I offer you the following thoughts to deepen your mind body spirit connection…
After my meditation this morning, I was reading from “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times” by Pema Chodron.
I enjoy all her writing and this am, a particular passage struck me, she’s talking about ‘maitri’ or ‘developing loving-kindness and an unconditional friendship with ourselves.’ She goes on the say ‘ It’s not that we pat ourselves on the back and say “You’re the greatest,” or “Don’t worry, sweetheart, everything is going to be fine.” Rather, its a process by which self-deception becomes so skillfully and compassionately exposed that there’s no mask that can hide us anymore.’
A real life example of this is from my own life. One of my long held patterns is that when I am hurt, or life becomes too full of conflict or pain, I ‘run away’! I change jobs, end friendship or withdraw emotionally. In my daily life, even without something sad going on, I catch myself thinking about vacations and wondering what life would be like where the grass is greener.
Recently, since ‘making friends with this pattern’ and deepening maitri, I have been able to lighten up abit and just ‘hang in there longer’.
What I have found with this process is that it feels very scary for me to ‘hang in’, I actually feel like I might die of shame, hurt, pain etc. But if I stay, a deepening always happens! By staying I deepen my connection to myself and to those around me.
So, if you wish, try a different pattern the next time you feel strong emotion and see what happens!
in peace & mindfulness
namaste,
Zoey
Coaching to set your heart on fire and soothe your soul