The Silent Prayer or Meditation
I find silent prayer or meditation helps me focus my mind. I can focus on a holy image or a verse of holy text. I can get to a place where I am focusing in my mind's eye more on the holy image, words or topic and less on the pains or distressing thoughts.
That is some comfort to me by praying in silence and allowing my mind to be filled with what is holy. I feel I am transcending the suffering of this world for brief periods. This encourages me to believe it is possible to rise above the pains of the body and mind and live an ethical life. I keep trying.
- What experiences do you have with silent prayer or meditation helping you cope with life?
Current taglist as of 02 Oct (updated by @tommy)
@Adamw12 @adripika @amiablePeace77 @Armon23 @beck1 @blindCupcake8608 @Carolincares7 @Chevy81 @courageousRiver589 @DragonView2 @easyDime4319 @egrima729 @goodAcres5039 @GoodEar1972 @Helgafy @HisLivingWaters @IamAubrey23 @IntuitiveThoughts01 @ivoryDog4942 @Jaeteuk @Jenna @loyalApricot1375 @lyricalAngel70 @magnificentNutella @Mahad2804 @MalindaBelle @MeaningfulSilence @Michele2 @officialanonymous @ovowoody @passionateSea1909 @persistentFriend274 @philosophical2741 @pineapplepeanut @PoliteOcean @politePeach9642 @rhodawoolf @RogueOne1983 @SammiSweetheart30 @soulsings @stallion3 @SunShineAlwaysGrateful @Swordpsalm @ThatChristLover @TheJenInBlack @Tinywhisper11 @trueconfidant123 @Tyedyedbutterfly65 @yaswecan7
@soulsings I pray every night and some times in the day. I don't pray for me I pray for others and just thank God for all my blessings. My mind isn't always clear of thoughts when I pray, but I take comfort in praying still. Also in the mornings under my sons tree, the fresh air the coulours of the sunrise, the chirping of birds, the smell of my coffee. That's where and when I feel most connected with God, it's just so peaceful and I feel most alive ❤❤
@Tinywhisper11 that sounds like a wonderful practice. Thank you for sharing.
@soulsings
Thank you for this thread Soul! It's good that you feel the relief from life pain and that it helps your path of inner connection with what goes beyond the "visible".
Sending you good vibes 💙
@soulsings Silence is a wonderful spiritual practice I encourage it!!
Turn off the phones the TV the music be in silence! It is very fruitful and harder than it sounds.
@RogueOne1983 yes silence is a hard practice without preparation so sometimes I do chanting or other recitations to prepare my mind.
@soulsings I went to an Ignatian retreat. It was quite satisfying to my soul. Ignatian retreat are characterized by silence, prayer, meditation, and spiritual direction and guidance.
@DragonView2 I find retreats are a way to leave most of the usual routines behind and turn within and get acquainted with my own mind and beyond.
@soulsings I got to such a good place with God earlier this year and it helped me discard my feeling of loneliness and not being enough. I also got rid of my sinful habits but right now, I’m beginning to feel sad again. Like nobody sees me. I’m lacking in confidence and it’s probably because I’ve lacked love all my life. It’s almost like each day I see people in happy relationships and friendships but I have nothing going on. It’s almost like I don’t deserve happiness too and I don’t get why. I’ve felt this way for as long as I can remember and it’s somehow connected to my childhood and now I get so angry with the world sometimes that I cut everyone off and have mood swings. I can’t afford therapy but I really need to talk to someone. I’ve been bottling my feelings for 15 years at least and I really want to change things now. I want to love myself more, have a sound spiritual life again and be happy
@Igetthroughthis I hear you. I have suffered from that feeling that the grass is greener in the other person's yard. Yet many people that appear to have it made are actually only covering up the universal feeling that we all share questioning the meaning of our life.
I actually found that many of my concerns faded away when I became a listener at 7 Cups. Helping someone else gives me a true and lasting happiness.
Glad you have those spiritual resources. Sometimes I cruise for a while and have to get back to a daily routine to strengthen my faith.
@soulsings Thank you very much. The thing now is that I need to get over my trauma in order to move forward and become more happy. But I’m so clueless on how to go about it
@Igetthroughthis this is a difficult question and everyone finds their own way through trauma. With me I had to stop focusing on the trauma and develop new interests in life. By continually focusing on the trauma, it was like me opening a wound that never healed.
I also had to stop seeing myself as a victim. That is not easy but it was not a self image that promoted happiness. That does not mean we condone the actions that harmed us, we just let go of clinging to them waiting for someone else to change. I am the only one I can control my reactions.
These may be a place to start. See which ones apply to you. https://www.7cups.com/supportGuides/selfHelpGuides.php
@soulsings you are so correct what we focus on is what we become.
I have in addition to my faith in Jesus Christ have used the Twelve Step recovery model.
My sobriety is not allowing people to use and abuse me.
Page 84 in the Big Book of AA talks about staying alert for "selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear," asking God to remove them if these are found, clearing and fixing any wrongdoing caused to others, "then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help."
I use this and find focusing on service works instead of my problems helps IMMENSELY.
@soulsings' advice is also good.
@RogueOne1983 removing and not allowing afflictions like anger and pride to fill the mind can really help the mental attitude.
@soulsings
What experiences do you have with silent prayer or meditation helping you cope with life?
Meditation has changed my life, it helps me to calm down, to connect with myself, find balance again, believe in a higher power and much more. It became very important to me to meditate every day.
@amiablePeace77 prayer fuels my whole life I am always engaged in some type of prayer.
Work can be prayer.
Music is big for me.
And silence is healing most never experience silence, but we need some of it frequently!
@amiablePeace77 thank you for sharing your experience of your spiritual practice.
@soulsings
In the religion that I follow, we believe that in the silence of prayer we can hear our God. We call some forms of prayer meditation I assume because of the silence. This gives me piece of mind when praying and though I am still not great at the practice of prayer, there are times when I cry praying due to what I am thankful for or what I am praying for. I don’t always feel like my worries are gone but when I pray I feel safe and peaceful because I am with my God.
@ivoryDog4942 thank you for sharing your practice. It sounds like a very heart-felt path for you.
@ivoryDog4942 sounds beautiful and monastical I really dig it!!!