Search within. Listen to yourself.
When we ask ourselves these questions, “how do I feel?” or, “what do I do [now]?”, do we listen and wait for the reply?
Embedded in every human is a survival frame of mind passed along generationally. However, some of our techniques are misguided or overused, misused or even forgotten. Take a moment and think about how we interact with one another—how on a global or macro scale we communicate and respond to one another, and how these modes influence interactions on an individual micro level. In the simplest of simple forms, we compete. Even deeper still, there is something fundamentally wrong with our external interactions. We are killing off our race, to save our race. Take a moment and ponder this. Really? Yes. This is ludicrous! Pause. Search your gut. What does it say?
Search within. Listen to yourself.
Listen to yourself. I have seen so many people, including myself, consumed with nonsense and nonsensical thoughts—all in a purpose to survive. In a world of disharmony, how are we adding into this dysfunction? The world is in disharmony, and has been for some time. Far before I was born, and far before humans penned our thoughts. Pause and ask yourself, why are there numerous books on the shelves in bookstores (those that are left) with messages about meditation, mindfulness, self-help, and so on? The true message sent by the sheer volume of this subject is, the world is chaotic—internal chaos, externally expressed. Otherwise, why would there be such a need? We are searching for an inner need or an experience of balance through external means. Conflictual? Perhaps.
We are searching, and hoping that our training or learned behaviors to seek help externally is the solution to the perceived problem when we ask, “what is wrong with me?”. We seek to experience comfort and understanding. We seek the truth. When we ask ourselves these questions, “how do I feel?” or, “what do I do [now]?”, do we listen and wait for the reply?
Search within. Listen to yourself.
There is an exercise that may be helpful to begin reconnecting to the inner self. This can start today! Over the next 30 days, begin each morning with an entry into a journal. This entry will begin by setting a small goal for yourself such as,
“I will appreciate the moment after an unexpected event” or,
“identify positives attributes about yourself” or,
“try not to control the situation” or,
“listen”.
Then, as the day turns into night, or perhaps before you close your eyes to rest, pull out the entry you made in the morning and reflect. Ask yourself questions such as,
“what was it like just after the unexpected event?” or,
“what attributes did I demonstrate today?” or,
“was I controlling?/ when did I let go?” or,
“what was it like to listen, fully, rather than seeking to be heard?”.
Then, reflect and expand on your thoughts about your developing insight into yourself and into your experiences with the world. Below is an actual excerpt from one of my practices that I randomly opened up to as I was preparing to write today (see photo above as well):
Goal: “Try & do the next right thing”
Reflections:
I noted that I began the day with projections (centered in anxiety and fear); a felt need to be "respected".
“Listening to someone’s woes without feeling the necessity to counter theirs with mine.”
My grandmother, Rita, passed away that day, 2/28/2017. As I reflect now, it is amazing how timely the goal was, and how it helped set a tone for the day. I wasn’t the only one hurting. When we truly practice getting out of ourselves (thoughts and expectations) and attune to other’s needs we become connected—to the other, and to our-true-self (which we rarely allow ourselves to see).
This practice can help in reducing anxiety, stress, worry, and frustrations to name a few, while helping us to reconnect to each other by removing the veil. It is like searching for a button in a pitch-black room. By turning on the light (self-reflecting or introspection), we begin to see the room (our environment) clearly, thus allowing ourselves the freedom to freely move around. Now that sounds like harmony and balance! Please try it, not for me, but for you.