Question:
I started meditating about a month ago and I feel relaxed. I still have a little trouble experiencing the silence though. As soon as I start to meditate, my mind becomes a movie-maker all of a sudden. I keep thinking about my family and my boyfriend and build up stories about what might happen.

This bothers me a lot. I try to battle it and concentrate on my breathing, but it's very difficult. Even when I am not meditating, I keep thinking about my relationships and keep building on negative outcomes. Is this my ego that's doing it? How should I battle this? Please advice.

Answer:
It is normal to have many thoughts and images come up during meditation. It’s not an ego problem. The thoughts are generated from the release of tension and stress from your body. As the mind settles down during meditation, it provides profound rest to the body and this allows it to heal any imbalance that is ready.

This tiny physical release has a corresponding mental component, which we experience as a thought, feeling or image in meditation. So it is not necessary to battle or resist thoughts. They are an integral part of the meditation process.

Once you recognize that you off thinking thoughts simply take it as a signal that it is time to easily redirect your attention to your breath and the mantra to start the cycle again. Never force or try to control the mind that interferes with the natural process of meditation.

Love,

Deepak