Future Wellbeing Archives - The Future Mindset

why you probably have been doing meditation all wrong — Shot of a young man meditating at home

Have you ever thought meditating is difficult and not for you?

I have too had my up and downs with meditation. The feeling of uncertainty that I’m doing it all wrong. Puts me off doing it further and I feel most people who try meditation have these feelings too.

For me, I imagined meditation as clearing all my thoughts away and being in stillness. Hoping to be transcended to higher consciousness.

Furthering my research on the subject of meditation I have come to the conclusion that meditation is made up of two practices.

Being consious of thoughts and sounds that are around you
Rewiring your brain through visulisation

I hope by sharing my findings in more detail it can help you on your meditation journey.

Using The Meditation Forse For Good

When I think of meditating. Yoda always comes to mind. When I was 8 I wanted to be a Jedi Knight and use the force for good. Unfortunately, meditation hasn’t given me Jedi mind powers yet.

But research has proved that meditating is a great way to exercise the brain. Every time you meditate and you are conscious of sounds or a thought. You have just done 1 rep which equates to meditation being the biceps of the mind.

Over time the part of the brain that’s self-aware gets stronger. This helps you to be more disciplined with anything you want to focus on. From food cravings or noticing when you get distracted. It can even help identify negative thought patterns that hold you back.

By understanding that when you meditate hearing sounds of cars going by the window or worrying about a job interview is exactly what meditation is for. To be engaged and conscious of everything around you.

I used to be annoyed by this and made meditating like pulling a seat belt too hard again and again. When I realised that sounds and thoughts are part of meditation it became an enjoyable experience. I started hearing morning bird sounds more clearly and any fearful or worrying thoughts I could let pass by or address later with journalling.

Be Consious Of The Now

The world we live in today is full of distractions like never before. Hours, days, months and years can pass by like a flash without any change in our circumstances due to the distraction we face.

The time for self-reflection, ideas to flourish and new paths to pave is blocked by the constant noise from the outside world. What meditation can help with is not blocking out all the noise but being aware of it. By being aware you can now start thinking. When you start thinking you are one with yourself.

The distractions we have around us is like being hooked up to the matrix. When we meditate it’s like taking the red pill where we see our life clearly for what it is.

This is life-changing and affects people on all different levels. For me, meditation helped me become a less reactive person, more productive and increased my self-belief.

When I understood meditation is just about being conscious of the thoughts and sounds that are around me. It allowed me to be present every day.

Train The Brain Muscle Daily

When it comes to meditation I hear a lot of people say it’s not for them after just doing it once or twice. It’s like they expect something spectacular to change for them in that one sitting. Like anything worthwhile, it takes time and consistency.

Developing a meditation routine is the most important thing you can do. Just like exercising or learning a new skill, it takes practice with highs and lows along the way.

I choose to do mine upon awakening where I can focus on the quietness of the morning sounds and shape my thoughts for the day.

But as long as it gets done is all that matters.

How Meditation Can Shape Your Future

Dr Joe Dispenza has taken meditation to another level. Where you can utilise meditation for visualisation of your future self.

This focus on creating the experiences you want to come true is explained by accessing the quantum zone. For further detail on accessing the quantum zone through meditation. His book Breaking The Habit Of Being Yourself is a must-read.

Entering a meditative state where you can visualise how a skill is developed or how you will entertain your guests at an event. Has been proven to shape the brain to perform this task just as effectively as if you practised it in real life.

Understanding our body is just a vessel and utilising meditation to work on the skill we want to develop and the experiences we want to have. Is a proven technique that can be highly utilised through meditation.

I have many experiences myself of picturing the future I want for it to come true. Meditating via visualisation techniques is like a director creating a movie.

What I Understand Now

I understand now that meditation is for everyone and it’s easy to get started. It felt like it was for a certain type of person and really hard but understanding that this is not true helped me enjoy meditating.

For anyone on their meditation journey here’s some of the things I do to get started and help myself make the most out of meditating.

Ask yourself what you want out of meditation
Set out a daily routine you can easily do every day
Be conscious of the sounds and your thoughts around you and embrace the good and release the bad
Utilise journalling straight after to get your thoughts onto paper to forgive, release, create or remember
Pick a separate time of the day to meditate on your future self.

Finally, mediation is not about being perfect or stopping all noise from outside and inside your mind. Meditation is about being conscious of our past to learn lessons and let go of unwanting emotions. The present to feel them now and create the future you feel and believe to be true.

