How many times have you been going about your day, feeling fine, and then bam, something happens that throws you off your game?
This kind of hijacking happens to all of us, and can really turn a good moment, day, week, into something we had not anticipated.
As a mindfulness coach, and a consistent student of a meditation practice, I oftentimes also fail to see these hijacks coming.
Last week, as I sat down to meditate, I had just pressed the start button on my timer and like clockwork, a chainsaw started up outside my window! At first, I thought, how rude that my neighbors would be having tree work done when I was trying to meditate! I quickly moved off the ridiculousness of that idea and reminded myself to try to be present with “what is”. I tried really hard for the first ten minutes or so to act as if the noise of the chainsaw didn’t bother me. That wasn’t really working. In fact, the resistance, (ah, one of my favorite lines – what you resist, persists), what definitely bringing the noise more into my awareness and my low level of agitation was not going away.
The lesson was not lost on me, and I was determined to work through this experience in a way that did not leave me frustrated or feeling as if my meditation was ruined. After all, it’s supposed to be a quiet time for calm and reflection, right?
Well, this is a truism of life in general – we all have expectations that things are supposed to be a certain way, and when something alters the reality we think is supposed to be, we can get thrown down an unproductive rabbit hole.
All day long we are presented with variances in experience. It is important to remember that it is NOT always the external experience that can turn us down a different path. Very often, our own limiting beliefs are the saboteur of our ability to remain positive and focused.
The first step is always awareness. The ability to step back and observe our own experience, and the thoughts and feelings that arise as a result. For me, and many of my clients, this is one of the most significant gifts of bringing mindfulness practices into our lives.
For today, try to observe and be aware of your experiences and thoughts. It is a simple place to start. If you want to become less reactionary and have the ability to create more productive & positive meaning to your life’s experience, simply start by being aware.
I did not get the quiet time I was hoping for with that meditation, but what I did get was the more important reminder of what it means to be with an experience without having it alter (for longer than needed), my ability to be happy and continue on with my day!
