“Breathe innnnnn through your nose…..and out through your mooooouthhhhhhh…. Go withinnnnn…… Shoot! I forgot to sign that document and send it in with Camilla today. I hope her teacher won’t say anything to her. Don’t wanna be that mom. Holls! Focus!!! And breathing innnnnn….. I wonder what the girls are having for lunch today. They eat too much meat at school. Crap! And breathe outttttttt……..The blackness is all around you….. Oh gosh, what day is it? Does recycling need to go out? Holly – SHHHHH! And breathe innnnnn…feel all your muscles relaaaaaaaax…. Petit Papa Noellll, quand tu decendras du cielllll…. ARGH!!!!! ”
I’ve been trying off and on to learn to meditate since I was in high school. My mom learned a truly amazing healing meditation and taught me a few levels of the method she follows. Having had some moderate successes with it, I understand and am so very grateful to have been introduced to the art of quieting the mind. But the CHATTER!!! Up until only very recently, every time I would sit down to meditate, there would be a veritable zoo banging around up there in my brain, each animal clamoring for my attention. How to focus on nothing when you’re facing an onslaught of everything?! Sound familiar?
One of my dearest friends introduced me this summer to the incredible Dr. Joe Dispenza. In one of my favorites of his many impactful stories, he draws an analogy between riding his favorite stallion and gaining control over your thoughts. When it’s been a while since their last ride together, the stallion will buck, try to throw him off, or at least insist on going in a different direction. So Dr. Joe pulls the reigns in tight, makes the stallion stop and stand still a minute, and then directs him again to where he wants to go. They repeat this process as long as necessary until they rediscover their rhythm and the mutual joy of riding together. And so with focused practice, little by little, I have started to discover the immense joy of feeling nothingness – of being connected to everything and nothing at the same time. My wish for you with this piece is that you are able to find times to revel in quiet, and to connect with your higher self.