Decided to start meditating? Bought a Muse? Feel like throwing it out the window? Gonna put it on Ebay?
You're not alone, and I'd like to share my experience learning to meditate with Muse, the funny little headband one can purchase on ChooseMuse
For those who don't want to read a lengthy description of my journey, and just want to learn the "trick", here's the scoop. For the first couple weeks of using your Muse, DO NOT close your eyes during the calibration phase. Use the "Rain Forest" soundscape. And calibrate with eyes open until being able to maintain the "bird chirping" for at least thirty minutes per session, over five consecutive days, showing 80% calm or better. Then, start half closing your eyes during calibration, and repeat the above cycle. Eventually there will be enough "mental muscle" to calibrate with your eyes closed, and still find "the birds".
Now I'm sure your saying, what good is the "percent calm" reading if the calibration from which it is derived can change? For those familiar with weight lifting, the best way to view your Muse is as a fantastic barbell. The calibration phase is where the user places weight on the barbell. Keeping ones eyes open during calibration is the equivalent of placing minimal weight on the barbell, so squeezing out eight reps is easy (ie hitting 80%). Closing your eyes during calibration is the equivalent of placing 200 lbs on the barbell, so hitting 80% will be much harder. To throw 1000 lbs on the barbell, an advanced meditation session will involve doing a "warm-up" meditation to enter an increased "calm" state for calibration, end the warm-up session, and then start a new session to enable re-calibration at an increased difficulty level, ie placing more weight on the barbell.
Luckily, I'm part mongoose, might be why my wife claims I've got Aspergers. Once I get my teeth in something, letting go simply isn't an option. The cobra must die! (see Riki Tiki Tavi) Needless to say, I've stuck it out with my Muse.
My first couple months trying to get somewhere with my Muse. Think about trying to "push a cat into the toilet" or trying to "nail Jello to a tree". Both being extremely frustrating activities. But after substantial repeated effort I started "sensing" something going on in my head. Sometimes it would start on the right side, move around a bit, and then go to the left side. As time progressed, going into three to four months, the feeling became much more focused resulting in a very "tight" sensation between both my eyes and up a bit. Some might mistake it for a light headache, but it's not. After getting "Muse Direct" to observe all my brain waves, I've come to realize the presence of prodigious "alpha waves" at the front, right/left sides, and back of my head. This is a state typically only achieved by "advanced" meditation gurus after decades of preparation/training.
Neural bridging. In the same way muscles get larger when lifting weights, neural bridging is the strengthening of the "calm" muscle in your brain. See The Automatic Self on Amazon. Continuing with Muse training, I am sensing an increased ability to enter into a "calm" state with minimal effort. Soon I suspect it'll be easy as "falling off a log".
One other tip, another discovery with Muse has been how important "breath" can be to entering a calm state. Research "belly breathing" on google, this is very key to focused meditation. And will accelerate your journey with Muse.
At this point, all I can say is Namaste! Hang in there, it's worth making the commitment to visit the gym and exercise your brain every day. I actually do it twice a day if I can pull it off. Currently, my Muse points stand at 1,462,616. After all the frustration, I'm glad I stuck with it. This quirky little headband is changing my life experience. In the same way physical training, can be uncomfortable, meditation can be the same. "Lean" into it. In the way muscles get stronger, your brain does the same.
Neurofeedback/biofeedback is for real. I've been humming under trees, etc. for a couple decades now, only to find myself holding an empty bag. With Muse I now know 100%, I'm meditating. The experience is clear as "getting hit in the head with a brick", no doubt whatsoever.
Remember learning to ride a bike? Incredibly frustrating at first, but once that first ten to twenty feet is traversed without your feet touching the ground, the notion is born, "I can do this thing!". My journey with Muse has turned me into a curious playful kid again. And just like I could learn to ride a bike, thanks to Muse, I can meditate as well!
Feeling a bit sad lately, in the realization many of today's health issues are "rooted" in one having anxiety, fear, etc. Mind, composed of the nervous system and brain is what "drives" everything in the body. Many people are needlessly suffering. Pretty soon, I fully expect Neurofeedback will be getting prescribed as a treatment for anything ranging from insomnia to erectile dysfunction and obesity. No more need for Lunesta, Viagra, Cialis, etc. A golden age for humanity is just beginning.
I'll try and report back again in a few months. Stay strong and "hum" my friends!
