by Sensei | Oct 2, 2021 | Awareness, Journey, Mindless
Today, two experiences – similar places, very difference responses.
The first was receptionist was difficult and nitpicking; and while staying in the Moment, the Now, I was able to remain considerate, the experience took hours for a 10-minute endeavor.
The second, the receptionist was kind and upbeat; and while staying in the Moment, the Now, I was able to remain considerate, the experience took minutes for a 20-minute endeavor.
Likely, the first person was having a bad day, or the boss was critical, or something; and the second person was having a good day.
I was the recipient of both emotional states.
As the saying goes: “night and day.”
While I was “zen” during both experiences, I left the first bothered and the second uplifted.
The reality is that neither experience had anything to do with me: it flowed from their current emotional states.
In short, it was not about me!
Although, it was easy to create an internal narrative of an offensive encounter vs an amazing encounter.
This, my friends, is the greatest mantra we can repeat during such times and often throughout the day.
This is not about me.
by Sensei | Oct 1, 2021 | Awareness, Journey, Mindful, Mindless
When was the last time you honestly were still?
How did it feel?
Were you anxious? Nervous?
Did you pick-up your phone or turn on the TV or find some other distraction?
Were you actually still?
Did you mind go into overdrive? Reliving the past? Rehearsing the conversation, you should have had?
Were you consumed with the future? That something could go wrong or what someone might say or if you would be accepted or liked?
Were you actually still?
When you have a minute – at work, inline at the grocery, at the doctor’s office, in traffic, at the coffee shop – do you pick up your phone and death-scroll?
If you are watching TV – do you channel flip or binge watch or use it for noise to work or sleep?
By still, I mean, were you ok with being with yourself without any entertainment or input – just being.
It’s in being, the still, that you can touch the deepest parts of your soul.
[more later…]
by Sensei | Sep 30, 2021 | Awareness, Journey, Mindless
“So, what do you do?”
How many times have you been asked that question?
And had the conversation devolve into a discussion that is nominally about the askers self-importance.
Yet, at the core of the question is a deeper question?
“What is my identity?”
Or rather, “Who am I?”
Are you your job or what you do? If it goes away, do you?
Are you your parents? Your family? Your schooling? Or training?
Maybe you’re your partner? Your kids?
Your religious affiliation or not?
Your political party or the other?
Maybe you don’t know how to be without your “you” identities…
Are you your successes or your failures?
Think of all the “yous” there are.
All the masks, all the actors you play and none of these are truly you!
And rarely if ever to you let anyone truly know you: the authentic you.
The you that is afraid: that you will not be liked or not be accepted or fill-in-your blank…
Why?
[to be continued…]
by Sensei | Sep 26, 2021 | Awareness, How to, Journal, Meditation, Mindless
Be honest, does your brain constantly chatter?
Sometimes, my brain does and it is so annoying.
However, these mind-loops are a rich source of information about your internal and emotional landscapes.
Especially those that are playing in the middle of the night or when you first wake. Which is another reason to meditate first thing in the morning.
Become curious of you mind-loops, observe them, when they come and when they go.
Become a student of your mind. Become aware…
Journal: In the coming week, try to capture, at least partly, the “mind loops,” the internal storm that is raging.
For each mind-loop write:
- A short description of each story.
- What kicked event started the mind-loop?
- What is the story behind the mind-loop?
- What is the emotion behind the mind-loop? Is it fear, ego, anger?
- What, if any, action can you take to resolve?
Often by awareness, observing, and analyzing, the lessor mind-loops will disappear.
If the mind-loops become overwhelming, try How to breathe and relax.
Focusing on your breath will temporarily stop the loop and help with managing your anxiety.
Those remaining are often deeper and maybe a reason to consider talking with a professional; especially, if they dominate your day and are a roadblock keeping you from being productive or keeping you from living life fully.
by Sensei | Sep 26, 2021 | Awareness, Journey, Mindless
Everything I’m going to say in this blog is not new. It has been said before in nearly every culture and religion, and in every way humanly possible.
If there is any “new” message it might be this: it is easier to seek, than to practice.
I, and likely you too, live in a culture that is always “selling” something new and improved, and often for sale and profits.
For example, mindfulness is nearly a billion-dollar business. The word “mindful” appears as a selling point on a seemingly endless list of books, magazines, videos, and even in this blog.
Mindfulness is not new, and, in fact, it is free.
It takes minutes to learn and a lifetime of practice.
Realize that a different teacher or new technique will not make you or I more mindful person.
Practicing a few mindful techniques will, overtime, yield the results.
I can hear you saying, “it hasn’t worked for me…”
My answer is simple, “Have you developed a consistent daily practice?”
Each of us must discover what works and yet, few continue with the practice.
I read recently, that positive brain changes are medically detectable in only 8-weeks after beginning meditation; and continued practice has a lifetime of benefits.
Too often many want an immediate benefit without the effort.
It’s a journey, practice is a journey. And along the way, you will discover the real you, the true you; not the editorial-self, the actor you, that you live every day.
The reward is the peace of knowing yourself; and, overtime, the potential to be okay with the you, accepting yourself, loving yourself, the self that you have been hiding from.
It just takes practice. It takes consistent daily practice.
by Sensei | Sep 25, 2021 | Awareness, Journey, Mindless
I am deeply aware that the 1st half, or rather most of my life, was lived in destination thinking.
“What is this destination thinking?”
It is a life that is always lived for something in the future, a future time or place.
It’s easy to spot. It sounds like this.
“If I can make it to lunch…”
“20 minutes and then I can fight the traffic home…”
“Wednesday, it’s hump day…”
“One day until the weekend…”
“Vacation in two weeks, then…”
“When I get this done, I will be able to…”
“Can’t wait until…”
Every day, tens, hundreds, maybe even thousands of times was focused on the next, the future!
Very little was lived in the Now; very little was truly enjoyed.
I was physically there, but my mind was always thinking about the next activity, the next to-do, the next workday, the next cool grown-up-toy, the next, the next, the next…
I was rarely aware of Now.
My brain looped, over and over and over; day-in and day-out.
Looking back, it was miserable.
I lived that way for the first 40-years, give or take; even though I started the transition toward the Mindful Pathway in my 30s, it took years to break the habit.
Quickly, my attempts to change grew into thousands of attempts and then countless.
There had to be a better way…
