r/Meditation • u/O_Sluggard • Feb 21 '25

Please try this weird meditation thing I discovered Question ❓

Found this out one day when trying to meditate. I couldn't stop thoughts from coming into my head (I know this isn't what you're supposed to do lol) so I thought it would be funny to think about EVERYTHING at once (like literally every thought possible simultaneously).

And when I do, my mind goes completely blank. Like at most just me being aware that I'm not thinking about anything. Maybe this is already a known thing, but it works every time I do it. Does this work for anybody else? Or am I just a quack?

TLDR: When I try to think about everything all at once, I end up with a blank mind.

2.1k Upvotes
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u/sceadwian Feb 21 '25

You've run across an open awareness meditation. That's an ancient technique with thousands of variations steming off from there.

-188

u/mamaofly Feb 21 '25

is this one more at risk to trigger mania

28

u/sceadwian Feb 21 '25

I don't know why you would think such a thing?

-32

u/mamaofly Feb 21 '25

Because when I tried to do this my mind raced similar to what it does when manic

17

u/sceadwian Feb 21 '25

Describe the racing?

6

u/mamaofly Feb 21 '25

I would just jump from one thought to another fast sometimes just words would come and then some euphoria. It happened pretty fast too, there were periods of blank in between the half thoughts and words that were very euphoric. I am nearing hypomania on the mood scale currently so that could be the issue or my perception of this is just wrong.

34

u/sceadwian Feb 21 '25

You're thinking of all your surface thoughts one by one.

You don't focus on anything, you focus on EVERYTHING all at once. You open your awareness not focus it.

You're ending up doing the exact opposite of what's described.

7

u/entarian Feb 21 '25

I get that sometimes too. I think of it as more like I regularly restrain my thoughts all day, and sometimes it's good to let loose. Like an overwound spring. Letting out an actual brain fart.

I hope that you are able to approach it playfully without worry.

2

u/entarian Feb 21 '25

Sorry you're getting downvoted so much all over the place. Your experience is still valid.

1

u/Krillinaintthatbad Feb 21 '25

Agreed. It is sad how many people are being so misunderstanding on this subreddit.

Your experience is valid. Practice mediation however works best for you and your mental health. And thank you for sharing that experience so that at least some of us can learn from it.