“ ... As the world bears down on my shoulders
I find the fear doesn't subside ...
I don't know how I've lasted this long
I wish to pause this moment
'Cause as I cry I start to realize ...
You give me strength
You take away my fear
There was a void in my heart that only you could fill ... “
~ Kjwan ~ Pause ~
Ever observe the reaction of people when you tell them you meditate. Just take notice ... either they are curious, stay clear of you ... or think you may just be a flake.
Regardless, mindfulness has changed the way I live.
Just three years ago, I was in the middle of the intense Gerson Therapy, working hard to rebuild my body and get healthy. My practitioner spoke to me about meditation. I remember my response ... oh yes, I meditate already ... yup, total and complete bullshit. I was operating from a level of conditioning that I no longer strive for.
A basic quietness, practiced for minutes in a day ... to help cope, deal and manage life. At the deepest level available. A connection within. Listening to your higher self.
I still get anxious, I still get scared, but I am aware of this new level of training. Helping me become present, centered and more mindful than imagined.
With such a glowing review, you would think that the meditation bandwagon would be full. Not so much. From believing that meditation isn’t for “me”, not having enough time, expectation to “clear the mind” of thoughts, reach nirvana and having to “do” meditation ... what we resist the most, we simply need the most.
In the beginning, the idea of sitting in silence, doing nothing was terrifying. I told my teacher that I could not observe my thoughts. The ones that were dark and full of despair. My teacher told me that those were the ones I would learn the most from. Three plus years later ... it is still an enormous process.
Mindfulness isn’t for the hippies and tree hugger only. Or for certain races or types of people. It isn’t in your DNA or you have to be “good at it”. It is about trying. Our monkey minds will distract, destroy and delete information. Yet with the use of breath work, visualizations and mantras, you notice your thoughts, without judgement and ... stillness arises. The pauses between the thoughts become greater.
And in that pause ... PEACE ~ CLARITY ~ CALM ...
Forget the candles, chant, hums and incense.
Pause and quiet the mind.
