A Reminder About Our True Nature

Yesterday, Patti, my physical therapist/yoga teacher/healer-in-residence, reminded me of something I kept forgetting in the midst of my goal of taming the chaos in so many different areas of my life.

She reminded me of something I know from my 10-year mindfulness meditation practice and my even longer relationship with metaphysics: that my equanimity and peace of mind come from inside of me and not what is going on in the external world.

I was away from home at a conference a couple of weeks ago (it was right in the middle of phase one of the remodeling). I arrived at my hotel in the early afternoon and as soon as I got to my room, my whole body relaxed. I was surrounded by luxury and attention to my personal needs.

When I got back home and saw Patti at my next appointment, I told her just how happy I was at the hotel, how well I was treated (for example, I am a “gold” member so I was treated to coffee delivered to my room every morning, no charge), and how I lost it all when I got back to my house. She does that thing that Buddhists do when they want to say the equivalent of “Oh, grow up!” but know better…flashing what was barely a smile, corners of the mouth just slightly turned up. And she said, ”That feeling comes from inside of you. You can have that feeling no matter where you are.” And of course, I remembered that what she said was true.

Getting Back To Center

We did some mind/body work to anchor me in the experience and feeling of peace and ease that I had at the hotel. Some people like to use a stone or some other object as an anchor to remind them of a state of being … and by holding or touching that object they can recreate the sensation of calm, peace or joy. Whether you do it in your mind’s eye, as I do, or with a symbolic object, it is possible to shift your emotional and physiological state without having to go on vacation.

I forgot that I could stay centered and calm when there’s dust, dirt, rolled up carpets, empty rooms, and half-packed boxes. I’m glad I have a mindful healer in my life who looked at me kindly and reminded me that I had could be in charge of my mind and imagination whenever I wanted.

I can sit down, put my feet up, have a snack, chat with my spouse and feel pretty good even surrounded by the same dust, dirt, rolled up carpets, empty rooms, and half-packed boxes that knocked me off-center just a little while ago.

ACTION STEP

Remember, wherever you go, there you are. How do you return to your center when you find yourself in the midst of chaos? Do you have a special stone or object that you hold or look at? Do you go to a place in your imagination? Is there a place outdoors where you walk and re-center?

 

 

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