I shared that finding acceptance of my meditation and letting go of control has been the key to our long-lasting relationship that continues to deepen.
Interestingly enough, when I started to let go of the reins in my meditation guess what happened? I also found myself starting to let go of the need to control things in my day-to-day life.
I noticed over time how I became less reactive, more grounded, and my mind was quieter, and these shifts happened without trying to make them happen.
These are a few of the many gifts of meditation that has brought into my life. It continues to be a moment-to-moment practice with more compassion and less judgment.
We can’t control things on the outside. We know that now more than ever, right?
Life is busy, noisy, there are interruptions, there are highs and lows, things don’t always go as planned, and if we’re relying on perfect conditions in our life to feel at peace, we’re continually setting ourselves up for disappointment.
We are also denying the truth of our existence time and time again which creates an inner struggle and suffering but it is possible to find peace amidst the storm. It is the journey inward.
Meditation is like having an anchor.
When a storm comes in and the water gets turbulent, I don’t have to get completely swept away anymore. In those moments when I feel like I’m lost at sea, I have a life jacket and an anchor. I have my tools. I have my breath. I am able to access my inner resources.
I always find my way back home.
The sense of knowing that I can do this, that I am enough and it’s going to be ok, shines forth from within. This is not only reassuring but also empowering. There is a wisdom that everything I need is within me, and this is freedom. It is found in the here and now.
For most of my life, I wasn’t present. There was no sense of having an anchor because my mind was going nonstop, my body was stressed, and I never took time to stop and simply be.
I constantly felt like I was lost at sea and my way of trying to feel anchored was by trying to have perfect conditions in my outer world. Over time this just created more angst, stress and an empty, deficient feeling.
My soul was longing for me to go inward and through grace a willingness showed up.
Why do I meditate first thing in the morning? It is my time to be with me. It sets me up for the day. I feel plugged in and connected to life.
My doing comes from a place of being.
Meditation releases stress from our nervous system at a deep level. When we have a regular practice, we’ll notice how our body will start to soften and relax more and more. It becomes easier and more natural to enjoy a deeper breath.
So, we take time to go inward. We trust. We let go.
We will be met with opposition. The ego mind doesn’t want us to meditate. The ego feels threatened because it knows it will take a back seat.
The ego mind can come up with some pretty convincing reasons why we shouldn’t meditate “Not right now. I have to do the laundry. It’s not working anyway. I’m too tired. I’m too stressed to meditate today. I’m too (fill in the blank) to meditate.”
The ego is not bad, it just is.
So, we notice the resistance and keep showing up again and again and again. This is why it’s important to know your why; to stay connected to why you are meditating.
Let that light your inner fire and keep you going.
This is a realistic approach to meditation. To know that a regular practice does not mean it’s all rainbows and unicorns, and smooth sailing. Rather, we are meeting life on life’s terms and are able to go with the flow with more ease. Less struggle and effort, more acceptance and grace.
With loving kindness,
Diane