A common struggle that many clients find themselves in is battling with obsessive, critical and judgmental thoughts. The eating disorder voice can be quite relentless; whether it is by excessively counting calories, planning for the next binge/purge opportunity, or setting up unrealistic expectations and demands. With all this going on, it's very difficult to find a calm, compassionate and objective center inside ourselves. Many clients ask how they can stop these obsessive thoughts? They feel powerless and worry that they will be ruled by these thoughts forever.

The practice of meditation is one way to directly work with our thoughts while simultaneously strengthening our core sense of self. The instructions are quite simple. Sit cross-legged in a comfortable position, with your spine erect and your body awake. Gaze downward approximately 4-6 feet in front of you, allow your vision to become soft and muted. Give your mind permission to relax. Soften your face and drop your awareness down into your breath. Focus your awareness on the exhalation of your breath, trusting that the inhalation will naturally come.

What most people notice almost immediately when they begin to meditate, is that their mind is quite busy thinking. It's OK for the mind to be thinking; it's how we respond to these thoughts that is the essence of the meditation practice. The instructions tell us to label the thoughts as "thinking", and come back to the out breath. What this means is that we acknowledge the thoughts. We touch them with our awareness. We don't try to run from them or push them away. We refrain from judging, interpreting or grasping. We simply notice the thoughts and come back to our breath.

Through a regular practice of meditation we can begin to experience a sense of space around our thoughts. The thoughts will come and go. They are not a definition of who you are. You can begin to find your anchor, your seat, your center. Meditation practices teaches us to witness ourselves and our world from this heart-centered place.