r/Mindfulness • u/Dull_Ad9278 • 2d ago
Question Letting go breathing control
Hello all, hope you are all well and happy holidays! May I ask how long it took you to let go of controlling (in and out) and just managing to observe the breathing? This is the main thing I noticed while doing the mindfulness program. I have been doing the program (guided meditations) for awhile now and it does state to just observe the breathing without controlling it and it seems impossible if my attention is solely focussed on my breathing. If I observe the body first, the breathing comes in and out naturally (without me controlling it,i.e.in and out). This is my main struggle at the moment.
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u/JaackJack 2d ago
I have the same issue, actually my whole life I’ve been conscious of my breathing and would often make my breathing quieter in quiet environments. I naturally breathe audibly, and I hardly ever hear people breathing audibly, interesting huh? You know when you’re sleeping, you’re naturally breathing deeply and audibly.
Anyways - what has helped me recently was the waking up app. One session, by someone other than Sam, said ‘try to relax your entire body, everything, just completely let go of everything’, and focusing on relaxing every single fiber was helpful to kind of forgetting about the breath and eventually when I noticed my breath it was more automatic and therefor when I did notice it I wasnt interfering as much as I would had I just been focused on my breath.
I think the #1 thing that can help is to keep practicing and be open to different focus points and see what kind of focus points works for you. External sounds is super helpful for me too. Visualizing can be helpful too. Some guided meditations may be helpful.
Also know this - even if your session is filled with thoughts, discomfort, whatever it may be, I personally believe just taking time to be quiet and be still is very helpful and productive, I choose to believe that though and others may disagree. But I hope any of that could be helpful, keep at it!
I’ve been meditating mostly regularly 20-30 mins a day for a few years now and it’s not so bad anymore. I think it got easier after a few months, definitely easier after a year or so.
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u/CapriSun87 2d ago
Don't get caught up in whatever suggestions you may have heard about where to put your focus. However well intended such suggestions are they'll inevitably end up doing more harm than good.
It's meditation, not rocket science. It can and will come as natural to you as breathing. Just sit down and relax your mind, gradually slowing it down a bit and just enjoy it. You needn't do another other than that.
Peace is a natural part of you, it arises in you by itself because it's what you are. No one needs to tell you how to practice it, you already know how.