Thoughts Taking Focus

[HotCoil]

I have an issue when performing the RTR or even daily meditations. Thoughts creep in and keep stealing my focus. I am able to keep up with whatever it is I'm doing, but it does not feel efficient.

I meditate morning and evening where I'm able to, and morning (for obvious reasons) feels much "quieter".

I've tried void meditation to improve this, but actually I find this most challenging since incoming thoughts are much more attractive when there's nothing else going on.

Has anyone else overcome this that could offer me advice?

 

[Academic Scholar]

I have an issue when performing the RTR or even daily meditations. Thoughts creep in and keep stealing my focus. I am able to keep up with whatever it is I'm doing, but it does not feel efficient.

I meditate morning and evening where I'm able to, and morning (for obvious reasons) feels much "quieter".

I've tried void meditation to improve this, but actually I find this most challenging since incoming thoughts are much more attractive when there's nothing else going on.

Has anyone else overcome this that could offer me advice?

When one encounters problems and obstacles, one should go to the bottom of this and every night before going to sleep, affirm 20-30 times when relaxed, for example: "I have perfect concentration."

Other affirmations for example- "I am always highly motivated and I always meditate every day", “I always have time to do quality meditations", “I am able to enter deep trances easily" you get the general idea. Remember, affirmations should always be in the present tense because the subconscious mind and
soul do not have a time frame such as in the future tense "will" happen. Always make your affirmations in the present tense.

Before sleeping, affirmations should be done some 25-30 times for 40 days straight.

Source: JoS Newsletter 2008-2009 Sermons and Important Messages (Page 8)

 

[Sundara]

Try some heart chakra meditations and crown meditations. Light purple energy helps silence my mind along with heart meditations. Trances and relaxing. Let thoughts come through and pass with ease. I made a mistake in the beginning where I over focused on focusing, I started out being exceptionally good at void meditation and I didn’t realize it, I blocked thoughts out with too much force which contributed a bit to ocd. Don’t worry too much about thoughts popping up, just relax and let them go. Having excessive amounts of energy can make thoughts crop up faster too, if that’s an issue you can exhale the proper amount of energy to the gods and just affirm that it’s only the excess you are exhaling.

 

[Username]

Persevere with void meditation.

Yes, the incoming thoughts might be more attractive for now but persevere with void meditations.
You will soon see the results if you keep persevering.

 

[Blitzkreig [JG]]

...

Yup. This is normal, hence the need for everyone to practice void/focal meditation. The brain always tries to do something that it finds more interesting, but sometimes work has to be done. Just remind yourself that you can think about things later, after the void session and after work is done.

With all skills, large and little, the only way to get better is through practice. Here is the key with void: Do not get upset about thoughts popping up, just focus on how you react. As long as you keep trying to void, you will get better and better at it. This will change your brain and your focus will get better over time.