Sometimes it is so easy to think the world is conspiring against me. Traffic, bills, the slow cashier at the grocery store or the inaudible customer service representative from Comcast; each one seems to swift in the blow of the uncontrollable circumstances in my life that often times seem to work against me. But are they really working against me? Or are they road signs to awaken me to a better understanding of a daily Spiritual journey.
Don’t get me wrong, I have my bad days and many of my friends can testify that I suffer from depression and anxiety at times. But one thing I have come to understand through it all. It is important for me to understand that my PERCEPTION of the circumstances around me is where the true conspiracy lies.
Many religions and spiritual teachings discuss the need for prayer and meditation; taking time out from hectic days to breathe and relax, center ourselves to find our inner peace. All this is a good thing. But I am dedicated to taking it one step further. I intend to focus on my inner-connectedness consistently throughout my days?
For example. Imagine I hop in the car for a trip to the grocery store. On my way there I try to tune into some good music on the radio but every station seems to have some loud obnoxious car dealership commercial or a DJ that likes to hear themselves speak more than play music. This could be irritating…
“God-demit! These stations suck!” Might be a reaction I could have…..
Or this could be an opportunity to drive in silence, roll down my windows and listen to the melodic sounds of the vibrant city around me. The birds chirping through the rustling leaves of the trees I just drove passed. The forceful breeze of the large truck that just sped by, the clicking of the cars turn signal as I round the corner to witness a whole new environment of sites and sounds on the road. The screeching wheels of the driver that slammed his brakes, the honking horn from the driver that he nearly slammed into and never neglect the rhythmic tones of the homeless wanderer talking aloud to himself in great detail with no concern of anyone listening in on his vocal expedition; all sounds waiting to be heard but rarely honored and simply noticed for what they are; the melodies of life.
So now I am in the groove of listening to the world around me and suddenly I notice that I have caught every single red light in my path. This could have been very irritating but the sounds of the world around me kept my mind so occupied that I really had no need to feel the irritation.
Besides, all the red lights gave me an opportunity to explore my physical body’s relationship to the vehicle I drive. I began to focus on the texture and temperature of the steering wheel. I mindfully sensed the pressure used to engage the brake pedal to come to a full stop. And then the alternating release of pressure it took and the motion of my foot, calf and leg to transition from the brake to the accelerator. Before long I began to enjoy the process of stopping at red lights. It gave me the time to embrace a new perspective on how my body works in conjunction with this incredible machine that gets me from place to place.
Finally, I arrive at the grocery store and am greeted with the cool air of the produce section and I continue to explore the sounds around, sensations and textures and colors as my body is moving throughout the store; the weight of the cart that I push and the shift in power you must exert as I fill the cart with different items.
Once I arrive at the cashier I find myself so enmeshed in this personal of observation and exploration that I have no other reaction to this new individual entering my world but to give her a big smile. I notice the subtle differences her in hair colors and the darkness of her bold eyes. I smile at her name badge and call her by name. “Thank you so much, Barb” And she smiles back at me and wishes me a good day. As I walk away, still smiling I wonder if she too has experienced all the eccentricies and wonderful details of life that I perceive.
I guess that does not matter what she perceived. I just enjoyed sharing a smile with her.
A wise friend once told me to try and see things “differently”. Today I chose to explore the world like it is brand spanking new!
Don’t get me wrong, I have my bad days and many of my friends can testify that I suffer from depression and anxiety at times. But one thing I have come to understand through it all. It is important for me to understand that my PERCEPTION of the circumstances around me is where the true conspiracy lies.
Many religions and spiritual teachings discuss the need for prayer and meditation; taking time out from hectic days to breathe and relax, center ourselves to find our inner peace. All this is a good thing. But I am dedicated to taking it one step further. I intend to focus on my inner-connectedness consistently throughout my days?
For example. Imagine I hop in the car for a trip to the grocery store. On my way there I try to tune into some good music on the radio but every station seems to have some loud obnoxious car dealership commercial or a DJ that likes to hear themselves speak more than play music. This could be irritating…
“God-demit! These stations suck!” Might be a reaction I could have…..
Or this could be an opportunity to drive in silence, roll down my windows and listen to the melodic sounds of the vibrant city around me. The birds chirping through the rustling leaves of the trees I just drove passed. The forceful breeze of the large truck that just sped by, the clicking of the cars turn signal as I round the corner to witness a whole new environment of sites and sounds on the road. The screeching wheels of the driver that slammed his brakes, the honking horn from the driver that he nearly slammed into and never neglect the rhythmic tones of the homeless wanderer talking aloud to himself in great detail with no concern of anyone listening in on his vocal expedition; all sounds waiting to be heard but rarely honored and simply noticed for what they are; the melodies of life.
So now I am in the groove of listening to the world around me and suddenly I notice that I have caught every single red light in my path. This could have been very irritating but the sounds of the world around me kept my mind so occupied that I really had no need to feel the irritation.
Besides, all the red lights gave me an opportunity to explore my physical body’s relationship to the vehicle I drive. I began to focus on the texture and temperature of the steering wheel. I mindfully sensed the pressure used to engage the brake pedal to come to a full stop. And then the alternating release of pressure it took and the motion of my foot, calf and leg to transition from the brake to the accelerator. Before long I began to enjoy the process of stopping at red lights. It gave me the time to embrace a new perspective on how my body works in conjunction with this incredible machine that gets me from place to place.
Finally, I arrive at the grocery store and am greeted with the cool air of the produce section and I continue to explore the sounds around, sensations and textures and colors as my body is moving throughout the store; the weight of the cart that I push and the shift in power you must exert as I fill the cart with different items.
Once I arrive at the cashier I find myself so enmeshed in this personal of observation and exploration that I have no other reaction to this new individual entering my world but to give her a big smile. I notice the subtle differences her in hair colors and the darkness of her bold eyes. I smile at her name badge and call her by name. “Thank you so much, Barb” And she smiles back at me and wishes me a good day. As I walk away, still smiling I wonder if she too has experienced all the eccentricies and wonderful details of life that I perceive.
I guess that does not matter what she perceived. I just enjoyed sharing a smile with her.
A wise friend once told me to try and see things “differently”. Today I chose to explore the world like it is brand spanking new!
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