What Is Mindfulness, Really?
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I used to think that mindfulness and meditation was all about finding inner peace. While partly true, the real practice can often times be really challenging, messy, and painful. The truth is, when you bring your full awareness to everything that is present, it allows room for all sides of ourselves to emerge - the light and the dark, the wild and crazy thoughts.
Then there’s the full range of emotions - anger, shame, uncertainty, fear, guilt, jealousy, in addition to joy, creativity, love, compassion. When we welcome all the thoughts and sensations to come visit us with open arms and non-judgment (as Rumi shares in his poem, The Guesthouse), we create a loving power within ourselves that’s expansive and free. In other words, we create the capacity to handle the ups and downs that life brings us with a greater sense of resilience, strength, and joy.
The Guest House by Rumi
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
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If you are interested in feeling more free and alive, in mind and body, reach out to learn more. I’m currently opening up spots for 1:1 coaching. If you’re looking for a quick fix, it’s not for you. If you’re willing to dig deeper and go through the process of addressing your health and life challenges from the root level, then it might be a great opportunity to do so.