How to avoid distractions of thoughts being in Mindfulness?
This is very natural that everyone experience a huge number of thoughts. No matter whether like it or not, the Mind keep continue to create thoughts one after one. Thoughts are the natural creation of the Mind & as a human being no one can totally be away from thoughts. But, the question arise when anyone face distractions in the Mind due to thoughts. Being in Mindfulness, distractions of thoughts can avoid that the writer of this Article has experience. How to avoid distraction of thoughts being in Mindfulness? This Article has explained in detail which can help the readers.
Lets have some basic understanding of thoughts, distraction & Mindfulness before going in detail which can help you to get deep understanding.
What is thought?:
Thoughts are the creation of the Mind that is common understanding by almost everyone. Let see what Wikipedia say about thoughts?
According to Wikipedia, the term thought or thinking refers to cognitive processes that can happen independently of sensory stimulation. Their most paradigmatic forms are judging, reasoning, concept formation, problem-solving, and deliberation. But other mental processes, like considering an idea, memory, or imagination, are also included. These processes can happen internally independent of sensory organs, unlike perception. But, when understood in the widest sense, any mental event may be understood as a form of thinking. Including perception and unconscious mental processes. In a slightly different sense, the term thought refers not to the mental processes themselves but to mental states or system of ideas brought about by these processes.
If we look at the above definition as stated on Wikipedia, in generally can say that thought is an idea or opinion produced by thinking or occurring or arising or appearing suddenly in the Mind. In fact, consciously or unconsciously, thought arise or appear in the Mind and such thoughts also disappear in the Mind too,
It means that means thoughts are the creation of the Mind naturally. Once thoughts arise in the Mind and disappear in the Mind after a while. That means both origin & dsiappearing are both in the same place that is in the Mind.
What is distraction?:
As stated in Wikipedia, Distraction is the process of diverting the attention of an individual or group from a desired area of focus and thereby blocking or diminishing the reception of desired information. Distraction is caused by: the lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention. Distraction come from both external sources, and internal sources. External distractions include factors such as visual triggers, social interactions, music, text messages, and phone calls. There are also internal distractions such as hunger, fatigue, illness, worrying, and day dreaming. Both external and internal distractions contribute to the interference of focus.
What is Mindfulness?:
Mindfulness is the ability of the Mind to bring itself in the Present Moment by being aware of its existing moment. In fact, the Mind has such ability of being aware of itself and also have the ability to bring back its Attention when the Mind noticed that it is not in the Present Moment.
According to Wikipedia. Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one’s attention in the present moment without evaluation, a skill one develops through meditation or through other training. Mindfulness drives from Sati, a significant element of Buddhist tradition.
it is indicated by Wikipedia that Mindfulness develops through Meditation or some other training. In fact, the Mind has the ability to train itself & cultivate Mindfulness. Of course, it is a continuous process of cultivation.
Lets move forward to find out how to avoid distraction of thoughts being in Mindfulness.
Thoughts, Distractions & Mindfulness all arsie in the same Mind :
The most surprising fact is that thoughts, distractions & Mindfulness, all these arise in the Mind. In fact, everything happens in the Mind, not outside of the Mind.
Thoughts arise in the Mind which is a natural creation of the Mind. No matter someone like it or not, the Mind creates thoughts. In fact, the Mind functions its own way as being a natural creation. In such case, the Mind naturally creates thoughts like all other activities. Thoughts arise in the Mind & also disappear in the Mind after a while. In most of the times thoughts disappear before a person notice. The process of arising & disappearing of thoughts are so fast that beyond imagination.
Distractions also arise in the same Mind too. Even there are two broad sources for cause of distractions in the Mind, but, distraction arise in one place that is in the Mind. The one source is external & the other source is external.
That means, the Mind takes external locators to create distractions & the other factors that the Mind creates internally by doing mental imagination. Both external & internal sources ultimately impact the Mind to create distractions. No matter whether sources of distractions are both external & internal, in fact, distractions creates by the Mind in the Mind by itself.
