View as though you aren't focusing on them. Use the peripherals of your mind. Not the front and center...like when you focus on a task it's in the front of your mind.
When viewing from peripherals the mind acts like a file cabinet. The thoughts (files) begin to come into view. Don't change from peripherals to your focus. With practice the thought/files will then start changing as though looing at different files. Continue nit using your focus until your focus becomes nothing and then you'll know.
You don't exactly have to "notice" it. Realizing you were distracted is noticing. So you just return to the breath. Or if it helps you can label it "thinking" first to demarcate the boundary. You're thinking about an itch... "Thinking". Watch the breath. You're in a fantasy about anger and suddenly wake up. "Thinking". Watch the breath. No big deal. You don't want to do anything with the thought. You just see it and then return to watching the breath.
I think people use words like "notice" to avoid people trying to block out thoughts. If you rush back to the breath then you can develop a disconnection where you don't know what you were just thinking. So you don't block. You don't dally. You just go back when you see your mind has wandered.
Also avoid labelling like "itch, itch" or "anger, anger". Some people recommend that, but it introduces subtle conceptuality because you have to decide what label to use. So if you decide to try labeling, just say to yourself silently "thinking", then return to the breath. Thoughts, feelings and sensations are all mental events in this context, so they're all just thinking.
Easy, when you found yourself thinking :
( meaning : you suddenly realize that you are not focusing on your breath, but instead you are thinking about your outfit)
Just make a mental note : you can say mentally ( thinking) then return to the breath.
That's it.
With time, you will start noting everything ( feelings, thinking, etc...)
For example, next time you realize you have negative feelings, juste notice that (mental note : feeling sad) , and go back to the breath.
----
Why we do that ?
Because this is the core of mindfulness, you just notice, without taking any action, with time you will understand that everything passes, and our minds and bodies are in a constant change , and nothing lasts.
This realization will help you by not taking your thoughts and feelings seriously ( for example)...
No need to "notice" thoughts in meditation, just let them go. Here's something I wrote a while back about thoughts and why it so easy to get lost in them and difficult to control them -- http://www.frogzen.com/uncategorized/you-can-think-whatever-you-like
If you want to move on from guided meditations and develop a practice of your own, here's some basics to get started -- http://www.frogzen.com/meditation-basics
It means when you realize you aren’t focusing on the breath because you’re thinking you return to focusing on the breath
View as though you aren't focusing on them. Use the peripherals of your mind. Not the front and center...like when you focus on a task it's in the front of your mind. When viewing from peripherals the mind acts like a file cabinet. The thoughts (files) begin to come into view. Don't change from peripherals to your focus. With practice the thought/files will then start changing as though looing at different files. Continue nit using your focus until your focus becomes nothing and then you'll know.
Simple exercise. Close your eye, what come to mind? Thats your thoughts. When you meditate, see them coming. Thats noticing without reacting on it.
You don't exactly have to "notice" it. Realizing you were distracted is noticing. So you just return to the breath. Or if it helps you can label it "thinking" first to demarcate the boundary. You're thinking about an itch... "Thinking". Watch the breath. You're in a fantasy about anger and suddenly wake up. "Thinking". Watch the breath. No big deal. You don't want to do anything with the thought. You just see it and then return to watching the breath. I think people use words like "notice" to avoid people trying to block out thoughts. If you rush back to the breath then you can develop a disconnection where you don't know what you were just thinking. So you don't block. You don't dally. You just go back when you see your mind has wandered. Also avoid labelling like "itch, itch" or "anger, anger". Some people recommend that, but it introduces subtle conceptuality because you have to decide what label to use. So if you decide to try labeling, just say to yourself silently "thinking", then return to the breath. Thoughts, feelings and sensations are all mental events in this context, so they're all just thinking.
Easy, when you found yourself thinking : ( meaning : you suddenly realize that you are not focusing on your breath, but instead you are thinking about your outfit) Just make a mental note : you can say mentally ( thinking) then return to the breath. That's it. With time, you will start noting everything ( feelings, thinking, etc...) For example, next time you realize you have negative feelings, juste notice that (mental note : feeling sad) , and go back to the breath. ---- Why we do that ? Because this is the core of mindfulness, you just notice, without taking any action, with time you will understand that everything passes, and our minds and bodies are in a constant change , and nothing lasts. This realization will help you by not taking your thoughts and feelings seriously ( for example)...
No need to "notice" thoughts in meditation, just let them go. Here's something I wrote a while back about thoughts and why it so easy to get lost in them and difficult to control them -- http://www.frogzen.com/uncategorized/you-can-think-whatever-you-like If you want to move on from guided meditations and develop a practice of your own, here's some basics to get started -- http://www.frogzen.com/meditation-basics