Restless

Kundo

Namaste all,

I wanted to pick your brains and get advice if possible.

I've been feeling rather restless and short tempered over the past week (and no it's not just down to Australia's average performance in the World Cup ...) I've been striving to address it through meditation and daily practise, but I think I'm making it worse by focusing too much on it, if that makes any sense.

Tomorrow is my appointment with the neurologist, so naturally there is some nervousness about that, but I was wondering if any of my "family" here had any other nuggets of wisdom for me, or other practises that may help in regards to the restlesness. I know there are many of you here with more experience with the Dharma and teachings than I and I'd be grateful for any and all input.

One thing is that I am finding mantra chants the easiest to do as I can do them anywhere and silently. I usually chant OM MANI PADME HUM or OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI. However I'm grateful for any other advice.

Much Metta,
Raven _/_

federica

Go out and buy the biggest and cutest soft toy dog you can find.
Bring it home.
Kick the shit stuffing out of it until it's completely unrecognisable.

You should of course try your hardest to not lose your temper.
But it's perfectly ok to mislay it once in a while... .

anataman

Have the conversation with your neurologist in your head tonight in a variety of ways - you know what you want to say, what questions are bugging you, but what if he replies with something unexpected?

Rehearsal will enable you to view your anxieties, and pre-empt the neurologists reactions and this little ruminatory practice might define better what the problems are for yourself, and enable you to address, or partially address, them now rather than be thrown a curve ball tomorrow, and if you can't don't worry. Another practice is to just look kindly at your physician as he deals with your problem tomorrow and gives you a number of options. If he gives you only one option, ask if there are others and what risks are attached to them. He is after all a specialist, and should be able to offer pros. and cons. which are self-explanatory.

Have a notepad to hand, write down his answers to your considered questions about your diagnosis and treatment options in a composed manner.

Be polite and thank him, but if he appears to be avoiding something let him know that.

In all relationships, frankness and honesty should always be welcomed.

Not sure if that was helpful...

Buddhadragon

Hi, @dhammachick! I'm on the phone and the keyboard sucks...
Whatever you do (chanting, meditation) drop the striving factor. Softening the breathing might loosen up the anxiety. Round up your most uplifting reading material and allow all the positive messages to imbue your mind. Breathe in deeply as you read. Bombard your mind with positive thoughts. Softly, detached, but relentlessly.
One breathing exercise I enjoy is breathing in a white light that fills my body with positive energy, and breathing out grey smoke, all the negative emotions I carry inside.

Kundo

Thanks all - that helps a lot. _/_

lobster

I've been feeling rather restless and short tempered over the past week.

@federica‌ is right to put this into a physical solution. Prostration, mindful high intensity housework/chores/walking.

The clue is in your question. You are feeling the need to move. A longer temper fuse comes from the unravelling of frustration. The cushion and chanting will help. If possible learn the visualisation form of the mantra OM MANI PEME HUM and give your anger to the deity. Being Bodhisattva manifests they can feed the emotive needs or transform them.

Jeffrey

You could try a body scan. Thich Nhat Hanh has a meditation where you smile at the body parts until you have smiled at all of them.

Kundo

@lobster‌ - Thanks crusty :*

@Jeffrey‌ - that sounds very interesting. I will try this on my lunch break.

Metta,
Raven
_ /\ _

lobster

@dhammachick said:

_ /\ _

Hamsaka

Try to regard the restlessness as a 'guest' (thinking of the poem "The Guest House" by Rumi; (I snatched this from a quick google search)

THE GUEST HOUSE

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

-- Jelaluddin Rumi,
translation by Coleman Barks

Shoshin

Kia Ora @dhammachick,

There's a visualisation technique you can use....Just visualise how you would like to feel "after" the meeting, don't try to visualise what will happen during the meeting (the mind will sort this without your mental input), just how you would like to feel "after" the event...It's a simple technique...Just make sure you conjure up and really feel the feelings, the smiles etc etc as you do the visualisation...

Metta Shoshin

how

@lobster said:

@dhammachick

Lobster's last picture is restlessness's diagnosis & resolution.