Sometimes when we become overwhelmed with stressful events it can be helpful to remember that “this too shall pass” ---- and it does, if we let it!
We live in the flow of life, so it is easy to get caught up in the emotional reaction to change, become agitated and stressed. It will affect many aspects of our well-being and it will cloud our judgement. It may be a challenge to step back to let “it” go a bit. Rise above the situation to widen our vision and see that the best option maybe to adjust and adapt. This may be challenging once our thoughts become swamped with emotion. We all need some time to be able to quieten down. Focus on steady breathing. Use the energy in the breath to relax and refresh, and the out breath to breathe away the stress.
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How do we see ourselves? Speaking in old imagery we can see ourselves as a performance car or just a car! Both have their advantages. As a whole person we are amazing, there is so much we take for granted. We expect our life to look after itself but there is an opportunity to balance and ‘fine tune’ it so it will serve us well.
What is happening around us does affect us. It can push us out of balance. Some of the areas affected are subtle as we are highly complex. One area that is worth considering is the energy field in which we exist. In traditional healing this is called an aura. Within this aura there are specific points that connect us to what we are. These are traditionally known as Chakras or energy centres which our meditations can help bring into balance and harmony for our well-being. “Come Away With Me”
This is a very gentle phrase. Those mystics who have managed a connection with the unseen energies speak of an incredible welcome of unconditional love. The phrase is found in many places. When it appears in ancient scriptures it changes the tone that often seems so harsh, into a loving supporting feeling of a great journey into joy. Such moments can be triggered by the most unlikely things. They come when we are truly open with no expectations, just a knowing of a connection. Simply put, it is our true self letting us know we are not alone but we are free to choose our pathway. Yes, it is very annoying! That support is always there though we may not be aware. We can reach out for guidance and it will come but in its own way, and that is where we can feel let down. Circumstances may not be right or a pathway may need to be found around another’s choice. In moments of quietness just know that the embrace of who you really are is there for you. “Come away with Me” Life is movement. Although we may travel great distances many of us don’t actually move much. The complex human body needs to move, especially today when we are living such stressful lives. Our minds have a habit of storing stress in our bodies and we need to do this when under pressure. We find that stress can cause imbalance, and may find its way into joints and organs, so to keep moving is important to release the stress.
However, movement is more than just physical. It is important to keep moving in our attitude, our ideas and creativity so we can keep an open mind and see what is in front of us, stepping forward with guidance and trust. There is a place of quiet within. Not readily accessible, but it is there. This is the place where we can become still and focus on ourselves. It is part of discovering who we really are behind the ‘shape’ we like to show to the world. There is a great oneness that is drawn together with the power of love. This love is beyond what we call love, though that is a part of it. As we ‘fall’ back into our deep self we will begin to be open to that love and we start to feel its embracing energy.
First find a quiet location, a place where we can feel safe enough to let go a bit, where there are no interruptions. We gently draw our attention to our breathing, notice the feeling and the movement of our body. We use this to relax and draw our attention to the quietness within us. Sometimes it is helpful to listen to a guided meditation as a help. Be patient, allow the quiet place to merge with you. Baby steps – It is there for you. Deep within each of us is a hidden ‘knowing’, often referred to as a ‘pearl of great price’. It is that place from where the mysterious ‘aha’ moments of completeness arise. We all will experience that at some time in different ways, and the triggers will be as varied as there are people. But it is there, we just need to uncover it.
The challenge is to turn around and make time for a quietness. In lessening the ‘noise’ in our mind we clear a pathway to our inner joy. To the unseen energy that lies behind existence. To the essential YOU. (You are worth it) Relaxation, posture, breathing and the optional mantra are well established tools that are available. The guided meditation recordings can assist in clearing the way. We can apply what we practice at other times when we are in a quiet state. Intention may not be a popular word. The intention we consider, is to find a way through our thoughts as we focus on the breathing. It may be quite a challenge not to follow a thought. Some thoughts are very subtle and quite sticky. In this exercise there is no sense of failure if we are not successful, just more opportunities to let the various thoughts pass though.
It is good to see it as a mind game but there are substantial benefits It is the function of the mind to produce thoughts. It doesn’t know what thoughts we want to have, and it likes to amuse itself at our expense. As we begin to slow down our distracting thoughts there is a quietness within. It is that quietness that is our strength, our clarity and from that our wellbeing arises. There is so much more to us that we can possibly imagine. It is the path within that is so important to remembering who we are. We really are like pack rats. We accumulate so much baggage. This is like a weight that pulls us down or holds us back. We lose our flexibility and our adaptability. With rapidly changing and unpredictable events we can easily lose direction.
When we come to our mindfulness/meditation there are some tools we can use to detach ourselves from the thoughts that appear in our mind. Gently focusing on the breath is almost universally accepted as standard. Posture brings about a positive attitude. We suggest considering a mantra as a mind tool to help keep the mind focused on the breathing and to put down the weights we are carrying The mantra we suggest is the sound 'So Hum'. It is Sanskrit for 'l am that’, the actual spelling is "So 'ham". To use it we think the sound 'so' on the in breath, and the sound 'hum' on the out breath. It may be a useful tool to bring the breathing into the present moment - moving towards an inner stillness. Watching thoughts could be fun if it did not affect us so much. It seems as if the mind fires more of these particles of energy than we are aware of. These thoughts average themselves to create our story – our attitude and the shape we present to the world. Our thoughts are creating our reality and keeping it consistent. If we choose to change our thoughts, we will begin to change that reality, so there is an opportunity to change, if we wish.
It may take some effort and some resolve. Mindfulness is part of the process. In any time of quietness when we gently focus our awareness on our breathing we have the opportunity to let thoughts that come into our consciousness pass through without letting them attach themselves. If they pass through and away there is no effect, as it is our attachment to the thought that gives them substance. In this meditation time, become aware of the breathing, the ‘in’ breath’ and the ‘out’ breath. If it is helpful, use the mantra ‘So Hum’ (so ‘ham – I Am) as you breathe) Also become aware of moments of mental quietness. It is a first step to knowing who you are. Then if a thought arises, be strong and let it go. Some thoughts are very sticky. Accept this as part of the game, ease away any attachment and return to noticing the rhythm of the breath. It is good if we can go with the flow of life. There will be many changes on our way in many different parts of our life. An anchor point and a ‘home base’ are very important for us. An anchor point may be something that holds us in an opportunity. It may be work or a relationship. These can change, perhaps not in ‘location’ but may be in ‘substance’.
A home base is more about what is going on within us and will often affect our anchor points. It is all to do with our attitude, the way we see ourselves and the way we see what is going on around us. The more positive the attitude the more positive will be the flow of our life. Gratitude is powerful in bringing us to the good things, a strength to overcome the debilitating effect of fear. Be grateful for the small things, bring the feeling of a good experience to mind, let go the actual event, let the feeling generate the feeling of wholeness within. |
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