Like both thoughts & distractions, Mindfulness also arise in the Mind. In fact, the Mind cultivates or develops its own ability to be in Mindfulness so that the Mind can bring back its Attention by being aware that such Attention is not in the Present Moment. In fact, Mindfulness is the ability of the Mind to be always aware of its existing state.
Thoughts & Distractions are the self creations of the Mind:
This is no surprise at all that both thoughts & distractions are the creations of the Mind. In both the cases, external & internal factors are involved. The Mind creates thoughts by pulling external experiences & getting involve it, then creates thoughts.
Apart from this, creating thoughts in relates to external factors and also creating thoughts by the Mind itself self being engaging in the imaginary level. Such imaginary thoughts might by based on internal factors as well as external factors or pertaining to both the external & internal factor together.
In fact, its totally impossible to find out when & what thoughts the Mind might create in relates to external factors or internal factors or both external & internal factors too. As the Mind is a natural creation that associated with the human being, it functions or acts naturally its own way where no external mechanism can do anything to control its activities or functions.
The most notable fact is that though the Mind is creating thoughts, the same Mind is ultimately getting distracted by thoughts. That means, the Mind is the creator of thoughts & the same Mind is the sufferer of such thoughts. The Creators of thoughts become the sufferer of thoughts.
Why the Mind suffers or distracted by its own creation that is by thoughts?
The answer is simple. Ignorance of the Mind leads itself in the dark of of judgement & keep continue to get itself move around within the clouds of thoughts thus leads to create more & more thoughts. In such situation, ignorance leads the Mind to get itself in the trap of distractions. Once the Mind get engage in judgement over thoughts, the Mind in fact, put itself, in the trap of thoughts & face hurdles to way out from the cloud of thoughts. Subsequently, the Mind keep continues to face distractions of thoughts.
How thoughts start to create distractions in the Mind?:
In fact, it is really impossible to avoid distractions of thoughts unless can understand how thoughts create distractions in the Mind. Once the Mind can understand this, the Mind itself step in to be away from such activities to avoid distractions. This is fact.
The problem is, human Mind always have tendency to stay in comfort zone. If the Mind predict anything or any situation which might not be favorable for the Mind or might need to render efforts, the Mind always get afraid of to do so. The Mind always have tendency to remain in comfort where it feels safe & no efforts to pay at all.
The reality is that the Average Mind (Uncultivated or Untrained Mind) is always act like a Monkey.If you observe a Monkey for few moments, you can see that the Monkey keep continues to jump from one branch to another branch of the tree. Never remain quiet. Average Human Mind is like a Monkey Mind. It never remain quite. Always jumps from one thought to another thought and keep continue to go on like this way..
The Mind creates thoughts after thoughts. It is like a series of arising & disappearing of thoughts. Once the Mind starts to judge any thought or thoughts, the Mind get engage with judgment of thoughts. This is like question after question. Why it is happening? Why this is happening only for me? Why it is not stopping? It keep continues to do judgement one after one.
Once the Mind starts to do judgement of thoughts, that means, the Mind get engage itself with thoughts. It is like aa non-stop judgement. The more judgement means the more engagement. In order to figure out possible causes, the Mind starts to creates more & more thoughts one after one to express such possible reasons.
Keep continue doing judgement on thoughts, the Mind is getting absolutely engage with thoughts & expressing everything through thoughts after thoughts. Getting engage over thoughts one after one, the Mind, in fact, starts to face distractions due to huge number of thoughts. If the Mind get escape from one thought, the other thought appear & get the Mind inspire to engage. It keep continue to come up one after one in front of the Mind.
Due to ignorance of the Mind, it keep continue to engage over thoughts after thoughts & face difficulties to way out from the clouds of thoughts. As a result, the Mind face tremendous distractions due to thoughts even such thoughts are created by the Mind.
