Mindful Life By Design

School of Chi Energy Heals

Archive for March, 2011

Mindful

Posted by admin On March - 15 - 2011ADD COMMENTS
Mindful
by Don E. Brown II, MSIS
Certified Instructor; Chi Energy Heals
 
Mindful Life by Design School of Chi Energy Heals
 
www.chienergyheals.com
 
 
 
Our minds are our workshop; we at Chi Energy Heals know this and believe in increased productivity through efficiency.
 
In the beginning stages of my journey into chi gung, Sifu would remind and reprimand me to be mindful; stop letting my thoughts wander. This was also true of my journey into kenjutsu: a momentary lapse of focus resulted in a moment of unconsciousness from a shomen [overhead strike to the skull] with a bokken [wooden training sword] made of Japanese white oak. The lesson was immediate, and 13 years later, I have managed to be of a singularly focused mind when on the mats engaging other Kenshi. Sadly, I am still learning that lesson with chi gung; where the ramifications are often much more disastrous if done poorly, with huge dividends as rewards when done correctly.
 
The article, “A Wandering Mind is an Unhappy One”, provides insights into the work of Harvard psychologists Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert, and subsequently, proved yet again Sifu’s insights and awareness. Using state of the art technology, Killingsworth and Gilbert sampled the mental states of 5000 participants using a “happiness” questionnaire from 1-100.
 
“Mental presence – the matching of thought to action – is a much better predictor of happiness.” (Jason Castro).
 
This aligns completely with Sifu’s meditative exercises, techniques, and reprimands. Aligning the mind to the action, staying focused and mentally focused in the activity, not only creates better results and increased efficiency, but also increases individual happiness! Who knew?!
 
Sadly, the human brain naturally wanders. Abilities such as daydreaming and mental multitasking are extensions of the abstract thinking skills that enable humans to plan, forecast, and play mental “what if” games. It was by playing “what if” that allowed Einstein to imagine what life would be like if he were able to travel at the speed of light; we know the results of said game as the theory of general relativity, and are currently reaping the technological rewards. It has been determined using fMRI scans that, even when resting, the default behavior of the human brain corresponds to a “wandering mind”. It is just what we do.
 
Fortunately, techniques and mental exercises, such as meditation, teach us to increase our mental presence and live mindfully.
 
Enroll in the School of Chi Energy Heals and  begin your journey of increasing your happiness.
 
Healing Energy with Chi

Silencing the Monkey Mind

Posted by admin On March - 15 - 2011ADD COMMENTS
Silencing the Monkey Mind
by Don E. Brown II, MSIS
Certified Instructor; Chi Energy Heals
 
Mindful Life by Design School of Chi Energy Heals
 
www.chienergyheals.com
 
 
 
 
 
For those of us engaged in any form of meditative efforts, such as bioenergy, traditional chi gung, or even Zen meditations, each of us can personally attest to the brain’s “wandering” tendencies. Long ago, Buddhist monks created an analogy describing the wandering activity of the brain akin to a “chattering monkey”.
 
“Buddhism compares the untrained mind to a chattering monkey that jumps from one branch to another. The monkey is never still and constantly moving. This is not a flattering image, but if you watch your thoughts darting from one random idea to another, you may discover that it is quite accurate. You can train yourself to be aware of the stream of thoughts passing through your head, and to quiet the chattering monkey.” — Source: 101 Essential Tips: Meditation (DK Publishing, 2004).

These mental interruptions, then, are similar to a monkey in a tree overhead, jumping about and squawking with noise, entertaining itself, regardless of your diligent efforts of quiet and intense focus.
 
Likewise, in a recent article published by MSNBC, writer Ann Hettinger brought forth an interesting topic of research performed by a joint effort between Harvard University, Dartmouth College and the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
 
“Using MRI, researchers found that brain regions responsible for "task-unrelated thought" (that is, daydreaming or mind wandering) are almost constantly active when the brain is at rest or performing a task that doesn't require concentration.” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32862470/ns/health-mental_health
 
The scientific resultants of the MRI scans performed by the Universities shows the accuracy of the monks’ analogy: the brain is constantly active and wandering.
 
Whereas many meditation subject matter experts instruct the practitioner to “quiet” the mind, we at Chi Energy Heals take a different approach: we understand that the mind wanders, and as such, we recommend and teach focus exercises.
 
Focus on the energy: its temperature; its shape and; its feel. We also teach the adept to visualize the energy, as well as the desired results. Bringing to bear the brain’s abilities in such a fashion actually harnesses and focuses its natural tendencies to wander. We give the “daydreamer” direction, and allow it to run fast and far, with only a few, but very specific, parameters. By doing so, the individual consciously reprograms his/her subconscious in such a way that, even when not focusing on the specified meditation and energy exercises, the subconscious and various centers of the brain which remain active at all times, have a set of instructions and guidance.
 
Our minds are our workshop; we at Chi Energy Heals know this and believe in increased productivity through efficiency.
 
 
Healing Energy with Chi

Perils of Multitasking

Posted by admin On March - 15 - 2011ADD COMMENTS

Perils of Multitasking

by Don E. Brown II, MSIS

Certified Instructor; Chi Energy Heals

 

Mindful Life by Design School of Chi Energy Heals

 

www.chienergyheals.com

 

One of the [many] nuances that sets Chi Energy Heals apart from traditional chi-gung training systems is deliberate focus.  Whereas many chi-gung systems teach disassociation with the techniques and exercises practiced, Chi Energy Heals requires deliberate and intentioned focus.

 

This critical difference came to light for me when I stumbled across an article discussing the perils of multitasking: “Multitaskers pay attention — if you can” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32541721/ns/health-mental_health/

 

Focus is imperative when engaging in any type of chi training methodology; Chi Energy Heals takes into account the mind’s ability to focus and utilizes this ability as one of the foundation building blocks.

 

Those who do not practice focus, and focus exercises, are generally unable to perform extreme “psi” related abilities for which they are striving: think “Criss Angel”- his ability to focus is legendary and is one of the main reasons he is able to perform at such a high-level of expertise and precision. http://www.crissangel.com/

 

The article, “Multitaskers pay attention — if you can” sheds light on a topic that is near and dear to my heart.  As a professional Engineer, I am often required to juggle information to the point of a circus performer: conference calls; multiple instant messaging windows and conversations; emails; data-rich spreadsheets and information technology requirements documents all demanding my attention and focus at the same time.   Sadly, according to the findings of the research done at Stanford University, many multitaskers are unable to differentiate between that which is pertinent and important versus what is “background noise”.

 

When performing the exercise regimen of Chi Energy Heals, multitasking is not encouraged.  In fact, the Sifus’ and Certified Instructors (myself included) will tell you: Focus on the task at hand.  With deliberate focus and concentration, you teach your mind, body and spirit what is important, what it needs to pay attention to, and what you value; when your words, actions, and intentions are in one accord, results [in any field] are exponential.  The mixed signals that often coincide with multitasking, sadly, impede forward results, growth and gains.

 

Multitask only when you absolutely have to; never multitask when doing any form of chi training.

 

“Focus on the task at hand.”

 

 

 

Healing Energy with Chi