October 2024 Reflections

October 2024
The Brown Mouse.
A strange title but it may be useful. When under pressure we may withdraw a little too much into our little self. Thus into our mouse hole. Even when things may be confusing around us we can look around for a change in lifestyle or opportunities. In other words be a little proactive.
In some instances that may be quite challenging, yes, there is always the great journey. ​

That journey is through relaxation, mindfulness and meditation to discover and then uncover more of who we are. The great spiritual writings suggest the way is in the quietness of self to allow the covering to open just a little and begin to discover a peacefulness that can’t quite be explained.
As we have suggested start with 10 seconds where you just become still and lightly aware of the surroundings and notice and feel the breathing.

There is Evidence.
There is an increasing amount of evidence to show that how we think and how we approach our life directly affects our well-being, our health. When we look at our communities, our legal approaches, employment, it is obvious this has not filtered through. There seems to be no effort to help people cope with the various stresses that they have to deal with. Every advance in technology makes life more difficult to manage, more exposed to scams. People feel devalued, even unwanted. One of the consequences we see is that we can never seem to get ahead of the poor state of health in our communities, the hospitals can’t cope and there are not enough ambulances for the really sick.

Time For A Change
There needs to be a change. The challenge is to see that the change must first be individual and inward. This also is known and there is evidence to show that inward changes can begin the shift. Of course it is not easy to see the world through fresh eyes. The phrase ‘go in to go out’ does hit the mark. There is huge potential within every human being. It is within, but we have never been taught this. Most people from a very early age have been led to believe it is what is around us that is important, never realising that a strong foundation needs to be within.

 Meditation and Mindfulness
There is also good evidence that meditation and mindfulness can be of great help. Humanity has four great gifts. Getting them to work together is no easy task. Memory is one, but we can find that things that have passed may have a strong hold on us. The old stories that stick can be very hard to dislodge.
Imagination is an amazing gift. We can actually use it to create and manifest an attitude that will serve us best, but often we find it creating ‘what ifs’ and “shoulds” that leak our energy away.
Now there are two which may be overlooked.
Choice. We have the capacity to choose. We can strengthen this so we can choose or choose not to have this or that thought.
Awareness. The other, more difficult to develop is our awareness. That is the capacity to see ourselves objectively, to ‘see’ what is going on with our thoughts and what we are creating in our imagination.

Guiding our Pathway
The process may be slow. It is a matter of baby steps. There will be obstacles in the way, one being able to forgive. Not negating any ‘injustice’, but simply for our health’s sake. It may seem unfair but to let go and move on, difficult but beneficial. Sometimes we may need professional help to break the chains. When we can step back we begin to step into our awareness. Awareness is when we can view ourself from within, without any judgement, but with love for ourselves making sense of the life in which we find ourselves. That gentle awareness can guide our choices, never intruding but may give us a clearer picture, knowing all the time we are human, and do human things. There is no judgement if our choices go awry! It is not conscience, just clarity without expectations.

A Key
One of the keys we are given is our breathing. We overlook that it is an exchange of energy. There is energy in the breath. Yes it keeps us alive and more than that we can use it in many ways. In its simplest form we can use the rhythm of the breath to relax. Using our imagination we can use it to breathe in new fresh energy and drain away the old tired energy. We can take that further and make a point of breathing away stress, breathing away those old stories. There are various patterns of breathing. In meditation we can add a mantra to the breath to draw the intellect to focus on the breath and slow its cognition to create a space for refreshment.
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Buoyancy
We were never meant to carry our whole life on our back. That is strictly for the nautilus shellfish. The weight depletes our energy. We lose our sparkle. It was the intention for humanity to enjoy life. The great secret is to be as much as possible in the present moment. Enjoy the now. Just realise you are an amazing person. Leave the past behind. It does not exist. Make choices that serve us best. Ask the Source for guidance or any one else out there. .... See, it is really fun. It is a play of consciousness. So join the party. Laugh with me because I am telling myself this as well.