How Do You Meditate and Clear Your Mind?

Meditation and clearing your mind seem to go together but it's often thought that you need to clear your mind in order to be able to meditate. Whilst that is a good state to be in and can make for some fantastic meditation sessions, it's not a pre-requisite. In fact, it's often the case that meditating encourages the process of clearing your mind and that state is only achieved part way through the process.

Our minds are complicated things and there are lots of different natural states that they can be in.
All too often in our modern world, our minds are buzzing and almost hyperactive. So it can be a good thing to help our mind to slow down and generally chill out.

One thing I've noticed when I've tried to quieten my mind is that often the very thought has the opposite effect. In much the same way as concentrating on getting to sleep often causes us to stay awake longer, the same can happen when you attempt to quiet your mind.
The very thought process you are trying to quell almost seems to rebel at the thought of being quietened down.

So how can you clear your mind ready for your meditation?
The first thing is to realise that a quiet mind isn't necessary for all types of meditation. Indeed, a lot of meditations will help the process along nicely.

My personal preference of using a binaural beats meditation is one such instance. It's designed to electronically induce a different brainwave state without any help from the person listening. Because it uses a scientific process to induce that state, you really have no choice but to let your mind quieten itself. So if you're having constant battles to get your brain to stop buzzing this can be a simple and effective way to go.

Another simple method is taking a few, long, deep breaths in and out.
It's a bit like yawning but in a controlled way.

The deep breaths will help you to relax because, apart from anything else, they help you to realise that you need to slow down.

Think about it for a second: the deep breaths have to be slower than normal because that's the only way you can perform them. A sharp intake of breath doesn't have the same effect.

The side effect is that when you're concentrating close to 100% on your breathing, your mind has to play down the other things that were distracting it. So there's the extra benefit that you'll clear at least some of the thoughts from your mind at the same time.

A third way to help clear your mind is to do your best to let go of the thoughts that come into it.
Most of us have a tendency to cling onto our thoughts - almost as though we'll never have another thought to replace the ones we're so desperate to keep.

Let your thoughts slip through your mind if you can. And definitely loosen any grip that you've got on them - and notice how your mind stops racing as much when you do that.

How to Develop Your Conscience and Use All of Your Brain Power

You may believe you are an intelligent person and you know very well what you think about. However, not all your thoughts belong to your conscience.

You have inherited a huge wild conscience that occupies the biggest part of your brain and psyche. I named it anti-conscience because it tries to destroy your conscience and control your behavior. Your conscience can escape the logical traps of your absurd and evil anti-conscience if you will follow the unconscious guidance in your dreams.

The anti-conscience is very dangerous because it is violent, immoral, and cruel. It uses everything it can to mislead your human conscience with its absurd thoughts. Since it is a huge conscience that works in parallel with your human conscience, the anti-conscience can read your thoughts and invade your human conscience, suggesting absurd solutions for your problems. These absurd solutions seem to be smart ideas because they are camouflaged under numerous logical traps. Their absurdity is not visible from the beginning.

Brain Injuries and Behavioral Problems

Behavioral problems quite often are a result of brain injuries. There can be many problems or few depending upon the severity of the injury and in what part of the brain the injury is located. Some of the potential problems are as follows:

Mood swings, depression, hyperactivity, aggression, sexual inappropriateness and/or promiscuity, lack of initiative or motivation, changes in emotional control, lack of impulse control, poor concentration, lack of empathy, fatigue, thoughtless or hurtful remarks, difficulty in relating to others, excessive demands, personality changes, a tendency towards being frustrated, irritated or angering easily. Unawareness of others' feelings is often another deficit and may be something that has to be relearned. Another serious and very common problem is short-term memory difficulties, as is a lack of awareness of their deficits.

If a brain injury survivor is affected with any of these behavioral problems, it is very stressful for family members and caregivers. It may be important to have cognitive and behavioral rehabilitation and possibly the help of a neuropsychologist. It will also be important to have an assessment done which will help both the survivor and the family member. And because behavioral problems not only affects relationships but performance in school and work, it will be necessary to attempt to alleviate the problems or at the least, to help cope with their impact. The following are some of the things that can be done in order to help minimize problems associated with behavioral changes following a brain injury:

- to be calm and speak in a soothing manner when the brain injured survivor is angry or frustrated;

- help them attempt to problem-solve their difficulties;

- use anger management strategies and remain low-key;

- avoid confrontation if they are angry;

- attempt to distract;

- attempt to identify any triggers so as to avoid future difficult situations;

- encourage the survivor to join a support group;

- be non-judgmental;

- help a sufferer of a brain injury to have positive experiences by offering encouragement and support;

- avoid arguments and criticism;

- help them to have a schedule and structure in their lives;

- don't give too much information at one time;

- establish consistency and always remain calm;

- and, if depression is suspected, have survivor see the doctor and if necessary, ensure that he/she gets treatment.

A total reversal of behavioral problems following a brain injury may not be possible. Modifying behavior may be a more realistic goal while working towards improved quality of life and successful community integration.

Developing adaptive behavior requires recognizing triggers and anticipating factors preceding the behavior. These may be internal such as fatigue or hunger. External factors may be a frustrating task or increased levels of stimulation. Prior signs to difficult behavior may be pacing, becoming fidgety, muttering to themselves or their face may become flushed. Early intervention when a problem arises may assist them, over time, in changing their behaviors.

Sylvia Behnish has published 'Rollercoaster Ride With Brain Injury (For Loved Ones)', a non-fiction book detailing the difficult year following a brain injury; 'His Sins', a three generation family saga about how the actions of one person can affect future generations, and 'Life's Challenges, A Short Story Collection'.

She has also written numerous articles for newspapers, magazines and online on subjects relating to brain injuries, family issues and motivational topics.