The space between the thoughts

Once you start meditating, you may turn the exercise inside out. Instead of sitting down in a special time and space, and actively trying to let go and suppress your thoughts, you may try to be on the lookout for times when your mind is naturally silent in your everyday life.

This may come as a surprise to many, in a similar manner that meditation is initially surprising. In meditation, you realize that you are not generating your thoughts. They don’t wait for you to think them – they are constantly created by your brain whether you like it or not.

Almost constantly.

There are, in fact, large portions of time when your mind is just silent. We mostly do not realize that because these breaks in our inner chatter do not register in short-term memory. So, when your train of thought starts again, it seems continuous because there is no log of the silence in your cache.

That is unless you try to bring it to your awareness.

Meditation in general helps you take note of your thoughts. Meditators usually find out the space in between their thoughts naturally. But you can help it by consciously looking for it. Whenever you can recall it, check how long it seems since you have your previous thoughts. Try to notice when your mind is silent and how long it lasted.

Make a regular notification on your phone if necessary. The trick is, again, to build it into an almost subconscious habit, so that you will notice the silent breaks without disturbing them. You can note it, but don’t have to really think about it.

Once you gain some proficiency in that, you will notice that the space between the thoughts is actually very nice. Every time you notice it, you will realize how calm and pleasurable it is – like floating in warm water.

After gaining more experience and some skill points investment, you will realize that you can tune into that blissful space on your own. You will learn that the field of silent joy is always within you, always available, and always just a moment away.

Enjoy ;)