Well, there are some real benefits to putting some regular time aside 'to do nothing', or in other words to meditate. Below is a great and short TED Talk by Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe, delivered in a charismatic, down-to-earth manner; plus the use of juggling balls as visual props!
Andy has a very interesting background from being a former Buddhist Monk in the Himalayas to being a co-founder of the fantastic meditation app Headspace (which you should definitely check out!).
Andy's tone and approach to Meditation is refreshing to hear. You don't need to sit cross-legged in an incense filled room, whilst wearing a robe. You can if you want, but Meditation is about "being mindful and experiencing the present moment". I can definitely relate to this, for me sitting on my surfboard as the sun is going down and my only focus is the sound of nature around me is extremely meditative; I am completely 'lost' in the moment.
"Most people assume that meditation is all about stopping thoughts, getting rid of emotions, somehow controlling the mind. But actually it's … about stepping back, seeing the thought clearly, witnessing it coming and going.”
The point is it is massively important to regularly step back from life's selfmade busy schedule, and actually have a greater appreciation for everything around us, 'be in the here and now...in the present moment".
Lost in thought almost half of our lives!
Andy talks about a research paper that recently came out which stated that our minds are lost in thought almost 47% of the time. To put this into perspective, if you lived to 80 years old, for 37.6 years your mind would be lost in thought. Seems quite a waste really don't you think, or in Andys words "to spend almost half our lives lost in thought seems kind of tragic". Mind wondering is a known direct cause of unhappiness, so if there is a way I can reduce this percentage and be more productive and positively focused with my thoughts, then I am all for it!Find Andy Puddicombe on Twitter
Live life and don't regret
Here is another post I wrote a while ago that is well worth a read. It is about the regrets of the dying and how to 'Live life and don't regret'. Sounds slightly morbid but it really isn't. There is so much to learn from our elders, but unfortunately many of us get too caught up in our own lives that we don't take our head out from the sand until it is too late.Benefits of Meditation Infographic
Surely sleeping counts as doing nothing?
ReplyDeleteNot had a chance to view the TED talk yet but interested in seeing if it breaks down activity to those that count as ‘doing nothing’ and have a positive, meditative style impact. Literally doing nothing would mean stopping breathing and I hear that’s not too good for longevity.
Imagine some activities have meditative style benefits. Surfing alone, long walks alone in nature, solo distraction free gentle exercise.