There has been a lot in the news lately about “big” and “frightening” things happening in the world. Forest fires, wars, unstable governments, health epidemics, natural disasters to name a few.
It’s causing some to feel distressed and worried about their safety and the future, whilst others feel the need to block this information out so it doesn’t affect them.
How we respond to these events is a great example of how we respond to our own inner life challenges.
I am going to guess the driver behind everyone’s life choice’s is peace (even the ones you consider questionable, like the pursuit of money and status).
So when “stuff” comes up in your life that’s uncomfortable, like the recent exposé on rainforest destruction, what do you do?
World peace starts with personal peace
In life, we can only control the controlables. Lot’s of things exist outside of our direct control, such as the weather, someone else’s behaviour, and the complex interactions that make up our human populations.
What we do have a much higher degree of control over, is where we put our attention.
As an individual, we can problem focus, or solution focus. One simply focuses on more thinking about the problem, and the other actively looks for solutions.
So the first question to ask yourself is which are you choosing?
If it’s problem focused, you’ll want to switch your attention to being solution focused. In my experience, this simple shift will result in an immediate improvement in how you feel, as already you are increasing the prospects of positive change.
I’ve also found that our awareness is so smart. If you put your attention on it and listen, it will tell you what to do to bring you and ultimately your world back to peace.
Perhaps you need to put your attention on building the skills, opportunities and resources you do have, rather than stress over what you do have, in order to move forwards? Or perhaps your awareness will suggest going in a different direction to what you’d been doing before, so you create a different outcome. Until you get a handle on what’s coming up for you with an open awareness, you’ll never know.
And here’s the interesting thing, so many people think being present and aware is about having no thoughts or internal chatter.
This simply isn’t true.
Being present is about experiencing thoughts and feelings with a gentle awareness. This awareness is bigger than any thoughts or feelings, so you’re experiencing your life in the context of consciousness awareness.
Life gets difficult for us when we drop the consciousness awareness and focus on our “stuff” like what’s making us worried. Bring consciousness awareness back in, and we’re re-empowered to respond from our whole-selves, rather than knee jerk panic, or reacting from the limited resources of ego.
Experiencing peace isn’t the absence of “stuff” happening, it’s the being present with “stuff” fully, without judgement or resistance.
When we bring our whole selves to the equation, including our awareness, we’re able to transcend issues rather than being drowned in thoughts and suffering about what’s happening.
Does that make sense?
To feel better and move forwards, re-engage a holistic awareness (or GAAWO if you’ve trained in Mind and Body Calm with me) and live life from there.
When you’re suffering, know that you’ve left present moment awareness and do whatever it takes to bring yourself back. That might be a meditation sitting, a call to a conscious friend or if you’ve not learnt it yet, time with someone that can teach you to be present.
Remember this…
Your experience of the world isn’t “out there” it’s in you. If you want your experience to change, change the way you experience your experiences!
As always, I am here to help. ❤️
Next learning opportunity, 8pm Tues 10th Sept Freestyle Yoga Project. Tickets £10. Sign up here: https://meditation4health.eventbrite.co.uk.
Becci Godfrey is a Mind Detox practitioner, Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master Teacher and Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator. From her base in Mark Cross, East Sussex she helps hundreds of people locally and all over the world overcome their life, emotional and health challenges to fulfil their potential through one to one and group sessions (also available through Skype).
To find out more, or find out what up and coming courses are available you can visit Becci’s professional profile here or follow Mind Detox Tunbridge Wells on Facebook.
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