Session 4I think I’m thinking? Co

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Session 4

• In this session we will focus out attention on our thoughts• We will see what happens when we try to stop

them and how we might just let them float by

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Puzzling thoughts

• In which sport do winners move backwards and losers move forwards?

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Clip 1• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

feature=endscreen&v=w9H2q6yYKSI&NR=1

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Your brain – a very smart phone

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Mobile thinking etiquette?• Does your amygdala send you endless messages?• Does it interrupt your work?• Does it stop you having a good time with friends?• Does it interfere with stuff at school?• Would you like to leave your mental messaging at home

sometimes?

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Try this task: not to think of a white bear for a whole minute – you may shut your eyes, but just try your best NOT to think of a white bear.

Thinking about nothing…

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I’m hungry

I wonder when lunch is?

I wish it was fish for school dinners today

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You can’t force yourself to stop thinking

I’m hungry

Oh no, I’ve started thinking

It’s so hard to stop thinking…..Now I’m thinking about thinking

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See if you can let that thought slip away?

• Like a leaf in a stream

• Or a cloud in the sky

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Sometimes it isbest to just letthings settle down

• We will begin with a focus on our breath and then move our attention briefly to sounds in the environment.

• After this we will focus on our thoughts – just watching them as they pop up in our mind. Not trying to suppress them, but just noticing when they arrive. Perhaps congratulating ourselves a little when we have spotted them.

• Then just letting them go – perhaps watching them float off on a cloud, or floating down a stream on a leaf.

Mindfulness of Thoughts

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What was your thought stream?

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