Me, Myself and I

For your consideration…

Today’s message is another one that I feel has germinated over time. Probably you know from this blog, I am a meditator. I strongly believe in its benefits and recommend it every day. Often, however, I hear people say “I can’t.” The reason is always the same. They have a problem with the “monkey mind.” Lots of thoughts keep popping into their brain. Today’s message talks about all of that.

In the first place what we need….no matter what we call it…is time alone with ourselves. We need to be with “me, myself and I.” How we do that is not as important as the fact that we do it. Perhaps we pray. Perhaps we meditate. Perhaps we kayak or run. Perhaps we practice mindfulness. Perhaps we do yoga. What feels right for us is perfect.

Practice makes any of these things easier. It becomes easier to quiet our mind the more we do. It is helpful, strongly recommended, that we set this alone time about the same time every day. In mindfulness, our instructor tells us that this consistency helps train the brain. This is true but in my practice it goes to an even deeper purpose. When we quietly sit with ourselves on a timely and consistent basis, our Guidance knows when it will have our undivided attention. It opens up our lines of communication and makes it easier for us to hear their messages to us.

Now, about that “monkey brain”…”popcorn thoughts.” That is normal. It happens to everyone. How we handle them is what makes the difference. First of all, no judgment. Do no chastise yourself for them. Simple notice them, thank them and let them go. You can to back to them later, if need be. Mindfulness and meditation both recommend have a focus to return to. We can find a focal point, we can focus on sound, we can focus on breath etc. All we need to do is decide before we go into our silence what it is then as those thoughts  pop in or we start to lose focus we can redirect ourselves to that predetermined focal point. It does not matter if this happens once or one hundred times.

Nor does it matter how long we are in silence with ourselves. Perhaps it is one minute every morning. Perhaps then we can get to five minutes and then fifteen, 30 minutes and then even an hour…or more. Again, practice is what gets us comfortable with our silence. It makes us comfortable and familiar with me, myself and I.

Today we are asked once again to be kind to ourselves and invest the time in ourselves. Carve our a time each day to be alone with ourselves.

That is the HOPE. And so it is.

Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE b HOPE action steps anyone can take…

-Affirm…“I am loved.”

-Meditate/pray…ask…”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”

-Drink lots of water.

-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.

-Carve out “me, myself and I” time.

What made me smile yesterday…

-A chill out day.

-The ride to the airport was easy. HOPEfully Jody had as easy a time on the rest of her trip.

-Little surprises.

-Catching up with Jackie and my sister, Lori.

-Talking with both my girls in one day.

Love, Blessings and Gratitude,

Rev. Chris