The Cloudyway

Suppose that through initial practice, you could begin to cultivate a habit of not speaking internally but listening. Meditation, as most people understand it, is essentially self-imposed mental silence; however, because thinking is often seen as an essential process necessary for daily life, a conflict arises in processing this dissipation of thought. The benefit is that, without verbal thinking, chains of reasoning have no chance to form, congestion is less likely to build up, and intense emotion can be more easily processed. However, to facilitate this transition into mental silence, we need to address the underlying reasons and uses of thoughts by meeting those needs, which are broadly broken down into three categories: a. asking ourselves questions; b. processing emotions regarding particular scenarios; and c. self-reflection, allowing us to try different modes of non-normative cognition and processing.

A. Asking ourselves questions: LEARNING SILENCE

Method: Get a cup of tea, sit down, and write down your question. Don't think about an answer/put effort into reasoning toward an answer. If whatever comes out in your thoughts becomes repetitive or is something you have to remember and, therefore, continue to mentally repeat, use the accompanying scrap notepad to jot it down. Otherwise, try your best to relax without focusing on the question or thinking. You can imagine it as akin to listening to a silent speaker. Over the course of several days of doing this, if an answer comes to mind, write it down and sleep on it. If the next day you feel any doubt about the answer, cross it out and go back to the question. This process can take somewhere between a few weeks and a few months. The purpose is to demonstrate something novel: most thinking is dedicated to fleshing out or reasoning forth from moments of inspiration. This process is meant to reduce the thinking to just these moments (of inspiration). This is aimed at de-pedestalizing the reliance on reason for finding answers (rather than for communicating/explaining those answers to others). This is a way of introducing people to the fact that thinking is not necessarily necessary.

B. Processing emotions: TALK TO THE BODY

The essence of this idea is to process emotions through the whole body, not just through self-talk. Somatic stimuli—such as a particular sound or a prickling sensation on the skin—can serve as focal points that help shift attention away from difficult internal feelings. For example, I’ve found the sound of shattering glass helpful for moments of anger, and holding something sharp and uncomfortable, like a Lego, useful for irritation. These are just a few ideas to start with!

C. Self-reflection: ALL THE COLORS, CARDS

Cards impose a random structure on inner conversation that force thought through specific associations with a colors/shade, rather than evolving forward based on old habits and patterns.

Disclaimer: The practices discussed on this website—such as extended meditation or altered states of awareness—may not be suitable for everyone. In rare cases, prolonged engagement in these states may contribute to psychological distress or trigger underlying mental health conditions. Please approach this content with care and self-awareness.

Nothing on this blog is intended to be, or should be taken as, medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before making any changes to your mental health practices or routines.

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