Meditate to Let Go - Visualize to Grow

Learning when to meditate versus visualize through emotion monitoring

Some people have different definitions of meditation. But, to me, I would say it's time when I allow myself to let thoughts come up and pass on by. Oftentimes we stifle our thoughts, or we're frightened by something and we stuff it down. But if you let those thoughts come up and deal with them, either by letting them go or doing something with them, then they're no longer stuck inside of you.

This is why some people have a difficult time falling asleep. I know, I was one of them. I would try to sleep and then have all these thoughts about what I should deal with the next day, like bills or a phone call I had to make, etc. I kept putting them off. Also, disagreements with a friend, lover, or relative can keep you up. It's because when we relax (in bed) we're giving our body some time to detox and let go of those things.

Except, so often, we don't. We tend to fight against dealing with them and so they linger. If you make the decision to deal with those issues when they come up (whether by actually talking to someone or meditating or reiki or whatever your dealing method is) then those issues won't be stuck inside of you trying to get out the next time you go to relax.

People tend to get so tired they eventually fall asleep even if they have been resistant to dealing with these issues, but this is why, when those people go to meditate, they find it difficult to relax. All the issues want to come up then! So, if that happens when you meditate, deal with it. You can make a list of things that come into your head as they come up and tell yourself that you'll deal with it after meditation, or just notice what thoughts come up.

You are NOT your thoughts. You may have crazy thoughts come up. But they're not you. You are the observer of your thoughts. You can just let them happen, notice them, not judge them right or wrong, and let them go. This is one way to meditate.

You can also listen to binaural beats that entrain your brain to calm down but not go to sleep. I've made a few tracks on YouTube in the past, but there are plenty more out there from others. You need headphones because of the way binaural beats work; it needs a different tone in each ear to make your brain create a new tone. Learn more about entraining your brain from my article here. Meditation can help to clear your body and brain of past thoughts that have been holding you back from what you desire.

If, on the other hand, you are feeling optimistic about the future, it's a great time to visualize what you think may happen and how you would like it to happen. Your thoughts attract similar thoughts to them, and this is how you can help grow your positive, optimistic vibration.

Dr. Joe Dispenza has videos on how your brain doesn't know the difference between actually doing something and just visualizing yourself doing it. There's also a study about imagining playing the piano being about as effective as actually playing piano.

So if you're imagining yourself in this better future and you're happy, then that is what your "vibration" will be at and it's what you'll start to attract more of. This is important because if you start to worry and have thoughts such as, "How will I do that?" or, "How will this work?" then it might be time to back off of visualizing. When you are in a state of worry and catastrophizing, you are basically visualizing what you don’t want to happen, which is training your brain to look for more of what you don’t want.

You should monitor your emotions to better gauge whether you should be visualizing a future or meditating to let go of your past.