Finding Calm in the Storm: Embracing Acceptance Meditation
In our busy lives, it’s easy for our minds to become entangled in a web of repetitive, immersive thoughts. These thoughts, especially the ones containing worries and 'what-ifs,' can spiral, leading to anxiety and stress. It's in these moments that the power of acceptance meditation truly shines.
Kirt Hines, my colleague and fellow counsellor at Orange Counselling and Coaching, brings a soothing and calm approach to the practice of acceptance meditation. Through her guidance, Kirt askes you to step back from the immersive thoughts that can often cloud our minds.
The Nature of Immersive Thoughts
Immersive thoughts can be incredibly consuming. But remember! Thoughts are not facts. They hold no truth unless we grant them that power. These deeply engaging thoughts that often envelop our minds, influencing our emotions and behaviours. Immersive thoughts can range from daydreams to more distressing nature, such as worries and fears. These thoughts can also lead us down a path of increased anxiety and stress when they become fixated on negative outcomes or hypothetical situations.
This is easier said than done, of course, as these thoughts can spiral into worry and anxiety.
The 'worried voice' in our head is really good at raising our anxiety levels. It deals with the 'what-ifs' and worst-case scenarios. Most of the time these are unrealistic.
Thoughts are just chemical responses. Recognising this for what it is the first step towards regaining control.
The Role of Acceptance Meditation
This is where acceptance meditation can help. It offers us a means to acknowledge our thoughts and other pains without allowing them to control our emotional state. Kirt Hines, through her acceptance meditation video, guides us through this process with her calm and steady voice.
Acceptance meditation teaches us to observe our thoughts from a distance, accepting them thus reducing their impact and hold over us.
Working Towards Control
At Orange Counselling and Coaching we dedicate ourselves to working with our clients on controlling these intrusive thoughts.
We help people differentiate between helpful and unhelpful thinking patterns, employing strategies that ground us in the present moment.
We like to use many different techniques to help with anxiety, here are just a few:
Mindfulness Practice: Engaging in regular mindfulness exercises like this video. Please talk to us about our other mindfulness tools. We like to add other tools for our client’s toolbox to help with anxiety and intrusive thoughts
Labelling Thoughts: Simply labelling what you're experiencing (e.g., "this is just a thought") can diminish the power of intrusive thoughts. Using a thought diary to capture any of our negative thoughts and behaviours.
Cognitive-Behavioural Techniques: Identifying irrational beliefs behind the anxious thoughts and challenging these beliefs can reduce anxiety.
Challenging your Thoughts: Rationalise your thoughts, break them apart and remembering that they are nothing. We have the power over them if we choose that.
Take our anxiety assessment so we can add to your tools to combat anxiety.
Invitation to Explore
Please allow yourself some time to explore the gentle guidance of Kirt Hines. Allow yourself the space to experience the benefits of this practice. Acceptance meditation is but one tool in the vast array of strategies available for managing anxiety and intrusive thoughts. If you find yourself grappling with these issues, remember, support is at hand. At Orange Counselling and Coaching, we’re committed to guiding you towards a path of greater mental wellbeing.