If the Mind is not do any judgement of thoughts, in such case, the Mind is getting engage with thoughts. If no engagement with thoughts, that means, the Mind is not going to create more thoughts. If there is not more thoughts, the Mind is free from distractions as it is absolutely not engage with thoughts.
Keep Focus what is happening in the Mind moment to moment:
The most surprising fact is that human Mind has a natural tendency to move outward. The Mind mostly move outside the Mind. It never prefers to keep Focus on itself. If the Mind keep continue to keep Focus inward that is to itself, naturally, the Mind cultivates or develops its own ability to keep continuous Focus to itself.
Understanding the reality, let the Mind keep Focus inward that is to itself in the Mind. What is happening in the Mind right at the moment. There might have thoughts, emotions, feelings, anxiety, stress, etc. Anything might happen moment to moment.
Once the Mind keep Focusing itself that is Focus on what is happening right at the moment, no surprise at all that suddenly such Focus might move at any place or area. Such movement of Focus might be within the Mind itself or go outside the Mind. This is a natural movement of Focus. Let it go naturally.
Naturally, the Mind again bring back Focus to inward that is to keep Focus what is happening in the Mind right at this moment. Move here & there, in the Past or in the Future or in the Present, is a natural movement of Focus. Let it happen & let the Mind bring back Focus naturally to be over inward activities of the Mind.
Slowly & gradually, the Mind naturally be used to keep its Focus inward that is to be on what is going on or happening in the Mind right at the moment. Once, Focus is there, the Mind is going to be aware what is happening or occuring in the Mind right at the Present Moment.
Let the Mind be aware of thoughts in Mindfulness:
In Mindfulness, the Mind has strong ability to be aware of anything. Of course, the Mind has such abilities to be aware of anything naturally. But, the Mind has more strong ability while the Mind is in Mindfulness. That means, the Mind is aware moment to moment.
Let the Mind be aware of thoughts moment to moment. Of course, the Mind can only be aware in the Present Moment. Hence, whatever thoughts are arising, that are arising in the Present Moment & the Mind is also aware of such thoughts in the Present Moment too.
If thoughts are arising, let the Mind be aware that thoughts are arising now. If thoughts are disappearing now, let the Mind be aware of thoughts that are disappearing right now. If thoughts are moving around in the Mind, let the Mind be aware that thoughts are moving around within the Mind. In this case, the Mind is keep continuing to be aware of itself that is the Mind is totally inward to itself.
Of course, the natural tendency of the Mind is not to remain in a certain place long time. The Mind might go to any place or area at anytime. Wherever Attention of the Mind, only be aware of such Attention & bring back such Attention again inward to be aware of thoughts that are arising or moving or disappearing. Whatever stage of thoughts are right at the present Moment, let the Mind be aware of such thoughts like arising of thoughts or moving of thoughts or disappearing of thoughts.
The thing is, the Mind be in awareness moment to moment. One moment the Mind is aware of thoughts, the other moment the Mind is in the Past or in the Future. Wherever the Mind is right at the moment, only be aware & again back Attention to be aware of thoughts.
Observe thoughts without any Judgement in Mindfulness:
Once the Mind is aware, the Mind can start to observe. If the Mind is aware that thoughts are arising right now in the Mind, let the Mind to observe such arising of thoughts without any judgement. If the Mind is aware that thoughts are moving or disappearing right now, let the Mind observe such moving or disappearing of thoughts.
Such observation of thoughts must be without any judgement. Once no Judgement is there, that mans the Mind is not engage with thoughts. The Mind is engage only to observe as a Silent Observer.
This is no surprise that suddenly, Attention of the Mind might shift in the Past or in the Future or some other places while observing thoughts. The Mind be also aware of some other things like Emotions, Feelings, Stress, or Memories or some other imaginary scenario or anything what the Mind naturally creates.
