Misconceptions about meditation and mindfulness?

[EvolvingPhoenix]

An empty mind is one that distinguishes itself from the thoughts passing thereof. The observer and observed distinguished and the role of the observer-consciousness touched.

An empty mind does not contain any thoughts not because there is no content but because the mind is not the content. The content continues to exist. The focus over time is able to situate itself in the observer of thoughts, the mind, which is already empty. It's not making something empty which is full, but discovering the emptiness that is already there beneath the depths of thought.

It takes time, it is like a journey. Every step will look different from the last and the destination will looking nothing like what was seen at the beginning.

You are not creating anything new, just finding what is already there beneath all the things that have layered upon it. The layers do not cease, you become aware of the eye of the storm.

Thanks for this, Aion. It's still a bit hard for me to get what you said, but I appreciate the clarification. I shall share this with my mom also. I love you and I thank you. As I am still wrestling with this fear right now, it's hard to focus, but I am seeing ways of dealing with that to some extent.

I prayed to my higher self to help move me out of this fear based energy and my cat came and wanted to play. I played with her, hugged, kissed and petted her, followed her out the door for more of the same. There were parts where she would do stuff like go too far, going onto other peoples' property trying to make me chase her, but eventually, I would muster up the courage to go and chase her off the property or pick her up and take her off the property. And we would continue to play. The fear would arise, but I would pray, ask my higher self, christ and god to fill me with Crhistic love energy or just love energy in general, and keep moving my thoughts back to love, while continuing with my cats. I would at times endeavor to be mindful, but even when I fear reared its head, I would do what I could to remind myself it was just an energy, to redirect my focus to my cats, to focus my thoughts on love, etc. Eventually, my other cat came, and I was petting them both, but the first one always gets competitive/jealous and ends up making it impossible to be with both of them at the same time. Sometimes the other one will do that. The first one I think is the primary one carrying this jealous competitive energy though, as the other one mostly otherwise just wants to be affectionate and doesn't usually act nearly as threatened by other cats/animals. Although sometimes he does. At that point I picked him up and carried him as far as I could to where the other cat was to spend a little more time with them both (going between them, using words and actions of affection) but then I had to go, because I don't like having to pick between them both in this competitive (let's see who's the favourite) game they like to play. The first one was really the one bringing that energy though like I said. I ended up just saying "I love you" a lot to them both and leaving.

I am releasing fear as I write about it haha

I REALLY love my cats hehe.

Still, I intend to get better at meditation.

Thank you for sharing this with me.

I know I'll get better. I just gotta give things time and keep faith in myself