Being Mindful (Part One)

Learning to be mindful is a life long process.  The mind is strong and very developed.  It has spent years learning to think the way it does and it believes "it's" in control.  We are taught that the mind is everything, the smarter you are the more life has to offer.  I'd like to present another possibility.  Their is another part of you, a higher part that wants to express itself and share with you and the world.  I'm going to break these teaching into parts.  This is part one.

As I find myself in a familiar position.  Being mindful of my thoughts and actions has been something I have been working on for quite some time.  I began my meditation practice 18 years ago.  Faithfully I practice, sometimes more than once a day.  I make progress, sometimes slower than others, but I forge ahead.  As I learn to be in the moment, to be with "what is."  I see the struggles that every man/woman faces at some point in their evolution.    

I have this voice in my head.  It tells me stories about myself and others that prevents me from fully expressing/being who I am.  It takes me away from the moment and pulls me in any number of directions.  I think about the past, the future, sometimes what's right in front of me, but it distracts me from being fully present.  I struggle with the stories that run through my head.  It keeps me small, makes me believe that I am not good enough, that I don't measure up.  

So how does one free themselves from this prison?  I call it that because it always makes sure I'm right, that I win, that I look good and anyone that challenges me is invalidated, made wrong.  It gives me the same stories, different themes, over and over again.  This is a human behavior we are all programed with. I see it in others on a daily basis and am very aware of it in myself.  Finding a meditation practice to follow was key for me.  Their are many meditations practices out there and sticking with the same practice is how I have developed myself. 

So what do I do when the stories in my head are having a stronghold on me?  I simple say to myself "that's a story, it's not real." And the more I say it to myself the quieter the voice in my head becomes.  It is a peaceful place inside of me when the voice is not running me.   When I am present I feel full of love and joy, I am free.  It is something that each and every one of us is capable of.  But you really have to want it to make it happen. 

When I'm being with "what is" in my life the stories in my head are in the background and I am completely present with the moment.  When I'm in this space, I can see what's possible not only for me but for those who I am around.  Life is filled with possibilities  and I can clearly see that their is enough for everyone.   So I keep on doing what I know to do, applying the teachings that have guided me along the way.  I stumble, for a brief period of time,  and the stories start up again. They take hold but I seem to snap out of it. I realize that I am caught up in a story and I am back to my center again.  

Have you ever recognized that the voice in your head never stops? It goes on.... and... on.... and on.   Sure it's good for certain things, like driving, calculating, evaluating, organizing etc. But otherwise, it can be very damaging when it wants to.  It can make up things that aren't even real, and we make them real by believing them.  We give power to them.  They take form and create a life of their own. Your thoughts create your reality.  Learning to harness the mind can take you from where you are to where you want to be.

I have a little chant that I practice that I would like to share with you.  I say to myself "I see (and I look for what I see), I feel (and I check in with my body as to what I feel),  I hear (and I listen to the sounds)."  I do this over and over again.  It helps me to use other senses to relate to the moment.  It gives me something to focus on to keep my mind chatter at bay.  It allows me to be, and in those moments I am experiencing absolute bliss.  

More to come....