In the online (and blogging world) when providing a link to another website we’re encouraged to use ‘no-follow’ links. I’m not completely across the issue (so feel free to research it for yourself) but as I understand it, no-follow links prevent Googlebots from transferring visitors or stats from your own site to another. Plus – you get penalised by Google (in terms of your searchability) if you’re getting paid to link to other sites.

Like I said, I’m only just getting on top of this issue, which is why it may have been on my mind recently. (Plus I obsess about stuff. So… there’s that.)

I was a bit stressed a week or so ago and not sleeping well. Unusually for me I was waking early with time to kill so decided I’d try meditating for a few minutes first thing each morning. I still tend to worry about doing it ‘right’ but read something recommending we count our breaths… So, I started breathing in and out slowly – five counts for each. In for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; and out for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Interestingly I do find counting helps keep me focussed, as I find the concept of ’emptying my mind’ almost impossible. I mean… we have to have SOMETHING in / on our mind, don’t we?

Although (as an aside) I am intrigued about coma patients as my father spent 6 days in a coma before passing away and I can’t help but wonder what / if he was thinking.

I’ve talked before about my busy busy mind. Indeed, many years ago (at a yoga class) I learnt an intriguing meditation technique. It basically involved imagining we were in an elevator and watching the numbers on a little screen change in descending order. You know… as we travelled down floors: 25, 24, 23 etc. I’m not particularly visual but discovered I could picture the numbers and ‘process’ them.

However, I was easily distracted.

Indeed… I struggled so much to get from one number to the next without thinking about other things and losing track of where I was up to that I wondered if I needed professional help. (Well, more professional help!) 😉

I must admit I have the same issue when trying to count to just 5.

Despite the counting my mind keeps trying to wander… however I find that IF I’m forcing myself to count it isn’t really free to move anywhere else; it has to stay in the moment. In the number sequence. Like a no-follow link I realised – unable to zip about and visit other sites thoughts.

I discussed this dilemma during my recent coaching session with Michaela. She reassured me that there really is no ‘wrong’ way to meditate and I shouldn’t be as angsty about it. So… rather than deal with the stress of counting (!!!) I’ve started doing some affirmations during my 5 minute meditation session. I’ve not been overly ambitious to date so am mostly going with the not-very-esoteric stuff like:  “I will not lose my shit today. I will not lose my shit today.”

Start small. That’s my motto.

Are no-follow links new to you?
How’s your focus; or, if you meditate, do you struggle to stay on track?
Finally, am I the best analogy-maker in the world, or what?! 

I’m joining again with Jess and her IBOT link-up today.