This is a great episode, and Oren is terrific! I love moving meditations (probably not what it's called 🤷♀️). When I took Jude's Comparative Meditation course (highly recommend to everyone!), I realized that I wasn't a newbie to meditation and I had actually been meditating for 20 years. When my hilarious and kind-hearted son, Kurt, was born, he had colic. He had colic for about eight months. He hardly slept, and when he did sleep, I was lucky if that lasted more than a few hours. Sometimes, having ADHD comes in handy! ☺️ My walking with him while bouncing and singing was the only thing that would calm my poor, hurting babe down. And this only worked when I was calm and present. The countless hours we spent walking around are some of my fondest memories, and I now understand that they were a form of meditation.
With both of my kids, I have always tried to be aware, present, and unhurried whenever I am with them, which was a lot because I've always stayed home ♥️, and that habit turned into something I would try to bring to everything I did. My brilliant and beautiful daughter, Kayla, has borderline low-functioning autism. I was (and still am) the only one who could calm her and help her when she was suffering, non-verbal, in a fit of anger (these are intense and were daily up until she was about 13, typically numerous times daily), unable to move, etc. I am sure that offering her almost constant mindfulness is a big reason. I am lucky to be able to stay home and care for her, and she has come so far--it's awe-inspiring! Two days ago, we celebrated her 16th birthday.
I loved this and have shared w a couple of young people who are struggling right now. Thanks for another great conversation and I’ll be looking for Oren’s new book also!
oren is a brilliant teacher and a warm lovely human. i am so grateful to have had the opportunity to revisit my dance with patience. i am presently in the thick of accompanying my mum on her deathbed and i am sleep deprived and worn to the bone. tapping into my internal patience, with a kind and compassionate touch, is just what i needed. (not much different than jeff and oren with their kids). thanks to all!
I'd never even heard of aphantasia until about a year ago when someone I met told me they had it. It never even occurred to me that people would not only be unable to recall things vividly but might not be able to recall things visually at all--fascinating! You had mentioned starting your own practice, right? How's that going? Oh, I wanted to tell you that your haircut looked fantastic! I noticed it on the last Zoom thing I saw you at, but I didn't want to disturb you. I hope you're doing well! ♥️
Thanks! And please disturb me - that's what community is for! :-) I'm definitely fumbling around with this "non-visualizing" practice -- my go-to is VERY robust visual images. But purposefully focusing on body sensation or inner talk instead is pretty interesting...
I always love Oren's meditations. He and Alexis Santos are my go-to teachers when I'm losing my shit and need someone's voice to ground me. :)
I recently became aware for the first time that one of my best friends has aphantasia (difficulty bringing to mind mental images), so out of curiosity, I played around with different approaches, rather than visualizing something that represents patience for me, which I would typically find very easy. I went with words/ people that I associate with patience, and recalling a time when I was patient and the felt sense of patience in the body. It's hard not to overthink that, or get caught up in stories, but I feel like I could stand to explore that a bit more. Any other suggestions?
This was sooo good! I love Oren Jay Sofer! The conversations and questions you all exchanged were very insightful. I learned a lot. Thank you so much. @Jeff Warren @Oren Jay Sofer and Sasha!
This is a great episode, and Oren is terrific! I love moving meditations (probably not what it's called 🤷♀️). When I took Jude's Comparative Meditation course (highly recommend to everyone!), I realized that I wasn't a newbie to meditation and I had actually been meditating for 20 years. When my hilarious and kind-hearted son, Kurt, was born, he had colic. He had colic for about eight months. He hardly slept, and when he did sleep, I was lucky if that lasted more than a few hours. Sometimes, having ADHD comes in handy! ☺️ My walking with him while bouncing and singing was the only thing that would calm my poor, hurting babe down. And this only worked when I was calm and present. The countless hours we spent walking around are some of my fondest memories, and I now understand that they were a form of meditation.
With both of my kids, I have always tried to be aware, present, and unhurried whenever I am with them, which was a lot because I've always stayed home ♥️, and that habit turned into something I would try to bring to everything I did. My brilliant and beautiful daughter, Kayla, has borderline low-functioning autism. I was (and still am) the only one who could calm her and help her when she was suffering, non-verbal, in a fit of anger (these are intense and were daily up until she was about 13, typically numerous times daily), unable to move, etc. I am sure that offering her almost constant mindfulness is a big reason. I am lucky to be able to stay home and care for her, and she has come so far--it's awe-inspiring! Two days ago, we celebrated her 16th birthday.
Anyway, sorry for droning on and on. 🤦♀️
love is amazing <3
Aw, thank you, Suzy! ♥️
I loved this and have shared w a couple of young people who are struggling right now. Thanks for another great conversation and I’ll be looking for Oren’s new book also!
oren is a brilliant teacher and a warm lovely human. i am so grateful to have had the opportunity to revisit my dance with patience. i am presently in the thick of accompanying my mum on her deathbed and i am sleep deprived and worn to the bone. tapping into my internal patience, with a kind and compassionate touch, is just what i needed. (not much different than jeff and oren with their kids). thanks to all!
I'd never even heard of aphantasia until about a year ago when someone I met told me they had it. It never even occurred to me that people would not only be unable to recall things vividly but might not be able to recall things visually at all--fascinating! You had mentioned starting your own practice, right? How's that going? Oh, I wanted to tell you that your haircut looked fantastic! I noticed it on the last Zoom thing I saw you at, but I didn't want to disturb you. I hope you're doing well! ♥️
Thanks! And please disturb me - that's what community is for! :-) I'm definitely fumbling around with this "non-visualizing" practice -- my go-to is VERY robust visual images. But purposefully focusing on body sensation or inner talk instead is pretty interesting...
I always love Oren's meditations. He and Alexis Santos are my go-to teachers when I'm losing my shit and need someone's voice to ground me. :)
I recently became aware for the first time that one of my best friends has aphantasia (difficulty bringing to mind mental images), so out of curiosity, I played around with different approaches, rather than visualizing something that represents patience for me, which I would typically find very easy. I went with words/ people that I associate with patience, and recalling a time when I was patient and the felt sense of patience in the body. It's hard not to overthink that, or get caught up in stories, but I feel like I could stand to explore that a bit more. Any other suggestions?
I agree about his voice- such a compassionate and calm presence <3 I also like what you say about feeling patience in the body
This was sooo good! I love Oren Jay Sofer! The conversations and questions you all exchanged were very insightful. I learned a lot. Thank you so much. @Jeff Warren @Oren Jay Sofer and Sasha!