As a D.I.V.A ringmaster, my responsibilities can be all consuming, especially during the school year. Add the extra curricular and social calendars of my children to the mix and I've got myself the greatest show on earth. No doubt the warmer months bring relief as the pace of life slows and there is more time to spend on those put off pet projects. I can finally pursue my list of must read books uninterrupted and increase my meditation practice time.
With the exception of my children, I value nothing more highly than my peace of mind. Without it, I am less grounded, lacking in clarity, and have the tendency to court physical illness. Outside my peace, life becomes sandpaper and I am easily irritated and less joyous.
"The Yogic sages say that all the pain of a human life is caused by words, as is all the joy. We get seduced by our own mantras and we become monuments to them." ~Elizabeth Gilbert
A mantra in a practical context is a word or phrase that is repeated often or that expresses one's basic beliefs. This is our inner self talk and it can be positive or negative. What are the recurring themes in your life? In the quiet moments away from life's demands what is the content of the self talk being repeated in your mind?
Though much of the time you are not the architect of how the universe unfolds, you are holding the reins and steering your own chariot. Are you in control of your personal thoughts or are they leading you through the moments in your life blinking fiercely in disbelief at what just happened?
In psychological terms, thoughts, feelings, and emotions though not separate from one another are three different things. Thoughts, however, rest at the base of each of them. And how we decipher what is truly at the root of our happiness or discomfort begins with awareness in our thinking. Hence, the saying, "as a man thinketh ..."
"What we think about when we are free to think about what we will - that is what we are or will soon become." ~ A.W. Tozer
The constant chatter in our minds can prove to be overwhelming. Scientists believe we have a minimum of 50,000 and upwards of 70,000 thoughts per day. Imagine that? Is it any wonder peace of mind can be so elusive.
If left unchecked our unhealthy thoughts become destructive patterns that move into our subconscious and affect our daily existence. Awareness of these patterns of thinking is key and can be life altering. Imagine being aware of why you are feeling sad, angry, confused or unworthy. And isn't this the first thing we ask our children when they do something unexpected that displeases us, "What were you thinking?" And their response in general is, "I don't know." Our moments of chaos, disorder, and indecisiveness can be traced back to our constant inner dialogue.
Quiet time for observing my thoughts is a priority. Sitting a few minutes each morning makes a world of difference in how I walk through my day. It provides a grounding and I don't feel I am balancing on a tight rope crossing the Grand Canyon. When my mind is clearer, I am freer.
Mindfulness meditation is a way to slow down and quietly "watch" my thoughts, observing them without interaction. One of my friends likens this to a clothes line moving slowly across her mind's eye. When she feels herself being drawn to a particular thought, she simply pins it to the line and watches it pass along into the gap of stillness. As I progress in my mindfulness practice, I become better able to choose what I think about. This changes my inner dialogue and each day I am more alert, more aware, more at peace and truly alive.
Note to self: Our peace of mind is not freely given, we must remain in active pursuit of it.
What are your recurring mantras?
Are your unobserved thoughts manifesting positively or negatively in your life?
How can you create opportunities for mindful observation of your inner self talk?
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