Finding Calm in the Chaos of Life
We’ve been gifted this amazing thing called life. And it can be a lot—be all the things, do all the things, all the time. This is where our world seems to be these days. I have been in the process for some years now of trying to undo this mentality for myself. And that is even a huge task! Most days, I feel like I am completely alone and working upstream at this. Our society rewards the push, the force, the overdoing, the people-pleasing, the abandoning of oneself.
As a single mom to two wonderful kids, it’s hard for me to ask for help. I stretch myself to see what I can delegate and get off my plate. It’s not easy! I’m sure most women and mothers can relate. We hold a lot as women. A lot.
Getting in touch with my inner being, and staying in touch with her throughout each day, is something that helps me tremendously. The first thing I do every single morning is meditate. Well, that’s not always true; sometimes I make my coffee first. If you know me, then you know how much I adore my morning ritual of coffee. Even if I only have a few sips before my meditation, I love having it nearby, waiting for me. :)
In any case, each morning before the start of my busy, human-filled day, I sit quietly. First, I feel my bum on the surface below me, then tune into my breath. Just the normal breath. Noticing the pace. Watching it slow down and settle. Then I bring my attention to my heart. Again, just noticing that physical space where the heart miraculously beats from inside my miraculous human figure. I usually start noticing some physical sensations in my heart space—maybe tingling, maybe warmth. Next, the base of my spine and the top of my head start to warm and tingle. It’s one of my favorite sensations. And then…I wait. I open up and wait. I allow my mind to empty so that I can receive all the messages and downloads that are meant for me. I tune into my heart to see what wants to be heard and felt. I listen for what has been trying to show itself to me but that I’ve been too busy in my humanness to hear and see.
I’ve been doing this long enough that it is a habit now. I started out with just a few minutes each morning, even a guided meditation at first. And my practice has evolved and grown from there. It’s so comfortable to me now that I can access this state almost anytime and anywhere. It’s within me. And nobody or no thing can take that away from me. It’s within each one of us. That inner calm, that deep inner peace. It’s our inner being. It’s who we really are. It’s always there and accessible, but it is a relationship that needs nurturing and tending to, just like any other. The more we get in touch with our inner being, the less overwhelmed we will begin to feel, and the more we can enjoy our humanness! Which is why we are here, isn’t it?