In such case, the Mind shifts its awareness to other place or areas. That means awareness moves from thoughts to other areas. Of course, this is natural. As everything happens moment to moment & the Mind is changing moment to moment. Also, the Mind is aware moment to moment too. Let it happen naturally.
Being aware of moment to moment, let the Mind be back itself to thoughts to observe without any judgement. No matter whether the Mind is here or there, in the Past or in the Future or in the Present, let the Mind be aware of itself & let the Mind be aware what is happening right at the moment in the Mind.
This is like a repetitive & continuous activities that to be performed by the Mind. As the Mind is aware moment to moment, no matter wherever the Mind goes & wherever the Mind is aware of right at the moment, let the Mind to keep continue observe the same without any judgement.
Being moment to moment aware & observe the same moment to moment without any judgement, the Mind naturally get used to it & keep continue to be aware & observe by being aware of what is happening in the Mind right at the moment.
Being aware of thoughts, the Mind keep continue to observe them without any judgement and the Mind understand that thoughts arise in the Mind, then move to disappear in the Mind. If no judgement is there over thoughts, they can’t get attach to the Mind. Thoughts naturally arise & disappear in the Mind & can’t engage the Mind with them.
Thoughts are inherently powerless. Thoughts only become active & powerful in case the Mind get engage with thoughts by doing judgement. Otherwise, thoughts has no power at all & they can’t do anything over the Mind at all. In reality, all thoughts are momentary.
Let the Mind bring back Attention in the Present Moment in Mindfulness:
Shifting of Attention is very natural. No matter of the Mind or the Matter, everything is in a continuous movement even outer surface looks everything is very still. But, the reality is, everything is in constant change & constant movement. Limitation of physical eyes visibility can’t be able to observe this.
As the Mind is also changing moment to moment, in such situation, whatever things are happening in the Mind is also changing moment to moment. Whatever creations are happening in the Mind are also changing. Everything is changing moment to moment. In such situation, Attention is also in the movement of change that happens also moment to moment.
If Attention is here at this moment, next moment such Attention is there. If Attention is right here in the Present Moment, suddenly, such Attention is moving in the Past or in the Future. Again, such wandering Attention back to the Present Moment. This reality of movement of everything is alsos applicable for Attention as well.
As the Mind observe thoughts, that means, the Mind must pay Attention over thoughts. Being in Mindfulness, the Mind has the ability to bring back Attention in the Present Moment when the Mind is aware that Attention is not in the Present Moment. Hence, let the Mind to bring back Attention by being aware of Attention when such Attention is not in the Present Moment.
Of course, Attention also not remain in a certain place or area all the times. Movement of Attention also happens or occurs moment to moment. Let the Mind to be back its Attention again & again by being aware that Attention is not in the Present Moment. Being repetitive activities that bringing back Attention again & again, the Mind naturally sustain its Attention for longer duration in the Present Moment to observe thoughts.
Don’t force the Mind intentionally:
As being a natural creation, the Mind always acts or functions naturally. No external force even intentional force over the Mind to stop thoughts or change or alter thoughts, etc., can’t do anything. In case of forcing the Mind to stop thoughts or alter thoughts might work for a while, but, again the Mind starts to act or functions naturally its own way.
When the Mind naturally functions or acts its own way, there is always a natural momentum of the Mind. Once intentionally apply force over the Mind, such natural momentum suddenly encounter a resistance or blockade over the movement. Of course, its for a while. The Mind has such ability to bring back its own natural momentum very fast & starts to move naturally again its own natural way.
But, there might have a possibility to get the Mind to find out why such natural momentum suddenly encounter blockade. If the Mind starts to figure out, that means, the Mind is getting to involve in judgement to find out possible causes or reasons.
Once the Mind starts to judge, that means, the Mind is going to express the same though thoughts. In such case, the Mind keep continue to judge & keep continue to generate thoughts after thoughts. Obviously, the Mind is going to face distractions of thoughts. Possibility of getting the Mind become wild is not avoidable at all in such situation.