Any questions or help just ask away in the comments or more personally contact me at adam@thefuturemindset.com

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How The Perception Of Being A Man Is All Wrong

Since a young boy, I have watched films with male lead characters that have inspired me to be more like them. From Maximus Aurelius in Gladiator to Batman himself in Christopher Nolan epic trilogy. Both command a strong, fearless warrior with bravery and courage. Characteristics any man would want to uphold. But these stereotypes of what men should be. Is accumulating in the perception of being a man to be like Leonidus of Sparta in a modern world.

As far back as history can go humans and men especially. Have contested in tribal battles and global warfare. This creates a certain type of man. All the films I’ve disclosed above have male lead characters perfectly designed for battle-hardened men.

In the 21st century, we now live in a world of relative peace where our old male stereotype is not needed. We can take the positive characters and use them in business and sports but there is a new layer that needs implementing. A part of us that can express our feelings without being called demeaning words that put men right back in their shells.

The courage you see from these characters in films needs to be used to create a new man. That is strong but vulnerable. A man who leads from the front but is also open to receiving help. A man who sees his fellow women as equal not someone he has to provide for.

A New World

Men are entering a new world and the role they once had is becoming the past. Some will look back to the good old times of male toughness, stoicism and being a non-emotional man. When little do they know the negative side effects that their fellow man has to go through. Has great consequences on their mental health.

So today will discuss what changes men can make to create a healthy mindset. Without losing their identity of being a man.

Creating A Healthy Mindset

Like any major change from the norm. It will face pushback and difficulty. For it to succeed it takes courage, leadership and a mindset to persevere.

If I compared myself from when I was a young boy to now. I’m definitely living with a healthier mindset of what it means to be a man. But there are still times when I think I shouldn’t cry or I shouldn’t let anyone know my problems from the fret that isn’t a very man-like thing to do.

Of course, it’s ridiculous but these are feelings men feel on a daily basis. Habits are definitely passed down from generations but all it takes is one person to break away from the old ways. Thanks to the internet there are amazing people speaking openly about what men go through and how to make a positive change like mantalks and humenorg.

What Change Can We Make Today

Speak Up

I was the first person in my family to ever go to university. Like many these days, young people are changing their family trees into better financial situations. Being the first to take action takes courage but also can create change.

By creating a safe space for men to talk openly without ridicule from other men is the first place to start. You have to understand that when other men say things and you get a male response that’s negative. It Isn’t their words, it’s the words and thoughts they have been taught. This does not mean they believe or want to be macho male type deep down. It is just a reactive habit.

But nothing will change if no one takes action to change. So as painful as it is. Speaking up and allowing no judgement on your behalf when other men want to open up. It will go a long way in creating trust and shaping men in the modern world.

Be The Man You Want To Be

There is no e way to should act. The only focus you should have is being the man you want to be. Listening to your gut and what makes you happier in life he focus. If you want to cry when watching a film do it. You want to express how you feel openly do it. If you want to do ballet or any perceived non-manly sport do it. There is no written formula for how you should live your life. Forget peoples judgement of your external choices that go against the grain. Just focus on your internal mindset by developing your mindset towards positive character traits of love, kindness, gratitude, trustworthy and the list can go on. This is what you can control the rest is up to everyone else.

It’s Normal To Have Feelings

Men expressing their feelings is stereotyped as some sought of weakness in society. Men expressing how they feel openly shows vulnerability and courage.

This is a positive trait and only people who look their nose down upon anyone doing this. Only wish they could be like you. They too have feelings and instead of showing the courage to express them, they would rather move the attention away from you.

It’s a man-made idea that men shouldn’t express their feelings. Now how you express your feelings is unique to every individual.

As a man, I like to express my feeling with writing. I put all my feelings on paper and learn how to deal with problems, forgiveness and sometimes nothing at all. You have to understand feeling is energy that needs to escape. Instead of bottling them up to explode out of control, I transfer them onto paper. I only express the emotions from the paper to the real world of my choosing.

There are many ways like speaking to someone you can trust or seeking professional help.

Whatever your way is, knowing that having emotions and expressing emotions is normal.

To Conclude

I definitely don’t have all the answers and I’m on my own journey into developing a healthy male mindset. I open up the discussion thoughts or practical actions to better equip men. I’m more than open too.

Please don’t forget to like, share and comment It means a lot to know if this has resonated with you.

A Final Word From The Future Mindset

I hope you enjoyed today’s article How The Perception Of Being A Man Is All Wrong. I hope the article has helped in some way.

If you want to take your mindset to the next level how about scheduling a 30-min discovery session to chat about your current status, results you want, and next steps. Don’t hesitate to contact me at adam@thefuturemindset.com

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