I keep waiting for a sign from the universe to tell me what the next steps are; something that clearly tells me what the best choices would be for my life. Wouldn’t it be amazing if there was actually a road sign that said, “This is for you, go this way.” It doesn’t happen like that – it takes discernment to get to the answer. That means slowing down, getting centered, and really listening to your center. I pretty much suck at that.
So, how do we slow down our lives enough to really tell what is right?
Being mindful – getting in touch with our breath, being present in the moment, and learning to recognize the different parts of us and what they need is part of the process. We cannot discern if we do not know our true selves and take the time to quiet our minds enough to hear our true selves. So, right now, stop what you are doing and just breathe.
Focus on what you hear, see, smell, taste, and feel. Listen to the thoughts that bubble up, but don’t engage with them. Just acknowledge them.
Then write what you experienced.
Here is mine.
I hear Murphy snoring and the whir of my computer. The rhythmic ticking of the clock in the next room doesn’t quite line up with the snoring. I feel the comfort of the soft blanket I have put on my legs. It has become a part of my writing routine – it brings me back in to myself. I focus on the breathe and realize that I have been anxious since this morning. I know where the anxiety comes from. What does that anxious part of me need? Reassurance. She is feeling insecure and doubting herself. Timid. Terrified of making a mistake. I can tell that part of me that it is okay. I can show her compassion and understanding. It comes from hurts that are still raw. Broken trust and betrayal that still lives under the surface of moving forward. My fingers are flying over the keyboard without me looking. I love that I can type quickly without looking and appreciate that I took typing in 9th grade so that years later I could sit and reflect on flying fingers. So, what does the scared part of me need in order to feel confident about her decision? Let’s try to dig deeper and see. Approval. It always comes down to wanting other people to say that’s a good idea. How can I be the one who thinks it’s a good idea without the need for approval? What would I need in order to be that sure?
Do you want to start to use meditation as a tool for getting in touch with your center? Here is a great article from elephantjournal.com that will inspire you.
https://www.elephantjournal.com/2016/01/a-simple-meditation-technique-for-beginners/
