“Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of these things and still be calm in your heart.”
It’s been a rough week- so incredibly out of control that I thought to myself, I’m running out of options to control everything that’s happening.
Turns out, that was the exact opposite of what I should’ve been thinking or doing; trying to control the present and predict the future, all while being affected by the past. Exasperated yet? Yeah me too. No wonder I was out of sorts and not quite myself.
I finally paused and meditated, locking myself in the bathroom just to get some peace from the kids and husband and dogs and that external life going on…out there. Sitting on a toilet seat lid is not how most people envision meditation, but let’s get real here.
I take that first intoxicating, deep breath in. I center. I focus. I let go.
“Letting go” is a bargain I make with myself. If I’m not handling something well, I note the thoughts (and actions) that make me feel worse or stress more. I promise myself that I eliminate or let go of those thoughts first in meditation.
Can’t go there.
Won’t go there.
Period!
I won’t entertain them at all, because I know they’re what’s causing me stress (or any other negative emotion).
In exchange for letting go of the garbage surrounding any issue, I always feel better!
Peace.
I let go because the alternative is grasping for control.
This is my meditation time, not my stress time!
The mental garbage begins to clear and I have one thought. I can’t control it all so I must make peace with it…or I’ll drive myself insane!
Make peace with it…Because what choice did I have? It’s an old issue that keeps resurfacing. It was time to let go in so many ways.
Thinking of all possible solutions to a situation is a great practice too. However, some situations are so stressful, we’re fooling ourselves if we believe we’re productively brainstorming. We’re just stewing and ruminating when letting go is a better alternative. In this case, I let go to gain clarity. Often, it is then that solutions arise.
A lot of unhappiness and deep unsettling feelings come from gripping onto control. Control’s archenemy is peace. Oh sweet peace! That’s what was missing. I looked for it within (even if just a tiny speck), and you know what? I found it! In a bathroom!
It was exactly what I needed!
I’m willing to bet it’s exactly what many others need right this very moment.
A way in which inner peace can shine through troubling thoughts, over-thinking, hurt, uncertainty, and anger. There is another choice!
Make peace with it…
Please enjoy this meditation. Listen to it, channel it remotely when not listening to it, mull it around a bit, savor it, and grow your speck of peace with practice. If I can do it on a toilet, you can do it anywhere!
Let me start by saying, you won’t find me dressed in monk-garb meditating on a mountaintop in Tibet, but you will find me practicing mindfulness and meditation effectively and successfully in my life!