Learning to be independent of the good and/or bad perceptions others may have of us is both an art and a gift of mindfulness-based practices. It is an art because it requires us to get out of our way, to free ourselves from societal conditioning, and experience the truth of a situation beyond our thoughts, beyond our thoughts about thoughts, and/or our thoughts about others and their opinions about us-positive or negative.
While there are several contemplative practices that foster the art of knowing, I find the following most helpful 1) In seated meditation practices, the object of awareness can be the breath, sound, thoughts, and/or sensations in the body. 2) Body scan meditations produce a relaxed state through awareness of a particular body part (toes, feet, ankle, lower back, neck, face, etc.) until the entire body has been an area of focus, which may also provide knowledge of where emotion has been stored in the body, and 3) Guided meditation, which includes words or images to center and/or promote feelings of love, kindness, forgiveness, etc..
At the end of the day, we may still feel pride in an external signifier of our success. Or, we may wrestle with an injustice, distortion, or abuse of power. But, as we turn within, we are free from both of these. Any good we do or success we have is only one external measure that does not define us (we are not our things, our titles, our houses, our bodies, etc). And, ultimately, any distortion or untruth spoken about us can be received with greater compassion, "knowing" the person(s) involved in it have hurt themselves more than anyone else through their lack of integrity. In this "knowing" the vexation of injustice diminishes and compassion is fostered more vigorously.
As we embrace mindfulness-based practices, turning within for "Truth" is a natural state of being. In "being," we still may seek feedback from others, but, we are more discerning of whom we turn to and/or receive feedback worthy of merit. It is clear that turning to a friend, supervisor, family member, whom we admire for their own integrity, courage, wisdom, moral clarity, and vision will be a natural fit for growth. Here, there will be movement that brings forth the very best in us.
While there are several contemplative practices that foster the art of knowing, I find the following most helpful 1) In seated meditation practices, the object of awareness can be the breath, sound, thoughts, and/or sensations in the body. 2) Body scan meditations produce a relaxed state through awareness of a particular body part (toes, feet, ankle, lower back, neck, face, etc.) until the entire body has been an area of focus, which may also provide knowledge of where emotion has been stored in the body, and 3) Guided meditation, which includes words or images to center and/or promote feelings of love, kindness, forgiveness, etc..
At the end of the day, we may still feel pride in an external signifier of our success. Or, we may wrestle with an injustice, distortion, or abuse of power. But, as we turn within, we are free from both of these. Any good we do or success we have is only one external measure that does not define us (we are not our things, our titles, our houses, our bodies, etc). And, ultimately, any distortion or untruth spoken about us can be received with greater compassion, "knowing" the person(s) involved in it have hurt themselves more than anyone else through their lack of integrity. In this "knowing" the vexation of injustice diminishes and compassion is fostered more vigorously.
As we embrace mindfulness-based practices, turning within for "Truth" is a natural state of being. In "being," we still may seek feedback from others, but, we are more discerning of whom we turn to and/or receive feedback worthy of merit. It is clear that turning to a friend, supervisor, family member, whom we admire for their own integrity, courage, wisdom, moral clarity, and vision will be a natural fit for growth. Here, there will be movement that brings forth the very best in us.
RSS Feed
