Hello, I am back for a monologue to talk to myself or about myself? :)
The past few months have been rather interesting, learning at a deeper level about a different way to relate to life experiences.
The biggest lesson for me is the realisation that in the past I used to spend lots of time meditating in silence and in solace, yet, an equally important (if not more important practice in life) is to carry the meditating mind with ourselves in daily life.
I often share with us that the greatest meditation is when we embrace every moment of life, and start meditating with life. In this sense, the chaos of life, or the uncertainty of life is no longer so overwhelming. Instead, the navigation is undertaken with the guidance of a balanced mind and heart.
Yet, like all things in life, it is easier said than done.
Looking back especially in the past few months with the demand of work, relationships, family (all the elements that make our life so colourful and mesmerising), I came to see that maybe for the first time I was able to truly meditate with life, not to avoid but to be in the moment of life even though they can be quite challenging and uncomfortable.
This is how we truly change - not just according to ancient wisdom traditions, but also in line with contemporary psychology and brain science.
When we are committed to understanding the triggers as a gateway of greater self-understanding, we can have the courage to change our perceptions of the external events, situations and people.
Why courage is needed?
Because as explained in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), our emotions and behaviours are mostly affected by their perceptions of events, not the events themselves. It is not a situation in and of itself that determines what people feel but rather the way in which they interpret situations rather than by the situations per se.
For that reason, to challenge our perception takes time and courage. Both on the mat and off mat, both during meditation and outside mediation, both eyes closed and eyes wide open.
To meditate or not to meditate is not so much the question. It is about being aware, being present with all things - the seeming negative, the positive, the good and the bad. That is the true beauty of life.
"Despite knowing the journey and where it leads, I embrace it. And I welcome every moment of it."- from the movie Arrival
To learn about Arrival
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2543164/
To learn about CBT
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1755738012471029