CT Meditates: a Comedy (Post #1)

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I am introducing an ambitious goal for myself: a DAILY blog post between now and the end of the year (every day of the month of December 2017) on MEDITATION, and my comedic efforts at self-awareness, presence, gratitude, compassion, engagement, all the good things that come from such practice. In this age of Physician Burnout, and for Physician Informaticists, it is particularly apt.

I have lots to say (hmm, ironic: how does that comport with being silent, present and self-reflective?) and will say it in little bits each day.

Will you come along on the journey? And those of you who meditate, please leave a comment or please, teach me something. And those of you who don’t yet, maybe consider joining in?

My entree into meditation was a book called Start Here (more on this later), with the simple idea that meditation can have benefits in as little as THREE MINUTES A DAY. Now, who doesn’t have 3 minutes? Really. And your task, for these 3 minutes is:

  • Sit comfortably, legs relaxed, feet on the floor or resting comfortably, hands on thighs or in your lap, good straight posture, in a place where you are not interrupted, preferably a quiet place.
  • Eyes closed.
  • Breathe in and out naturally.
  • Notice your breath, perhaps focus on the tip of your nose as the air goes in and out.
  • Inevitably, other thoughts will creep in. Notice them, set them aside, let them drift away, return to your breath.
  • That’s it. This is your WHOLE JOB for 3 minutes. It is harder that it looks.

First time I tried, I could not do it, had dozens of intrusive thoughts in the 3 minutes. It was an entire tragi-comedy in my head.

CMIO’s take? MEDITATE! I will try to keep my daily posts short, with insights I’ve gleaned. I will attempt to meditate every day, and I invite you to join in the doing and in the discussion.

Author: CT Lin

CMIO, UCHealth (Colorado); Professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine

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