Focusing on the blackness

[Jbrown832]

It seems so simple, yet I'm having trouble doing it 

I find it hard to control my thoughts. I urge myself to stay focused but then before I know it I'm thinking about something and I've lost it. I guess it's just a lack of discipline.

Are there any tips to help out with this problem? I need to become more conscious of my thoughts in order to control them easier.

Thanks for your time.

[Xanth]

It seems so simple, yet I'm having trouble doing it 

I find it hard to control my thoughts. I urge myself to stay focused but then before I know it I'm thinking about something and I've lost it. I guess it's just a lack of discipline.

Are there any tips to help out with this problem? I need to become more conscious of my thoughts in order to control them easier.

Thanks for your time.

You've really answered your own question. 

It's all about practice.  You don't need to quiet your mind 100%, only quiet the surface thoughts.
If you're reading what I've typed in your head, those are the kind of thoughts you need to quiet down.
Yet, don't force them out... accept them, and allow them to go on their way through. 

When you find your mind wandering like that, gently bring it back. 

[NoY]

The begining of a thought is a tiny pinprick and contains all the information

you think it then you say it aloud in your mind so you actually say it twice
if you can get used to just reading the pin prick and not repeating it your mind will be very quiet

:NoY:

[Bellend_1010]

Isn't focusing on the blackness just basically "Phasing" ?!?

[Xanth]

Isn't focusing on the blackness just basically "Phasing" ?!?

Well it's an exercise called "noticing".
http://unlimitedboundaries.ca/2010/09/06/what-is-phasing-and-noticing/

Where you basically just "passively observe" the blackness behind the eyelids and "notice" any changes as they occur.  Then take what you notice and delve deeper within it, until you find you're "somewhere else". 

[Undertones]

Just to build on what Xanth said about not forcing out the thoughts....That's exactly right. Understand the subtle difference between pushing something out of your mind and letting it slip out. Here's an analogy:

There's a wall ahead of you that's in your way. You can't go around it so you start pushing and pushing, exerting all your will and it still won't move...just kind of sits there saying "Yeah, I'm a wall and you can't push me aside." So instead of pushing you just relax and let go. Once you bring your hands back from it the wall moves. Not away from you but just sinks into the floor or a slot in the floor. The act of pushing it actually kept pressure against it and kept it from sliding downward.

The greatest feeling in the world (OK, I would probably accept there are actually things that feel better) is when you are in that state of mind, of letting go, that you realize that you don't need to work so hard to force those random frustrating thoughts to go away. The simple act of letting them go is very freeing and takes no energy. So try to think about the difference in pushing away and letting go.

[cyborg]

Good analogy.

The experience is really peaceful.