Every second has an infinite amount of possibilities into the future. We may not feel in control of a lot of our circumstances, but we do have complete control in how we decide to react and treat those moments that both test us and bless us.
I used to think that in order to meditate, I had to be a yoga guru and super flexible, at least physically. Clearly, that's not the case, as I am neither of those. However, I have found myself becoming more and more emotionally flexible, especially during this vulnerable transition in my life: adulthood.
Everyone needs a little push sometimes; one that motivates us to get off our butts and accomplish something, even if it's simply getting out of bed. All of us embody different opinions and perceptions in this life, but there is one common goal for all: happiness.
Today, to 'be happy' is to label an experience positively with satisfaction in terms of personal gain. When one finds happiness, it's usually because they've reached a goal of some sort.
My question is, why have we been so conditioned to think that we aren't fully content or "complete" unless we're accomplishing something bigger than ourselves? Is that even possible? Meditation says nope.
It's no doubt that we all lead extremely fast paced lives. We barely sleep. We worry about things months in advance. We drown ourselves in never ending tasks. As soon as we have a second to breathe, we're overcome by anxiety. We have been conditioned to sleepwalk our way through life.
At times, I find myself resorting to anger towards the people around me simply because I am subconsciously living up to someone else's expectations at all times. In actuality, I'm angry with myself; only, I didn't realize that until I changed my perspective.
Meditation has not only taught me to be the "observer" of my own mind, but also that I am not alone with my thoughts. Although there are pages upon pages of quotes that have inspired me to press the refresh button on my train of thought, I've narrowed down five of my personal favorites to help inspire you to try the same.
1.) "Meditation is for you to realize that the deepest nature of your existence is beyond thoughts and emotions, and that it is incredibly vast and interconnected with all things." -Tenzin Palmo
We are not our thoughts, no matter how much we try convincing ourselves otherwise. Our thoughts are our ego's temporary responses to our outer surroundings, which we've been trained to think define us just because we can vocalize everything. In reality, we are all human, connected by a higher energy around us.
You don't have to be sitting in a room by yourself to meditate, you can be anywhere. It's a state of mind. What it does is teach us to allow ourselves to think and feel, however not get attached to any of it.
Observe the space between your provoked thoughts, then observe yourself observing. Let the thoughts race through, but don't let them drown you. Inhale, exhale, and let them go. There is no need to rely on our emotions, they're very powerful and could get irrational if felt too deeply.
2.) "If you are really aware, every soul is a mirror and a teacher." -Unknown
Everybody we meet has a life that is as intricate and complex as our own. Even though none of us go through the exact same experiences, we all feel the same things, just at different times. We can only meet and understand someone as deeply as we've met and understood our own emotions and ourselves.
To have the ability to empathize is similar to meditating. It helps us internalize that our thought process is somewhat a victim of its own, and that we're all expressions of each other. If we point out what someone is doing wrong, it's probably because we have done wrong in our past, and in turn find it necessary to point out flaw in others, as someone else has reprimanded you. Everyone we meet can teach us something, whether its through their absence or presence.
3.) "Our own worst enemy cannot harm us as much as our unwise thoughts. No one can help us as much as our own compassionate thoughts." -Buddha
We are our own worst enemy. Our thoughts are the only things that truly hurt us. Not other people, but what we think other people do. Even if someone is trying to deliberately hurt your feelings, you can take offense to it, or you can reflect upon it and realize it's their unconscious mind that's speaking. They don't know better.
A lot of the time, we confide in others to keep our dopamine levels rising, however, when our expectations are not met, we're devastated. The sooner we realize that only we can save ourselves, the better.
4.) "If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul." -Rabbi Harold Kushner
The electric charge of an atom is when positive and negative charges attract each other. If that's the law of physics, then there are literally and figuratively positive and negative charges in everything that exists.
It's not our experiences that should define who we are, but how we maintain a humble nature when pieces of ourselves are tearing apart. If we train ourselves to find good in everything, no matter how bad it can get, we will not only be more at peace with ourselves, but with any situation life throws at us.
5.) "Realize deeply that the present moment is all you'll ever have." -Eckhart Tolle
Not many of us can comprehend the fact that life is literally all memory, except the present moment that passes by us so abruptly that we end up with our hearts in the future. All we have is right now. This is a time we will never get back, yet we take it for granted because we expect our seconds to always move forward. Our time will eventually run out, so live not in fear of that, but true awareness of it.
Not like anyone really knows how we all came to be, but science has proven that at one point we were all stars. So evidently, we are the universes reincarnated matter. Quite mind-blowing, actually. We're so big; yet shrink ourselves when we think of ourselves as separate individuals instead of humanity as a whole.
Set aside at least 10 minutes a day to sit down and allow yourself to just be, with no technological or social distractions. Meditation can help remind you that everything in this life is impermanent, and that we are only a moment. We are interconnected with everything around us, but it takes a quiet, accepting mind to be able to see that.
