Accessing your Wise Mind

by Georgina Psomiadis, Clinical Psychologist

Collectively, many people are noticing how ridiculously busy life is becoming and wanting to turn their attention inwards because they inherently know that doing so, will change their lives.
 
Mindfulness practice, and formal meditation practice, is about learning to pay attention, in a particular way. You can be very attentive when you’re chopping up vegetables, listening to your favourite music, driving a car ect. Training your attention this way is definitely a helpful step before then learning to focus this attention inwards, and only formal meditation practice can do this.
 
Meditation practice, as the name implies, is a practice. You can’t be ‘bad’ at it (if I had a dollar for every person that’s said they’re no good at meditating…!) It takes commitment and hard work.

Consistency and accuracy of practice is important. It’s not so easy to sit with yourself for an extended amount of time, in silence, developing your ‘sensing’ part of the brain. Developing the skill of not reacting to this sensory discomfort is the key reducing avoidance behaviours and/or intense emotions.

Sit with yourself in silence long enough, in a relaxed yet alert state, and the more you’ll be aware of the body sensations that are fizzling inside of you, which are very much associated with the thoughts we experience. It’s amazing to know much of what we do is a distraction or avoidance to these sensations.
 
It’s important to also understand that it’s not about dissociating from these unpleasant sensations. You’re sitting with them, accepting them… giving them a hug and welcoming them! These sensations are there for a reason, nothing is random when it comes to the mind and body.

The more you’re able to do this, the more you’ll be able to access your wise mind (i.e., the harmonious intersection of the emotional and reasonable mind), and this is the goal.

​Mindfulness and meditation training is a tool to reach this goal. It’s not enough to read books (or blogs) about the benefits of meditation, the experience of it is essential… the BEST kind of learning! 
 
If you’re ready to access your wise mind, do the work and make that commitment, I would love to guide you to reach that goal.

Georgina Psomiadis

Georgina is a Clinical Psychologist who sees children, teens and adults regarding a broad range of mental health concerns. She has a particular interest in supporting young people in creating an inner calm and confidence with their identity. Georgina considers the brain-body connection and incorporates mindfulness in her treatment. Call 9741 5222 to make an appointment with Georgina at Hopscotch & Harmony's Werribee practice.