Dear Listener,
It’s a good time to wake up.
You might be wondering what you are waking up to…. but that is where clearing the mind and steadying emotions can allow wisdom and discernment to tease truth from fiction. These days that can be a tricky task with distractions and distortions blazing around us like a wild fire…. Our internal distortions are more accessible for change, I’m going to suggest it’s a good way to gain clarity regarding your world. Ask yourself, what are your biases, default habits, processes and/or assumptions?
These questions and can take time to unpack, even decades! Don’t be dismayed, break it down into moments, days, or weeks… this is part of a path of getting to know yourself- well. These times seem to asks us to step up in some way, as much as we possibly can. It is challenging out there. If you have a hard time answering this question, keep it open ended, write about it in your journal from time to time, place a note on your bathroom mirror… contemplate it.
A recent conference I attended in Las Vegas led me to today’s topic. It’s been years since I’d been there. A previous trip allowed time to roam off the strip and see the city’s surrounding desert. This trip’s flight was a refresher of Nevada’s gorgeous muted colors and dramatic contours. The strip was another universe. Human made, with painted skies and filtered air, our schedule was so busy it was challenging to step outside over 3+days. How did we get accustomed to this?
Attending lectures on preventive medicine, reversing disease worsened if not triggered by lifestyle was a stark contrast to the casino and restaurant halls selling sex, drugs, alcohol and gambling. It was THE STRANGEST place to learn this subject matter and maybe was some kind of cosmic humor. It caused me to think about transitioning from sleep to becoming awake.
The scenes of Vegas ranged from infrequent tourists dabbling, to bachelors/bachelorettes blowing-out for the weekend, regulars repeating and struggling souls never leaving. Though being asleep (drunk and/or numb) might have associations with addiction, I suggest slumber can affect anyone. How can you know? Self observe.
Do you tend to feel one way most of the time in the absence of other feelings? Do you tend to default to certain thought patterns over others? Do you repeatedly reach for one thing… if you didn’t what would you experience (in thoughts or feelings)? Do you engage objects or behaviors that quickly alter mental/emotional states (into intensity or absence of feelings )? Consider entertainment, technology, food, people or habits (an incomplete list) as potential sources.
How to break this pattern? Essentially try something which can help you gain perspective on habitual thoughts so you may self-observe with more space. You may try to spend time in nature- routinely, shut off your devices for longer than used to, leave your phone at home, jog and only listen to your breath, listen to a talk by a wise person and adapt one insight, hold a friends hand, each week/month give yourself a small goal (floss at night, make your bed in the morning, don’t linger when you wake, tackle your hardest task first thing). And of course, try meditation, yoga, taichi, something along thoes lines. When lost in thought- do something, or practice non-doing- start the laundry, pick up sticks on the driveway, walk the dog, breathe….
Once you do that, over and over. Over and over, you notice patterns such as; over-achieving vs under, thoughts of undeserving vs entitlement, oversensitive vs insensitive, over vs undergiving, doubt, shame, guilt, anger, fantasy traps, wishful thinking, illusions or taking sides. And of course there is self-judgement.
These are all traps, they all have ways out. Exits are possible via consistency, willingness and courage to notice, patience and tolerance towards whats discovered. Suport is helpful. Let it be, just notice it, let it unfold. Be curious.
Today’s meditation was inspired by the world cup, congrats to Argentina. France you did an amazing job. It was inspiring to watch the players focus and the passion of the fans.
Thank you for participating. This post is public, please share it with anyone you think it might help. Have a peaceful holiday.
Meditation: Cup of Humanity