How to Handle Restlessness | Bonus Meditation with Joseph Goldstein

Meditation Guide

Joseph Goldstein provides detailed guidance on how to address restlessness during meditation. He suggests starting by settling into a comfortable sitting posture, closing your eyes, and relaxing your shoulders. As you become aware of your body and breath, you can notice the presence of restlessness in both the body and mind. Goldstein emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, stating,

"We practice working with restlessness by first simply noticing when it is present in the body, in the mind, becoming mindful of the restlessness itself."

--- Joseph Goldstein

This practice helps bring concentration and energy into balance, allowing the mind to transition from restlessness to restfulness 1.

   

Mindfulness Impact

Practicing mindfulness during meditation offers significant benefits, particularly in transforming restlessness into restfulness. By becoming mindful of restlessness, one can use it as an object of meditation, which helps in balancing concentration and energy. Goldstein explains that as the mind settles on the present moment experience, the practice deepens, leading to a state of ease in both body and mind. He concludes the meditation by encouraging practitioners to reconnect with the world around them, wishing them ease in their practice:

"When you're ready, you can slowly open your eyes and reconnect with the world around you, wishing you much ease in your body and ease in your mind."

--- Joseph Goldstein

This approach not only enhances the meditation experience but also supports overall well-being 1.