Me Thinks

These two books provided tools to help me calm my mind, and I liked them both.

Meditation is about leaving behind the idea that we are doing it perfectly. Simply relax into what is. We don’t need to do anything. We rest in the space between our thoughts and emotions, between our aches and pains and worries. There is
incredible wisdom to this open, present space (pgs. 55, 56).

In meditation, you are moving close and closer to yourself, and you begin to understand yourself so much more clearly.  With regular practice, you see what you do over and over and over again. You see that you replay the same tapes over and over and over in your mind.  Meditation helps us to clearly see ourselves and the habitual patterns that limit our life. You begin to see your opinions clearly.  You see your judgments.  You see your defense mechanisms.  Meditation deepens your understanding of yourself (pg. 8). 

Meditation teaches us how to let go. You train again and again in not making things such a big deal. Generally speaking, the human species does make things a very big deal.  Our problems are a big deal for us.  So we need to make space for an attitude of honoring things completely and at the same time not making them a big deal. We hold a sense of respect toward all things, along with the ability to let go (pg. 153).

 

Anxiety is often the consequence of perceived chaos.  If we sense we are victims of unseen, turbulent, random forces, we are troubled. Perceived control creates calm.  Lack of control gives birth to fear. Rather than seeking total control, relinquish it.  We can’t take control, because control is not ours to take. You can’t run the world, but you can entrust it to God (pgs. 22-24).

There are many things in life over which you have no choice.  But the greatest activity of life is well within your dominion.  You can choose what you think about. You can be the air traffic controller of your mental airport.  You occupy the control tower and can direct the mental traffic of your world. Thoughts circle above, coming and going. If one of them lands, it is because you gave it permission.  If it leaves, it is because you directed it to do so. You can select your thought pattern. Thoughts have consequences (pg. 121).