When we practice with Mindful Parenting techniques, are we looking for something to cure us of our humanity? Are we looking for something that will help us get really good at control while disguising it as spiritual evolution at the same time?
Life is a mess, so am I, so are you, and so is your neighbor. Personally, I think movement towards real insight, clarity, and peace of mind occurs with more grace and potency when we allow ourselves to have a sense of humor about this big ol' mess we're in.
Try this ...
See if you can catch yourself this week in a moment of emotional messiness - stressed out, anxious, frustrated, lost, worrying - and follow these three steps:
1. Physically stop what you're doing if you can - even if it's only for a few seconds.
2. Become fully aware of and attentive towards the sensation of the breath as it comes and goes in the belly for those few seconds. It may sound silly, but if you find your mind is in a really agitated state it can even be very grounding to sub-verbally count each in-breath and out-breath. Try counting the in-breath/out-breath cycle (1) up to ten. When the mind pulls you away to something else, simply return to the breath with a slow and easy sense of gentleness and tenderness.
The unconscious mind has a mind of its own and is really good at highlighting the difficulties in each moment. Connecting with the breath can help us anchor to the simplicity of the present moment. Even if the present moment IS a mess, it's easier to work it with one moment at a time - breath by breath.
Too often, what is really happening in the here and now is complicated and burdened by stories from our past and anxieties about the future.
3. Say to yourself something like "I LOVE this crazy mess!" with a big smile on your face. It may sound trite, but actively engaging the craziness of the moment with a sense of humor is far better than being a victim of perfectionism.
Life is a mess, so am I, so are you, and so is your neighbor. Personally, I think movement towards real insight, clarity, and peace of mind occurs with more grace and potency when we allow ourselves to have a sense of humor about this big ol' mess we're in.
Try this ...
See if you can catch yourself this week in a moment of emotional messiness - stressed out, anxious, frustrated, lost, worrying - and follow these three steps:
1. Physically stop what you're doing if you can - even if it's only for a few seconds.
2. Become fully aware of and attentive towards the sensation of the breath as it comes and goes in the belly for those few seconds. It may sound silly, but if you find your mind is in a really agitated state it can even be very grounding to sub-verbally count each in-breath and out-breath. Try counting the in-breath/out-breath cycle (1) up to ten. When the mind pulls you away to something else, simply return to the breath with a slow and easy sense of gentleness and tenderness.
The unconscious mind has a mind of its own and is really good at highlighting the difficulties in each moment. Connecting with the breath can help us anchor to the simplicity of the present moment. Even if the present moment IS a mess, it's easier to work it with one moment at a time - breath by breath.
Too often, what is really happening in the here and now is complicated and burdened by stories from our past and anxieties about the future.
3. Say to yourself something like "I LOVE this crazy mess!" with a big smile on your face. It may sound trite, but actively engaging the craziness of the moment with a sense of humor is far better than being a victim of perfectionism.