What Happens When You Meditate Every Day For A Year

Summary

The article discusses the transformative effects of daily meditation for a year, particularly the disidentification method from Psychosynthesis, which helps individuals detach from their thoughts and feelings.

Abstract

The author shares a personal journey of overcoming negative self-perception through consistent meditation practice. Initiated during a period of deep self-doubt, the practice of disidentification, as outlined in Piero Ferrucci's book 'What we may be,' led to a significant shift in the author's mental well-being. By persisting with this technique for a year, the author experienced a profound decrease in the intensity and impact of negative emotions and thoughts. The article emphasizes the role of the inner observer in mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), suggesting that with dedication, one can learn to notice thoughts and feelings without being overwhelmed by them. The author encourages readers to try the disidentification method for a month, promising that the benefits may lead to a sustained practice over a year, potentially reducing negative emotional episodes by 40-60%.

Opinions

The author believes that thoughts and feelings, while experienced by an individual, do not define them, advocating for the disidentification method as a means to achieve this understanding.
Persistence in meditation techniques, even when they seem ineffective, is advocated by the author as a path to increased willpower and personal transformation.
The article suggests that the practice of meditation can significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of negative emotional states.
Mindfulness and ACT are presented as practical, non-esoteric techniques that aid in cultivating an inner observer, allowing for non-judgmental awareness of one's mental processes.
The author is confident that an open-minded trial of meditation for a month can lead to a long-term practice due to its perceived benefits.

Prepare to have your mind blown

It was another day of feeling really bad about myself. Nothing specific, just that horrible feeling that I’ve wasted my life, nothing I do is going to work and I’m a shitty person.

This isn’t a narrative that was always there but it was there enough for it to be a thing. It would come on its own accord and would lead me to meditate on my chosen process addictions — mostly phone overuse — until it lifted.

I had a book on my bookshelf that I thumbed a few years back and left. It was called ‘What we may be’ — By Piero Ferrucci. The book is a blueprint for integrating a psychological practice known as Psychosynthesis. It had a bunch of exercises in it and one of them was called the disidentification method.

The aim of the disidentification method is to understand that our thoughts and feelings are not us. We have them but they are not us. It is a way of stepping back and allowing the thoughts to drive past you instead of running you over.

Another thing he mentioned, as a way of increasing your will and power in the world, was to persist with one of the techniques in the book for a month. Even if it doesn’t seem to be working.

I started the technique for a month on the day that I felt the worst and most despicable I had felt for a very long time. Maybe it is a coincidence but I have not felt that way since and I have not missed a day either. That was quite a long time ago now, a year.

It still feels like yesterday.

I still get strong feelings, of course. I have negative thoughts and the full spectrum of London rages. Jealousy, worry, and fear.

But they don’t own me like they used to. They don’t take me with them or kidnap me. They are there, I notice they are there and then they are gone.

I have found a way to detach and it took a long time but I did.

You can too.

Mindfulness, ACT, Psychosynthesis all teach you to cultivate the inner observer. The one who notices and sees without judgment. It may sound a bit woo and it may sound esoteric but it is not.

It is a technique that allows you to see what's happening and adjust accordingly.

You don’t get it right all the time but you get it right more often with practice and if it lessens your episodes by 40–60% then you will know that that is a remarkable result.

Try it for yourself for a month with an open mind. If you do, I am pretty sure you’ll move on to a year.

Here is a link to the practice. You can pick up the book on any good second-hand book site.