Don't Look Down
I recently qualified as a meditation practitioner and teacher.
I’ve instructed meditation to groups on a few occasions, based on the experience of my own practice, and wanted to further my skills.
I like to believe I can teach anyone to meditate, with meaningful effect.
That being said, it requires an intent to participate regularly by the student.
But if the student is willing, there are numerous methods for achieving focus and accessing the benefits of meditation.
Several years ago a psychoanalyst friend introduced me to NLP - Neuro Linguistic Programming.
For those unfamiliar with NLP there are many definitions.
This is my favourite and the one most relevant to this week’s newsletter.
“NLP is a way to understand and manipulate our own “brain software” to achieve desired outcomes.”
He then explained a method he used with his patients to combat depression.
He would ask them to look up.
The technique relates to eye accessing cues - the way we access information from our brains through different eye positions.
He prescribed studying chimneys and rooftops each day when out walking.
It encouraged his patients to maintain an elevated gaze.
And he found it proved a very effective method for combatting depression and giving daily relief.
It's very difficult to be anything other than optimistic when looking up.
Try it now where you are sitting.
Lift your gaze.
Bring something to mind that saddens or worries you.
And consider it without letting your eyes fall.
What thoughts come to mind, and how do you perceive your worry?
When we look down, our thoughts have a tendency to become introspective.
And too much introspection can lead to over analysis and anxiety.
It is difficult to be optimistic when looking down.
When I am sad or anxious, making myself look up allows me to alter my train of thought and find solutions.
Looking up offers possibility.
Looking down fosters doubt.
I encourage you to experiment with looking up, and see how it impacts your mood.
You can employ this technique at any time, but if you want to explore the effects further;
Sit still and be comfortable
Close your eyes
Take a few deep breaths and then allow your breathing to return to normal
And spend a few minutes still with your eyes closed, looking up, or straight ahead, observing your thoughts
This is not a meditation, merely an exercise in NLP and relaxation.
However, relaxation is an integral part of the meditation process, and a good place to start.
If you want to see eye accessing cues in action, ask someone what their first home looked like, and watch what happens to their eye position. You can read more on the topic here.
