Learning how to BE instead of always doing is a more difficult lesson for some people. How does one simply be? Especially in this day and age where it seems every second of our day is demanding to be filled with “productive activities”. Meditation is the most offered solution, but for many it is nearly impossible to start there. It doesn’t help that when presented with the solution of being present, one is not often given easy instructions. My first step in this journey was of course a question. I have been struggling to get back to the place where I was physically strong and able to work like the Energizer Bunny. I was always busy and was capable of doing almost any task. But, what if my idea of fully functional is wrong? What if…that way of living was creating false happiness? To be completely honest I was not living MY life while proving to everyone else I was strong enough and capable enough to handle anything thrown my way. What if now that I am learning how to live MY life that version of fully functional is not accurate or needed?
I still don’t have enough energy to be “productive” the entire day. But I still struggle to rest, let alone just sit and breathe. I have found that creating, and more specifically painting, keeps me in the moment more than anything else. Unfortunately, even learning and creating mode drain me of energy. So it is in my best interest to learn how to be, and to rest, especially if I want to get further on the healing path. My mind is always running like a mad man, and if I cared enough to do the research and get diagnosed properly, I would most likely be on the ADHD and Autism spectrums. So, staying with a visualization meditation technique is extremely challenging for me. When your brain works differently than mainstream teaching your left with two common choices: create your own or force yourself into a box that wasn’t designed for you. Neither choice is easy. The world will tell you “It’s easy, just do this”. Maybe this is how the phrase “fake it till you make it” came about. Well, if you’re anything like me you are sick and tired of faking it, of pretending to be something you’re not. Maybe, it is finally time for you to take a deeper dive inside also. After all, the consensus of all religions is that the answer we are looking for is within us.
So far, the wisdom, questions, and techniques in this book (or blog) have given suggestions on how you can learn more about yourself and improve your mindset but now your being asked to go even further. Learning how to be present in the moment. To slow down mind, body, and soul is a grand task to achieve. Please remember to allow this process to unfold. It is going to take time, lots of practice, and lots of what may seem to be failures.
Find something that keeps you in the moment and work towards slowly adding it to your routine – and I use the term routine in the widest sense possible. The most successful solutions are the simplest, but often times also the most difficult to implement.
What if meditation truly is the easiest way to heal?