Time-Out: April 19 - 25

Do you know anyone who talks nonstop, who only ever talks about themself, and takes themself way too seriously? Unfortunately, I do. It is the "me" inside my head. Recently, I was explaining the reason I meditate is to stay grounded in these unsettling times. A more accurate answer is that I meditate in order to deal with my tiresome inner dialogue, to question my old thought patterns, to be kinder to myself, to find a little peace and quiet in my noisy mind. Meditation is like giving my ego a time-out. The more I meditate, the more I realize taking a daily break from my small, petty, judgmental self is a healthy thing to do.

Practice

For me, mindfulness is a way to chart the mysterious landscape of my inner world. It is a place of discovery and growth. After many years of meditation, I recently came up with a new way to articulate my path through mindfulness. It is a journey inward, downward, and homeward.

Inward

Start with where you are right now in your life. Arrive in the body and listen to your life as it is happening all around you. Now shift your focus inward. Allow the breath to guide you. Take a break from the demands of the day and give yourself permission to simply be for the next little bit. The same way muddy water settles into clarity, give yourself time to settle. Along the way, take inventory of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

Downward

Something unexpected begins to happen in this stillness. The mind never turns off but the volume may turn down. Let words and thoughts and stories drift into the background. Become more present to the deeper places within, journeying downward from head to heart. Maybe place the hand on the heart, tapping into the inner chamber. There's no place to go. There's nothing to fix. Simply be present.

Homeward

Let go. Release the grip and trust you have arrived. There is a part of you that has always known this place of peace and stability. The busyness of life blinds us to this place of presence. We forget who we are. Allow yourself to be held. Abide in the heart of loving kindness. Eventually, return to the everyday routines and rhythms but remember the deepest part of you in already home.