Obviously, there is not one single component that is me: I'm not just or essentially my mind, my preconscious, etc. But to say I'm the whole of me all, leaves the question unaddressed.

I notice that my mind can occasionally rest while remaining aware. Then other things begin to happen. I notice sensations that don't appear with an active mind.

When I try to hold onto a thought without wreaking it with my mental muscle, I feel like a baby must feel when it tries to use its tiny fist. The muscles are so weak, the connections between intention and specific muscles so wavering, that it can barely grasp anything and then only weakly and momentarily.

Many times I've compared the practice to trying to wiggle your ears. I can't wiggle my ears, but I imagine that if I could just once find the muscle to do so, I would be able to find it again more easily the next time and with practice could do it on demand.