Hence, let the Mind be in its natural momentum where the Mind & all the creations of the Mind naturally functions & move freely within natural momentum.
Let thoughts arise & disappear naturally:
Let thoughts arise & let thoughts move & let thoughts disappear in the Mind naturally. Let the Mind be a silent observer. No engagement, no judgment. Only be aware of thoughts & only observe them where no engagement & no judgement are there.
It is like Let it come & Let it go. Only the Mind is aware of thoughts that are arising, moving & disappearing. Being aware of thoughts that is arising or moving or disappearing, the Mind is only observe as an Observer. No engagement. No judgement.
As thoughts are the natural creations of the Mind, of course, such thoughts naturally be in moving to disappear. All thoughts are momentary. They disappear after a while of arising in the Mind.
Hence, Let the Mind naturally to create thoughts & Let the Mind naturally to let thoughts to disappear in the Mind. Let thoughts come & Let thoughts go away naturally.
The Mind naturally slow down the creations of thoughts & become Calm:
As the Mind is moment to moment aware of thoughts as well whatever things are happening right at the moment in the Mind, the Mind is also observing thoughts & all other things without any judgement. The Mind is totally aware of itself moment to moment.
Being aware & observe thoughts without any judgement, the Mind is totally free from engaging with any thought at all. Only awaare & observe where no judgement is there. Thoughts ariese, move & disappear naturally. Such thoughts can’t get the Mind to engage with them as the Mind remains as an Observer of thoughts & not doing any judgement of such thoughts.
The Mind understand that thoughts are the natural creations of the Mind. They arise in the Mind & move to disappear in the Mind after a while. Thoughts are inherently powerless. Thoughts only get active once the Mind do any judgement over them & get engage with thoughts. Otherwise, thoughts are absolutely powerless creation of the Mind & they are absolutely momentary. Thoughts disappear after a while of arising in the Mind.
If the Mind is not engage with thoughts, they can’t get active. They can’t get any power from the Mind. As thoughts are inherently powerless, the can’t do any impact over the Mind. Hence, thoughts has no option rather to disappear naturally after a while of arising in the Mind. The Mind become slowly & gradually away from distraction. As a result, the Mind become Calm being in Mindfulness.
Conclusion:
The Mind is a natural creation that integrated with human being. Being a natural creation, the Mind always functions or acts naturally where a natural momentum always remain. As thoughts are natural creations of the Mind, of course, such thoughts also has a natural momentum.
Thoughts arise, move & disappear naturally in the Mind. If the Mind is aware of thoughts that are arising or moving or disappearing right at the Present Moment, the Mind can observe them without any judgement. Once the Mind keep continue to observe such thoughts without any judgement, thoughts naturally disappear in the Mind without impacting over the Mind.
Thoughts only become active & powerful once they are judge by the Mind. Once the Mind starts to judge thoughts, they become active & keep inspiring the Mind to get more & more engage with thoughts. Once the Mind put itself in the trap of thoughts, the Mind starts to face distractions of thoughts & keep continue to generate more & more thoughts to way out from the clouds of thoughts.
Being in Mindfulness, the Mind is not only be aware of moment to moment, but also has the ability to observe thoughts & what is happening in the Mind by itself right at the moment. Being aware & observe thoughts without any judgement, thoughts naturally disappear in the Mind after a while of arising in the Mind. The Mind is totally free to remain aware & observation.
Being in Mindfulness, the Mind observes such thoughts, the Mind naturally understand or realize that thoughts are totally powerless by inherent. Thoughts only become powerful while the Mind get engage with thoughts by doing judgment.
As the Mind is totally free & not engage with thoughts, thoughts can’t distract the Mind anymore. Slowly & gradually, the Mind remain in the state of Calmness. This is the way how to avoid distractions of thoughts being in Mindfulness.