One of the reasons we think we want to meditate is to be less stressed. But I’m noticing that like so many other things we do in our lives, we make it a must. Then it’s just another should.
When we notice the shoulda, woulda, coulda’s, it’s time to take a stillness pause. Look for ease in the muscles in your face, soften your eyes, smile gently, drop your shoulders, bend your knees, wiggle your toes, as you turn your attention to the fact that you are breathing. It’s happening all by itself without your help, thank you. That’s a moment of mindful meditation right then and there. That mindful moment is the life-changer.
I really look forward to my quiet time with myself. My growing wonder at how sitting still first thing after I wake up helps me connect with not only my body, mind, and feelings, but helps me let go of expectations. I am more willing to notice my attitude and level of calmness.
Of course, if the smoke alarm goes off at 3 a.m. as it did the other day, it won’t happen in exactly the ideal way. But I make it happen as soon as possible. Keeping an open mind lets the currents in our lives flow around unexpected obstacles with less resistance perhaps.
This is the time we are moving out of summer and preparing for harvesting and hibernation. This is a particular moment in time when we could benefit from harvesting much more inner quietude and having less anticipation. Maybe we can find our way to a sense of ease without expectations.
Letting go of our expectations, worries, and fears is the practice of stillness, believe it or not.
Words from Thich Nhat Hanh:
What To Do
Sometimes people say they don’t know what to do when they are sitting. “You only need to sit” . . . It means that you should sit without waiting for a miracle, and that includes the miracle of enlightenment. If you always sit in expectation, you’re not in the present moment. The present moment contains the whole of life.