ve been thinking other thoughts.
   
   
7. Then think ‘OM WISDOM’ with your awareness at the Top of Your Head ... let go of the words and focus point, and gently be alert to now until you notice that you’ve been thinking other thoughts.
   
   
8. Then think ‘OM UNIVERSE’ with your attention Far and Wide ... let go of the words and focus point, and gently be alert to now until you notice that you’ve been thinking other thoughts.
   
   
9. Then think ‘OM PRESENCE’ with your attention In Your Entire Body ... let go of the words and focus point, and gently be alert to now until you notice that you’ve been thinking other thoughts.

Either repeat the cycle (1-9) or if you are ready to finish your sit­ting meditation session slowly open your eyes.

Repeat each CALM thought for a period of approximately one minute before moving onto the next. or for longer meditation sittings you can repeat the same CALM thought for up to five min­utes or more. Remember to leave some time between each CALM thought – the golden rule is to only focus upon your CALM thought when you notice that you’ve been thinking about some­thing else. This way they will help you to be present and notice the context awareness. Using each CALM thought for one minute each will add up to a 10-minute closed-eye CALM sitting.

THE 4-WEEK CALM CHALLENGE

Thinking too much, getting stressed and missing the present mo­ment during the rush of modern life is a habit. But thankfully, so is worrying less, sleeping better and being more peaceful and happy.

CALM helps you to make the transition from having all of your focus and attention on the content of your life (your ever-changing thoughts, emotions, body and life circumstances) ... and instead rediscover the present moment peace-filled context of life. For the best start in making conscious awareness your new habit, do the 4-week CALM challenge:

10 Minutes of CALM, 2 Times Per Day, For 4 Weeks

Good times of the day are before breakfast, mid-afternoon, before dinner and before bed. Little and often is the best way to get the best results from CALM – which is great news because everyone has ten minutes spare here and there throughout their day. So if you are ready for a new way of thinking, feeling, living and loving, start your 4-week challenge today! (Also, visit my website to gain access to online resources to support your practice of CALM.)

TOP TIP: Enjoy Moments of CALM

You can also use your CALM thoughts with your eyes open. Choose one of the CALM thoughts and think it whenever you remember throughout your day. Just think it and let it go and move on with your day until the next time you remember. By do­ing open-eyed CALM you can bring more serenity and conscious presence into your everyday life.

BONUS TIP: Meditation Works!

That’s why it’s been around for thousands of years. And it will work for you if you keep doing it. The only reason you will stop meditat­ing, and miss out on all the benefits, is if you believe your mind when it says one of the following thoughts:

I don’t have enough time today
I’m having too many thoughts
I’m not feeling peaceful
This isn’t working
I think I will stop and try again later

Don’t Be Fooled

If you ever have any thoughts like the ones above that could talk you out of meditating, then I recommend you laugh at them and continue meditating. Freedom comes from not being ruled by your conditioned mind. Happy meditating!

©2012 by Sandy C. Newbigging.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher,
Findhorn Press. www.findhornpress.com.

Article Source

Thunk!: How to Think Less for Serenity and Success
by Sandy C. Newbigging.

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About the Author

Sandy C. Newbigging is a meditation teacher and the creator of the Mind Detox and Mind Calm methods. He is the author of several books, including Life-Changing Weight Loss, Life Detox, New Beginnings, Peace for Life, and Thunk!  His work has been seen on Discovery Health Channel and he is a regular writer for Huffington Post and Yoga Magazine. Recently commended by the Federation of Holistic Therapists as ‘Tutor of the Year’, he has clinics in the UK, runs residential retreats internationally and trains Practitioners via his Mind Detox Academy. Visit his website at http://www.sandynewbigging.com/

Watch a video with Sandy:  The Silent Solution to Any Problem

Another video with Sandy: Hidden Causes of a Busy Mind