Mindful Moment #31 - Finding Peace in Truth

Peace in Truth

To thine own self be true, they say. Well, Polonius said it in Act I, Scene III of Hamlet. Anyway…while it is reasonable advice, it is often easier said than done. In a society that sets social standards, gender standards, age standards, weight standards, and any number of other “norms,” existing outside of the standard can result in anything from ridicule to outright rage from those who have deemed themselves “keepers of normalcy.”

A lot of us have probably spent way too many years trying to figure out how to fit within the boundaries of various standards. A lot of us probably adapted to plenty of them just fine. Some of us got really good at faking it, understanding the social currency that comes with “fitting in,” even though we decidedly did not fit. Some of us may be “keepers of normalcy” in an attempt to protect ourselves or our loved ones without really realizing how problematic it may be. These standards are the stuff that underscores our lives and relationships, including how we self-identify.

We sometimes take on roles in life that require us to put other people first. Some of the expectations for those roles are decidedly the opposite of being true to yourself. How can we abide?

By investigating who we truly are, what we really want, and how we want to interact with the other souls in our life. On your soul’s journey, you need to figure out who you are and how you are going to live this life. It is of the utmost importance to discover what it means to be true to yourself. If you don’t understand what that means, how can you navigate toward living an authentic life?

It’s also true that a whole lot of us have been living for several decades already. I am sure that some of us have already been able to shed old “standards” that didn’t work or make sense for us. We may have gotten into and out of relationships that hinged upon our ability to fit parameters set by someone else. Inevitably, growth means we change who we are as we are molded by experience. How great is it to shrug off the mantle of false standards? Some things may be easier than others to change, and so that is where growth is needed.

Have you decided on a personal standard or agenda without really considering what other options there may be? Have you ever wanted to redefine what is more important to you than what society suggests should be important to you? Have you ever rejected someone or been rejected by someone due to standards that are based on what is popular with your community or faith? When you weigh out the pros and cons of a particular standard, what is the “deal breaker” for you? What is that based on?

These are just some questions I have asked myself at various stages of this journey. I am no one’s standard at this point. Just my own…which involves me accepting myself with flaws, but also setting goals for self-improvement when needed. And to mine own self being true.

For your mediation this week, if you can go outside, please do, or just imagine yourself in your favorite outdoor spot.

Get comfortable sitting or laying down. Take a deep breath. Hold it for 5 counts if you can. Exhale. Repeat 3 more times.

Consider yourself in this outdoor space. Instead of thinking about it as a place you visit, think about it as something you are part of.

The breeze on your skin is refreshing and reminds you to continue to breathe deeply, filling your lungs.

The ground beneath your body is solid and reminds you of your own validity and vitality.

The sounds you hear are life happening around you. You are as crucial to life right here, right now, as all of the sounds around you.

Continue to breathe, and imagine a soft pink light forming around you. This is a healing light. It can heal you of negative judgements you have received that were unkind, based on a standard you never consented to meet, or intended to be hurtful. Allow any of those hurts to surface, and let them evaporate into the light.

The light grows brighter as you release the pain. Continue to breathe. Now consider any negative judgements you hold about yourself. Allow yourself to release the negativity associated with those judgements. As they lift from your body, they evaporate in the light. The light grows brighter.

Lastly, consider any negative or unfair judgements you may be holding about someone in your life. Allow yourself to feel all of the emotions you have for this person. There may be very valid reasons for your negative judgements, or maybe you’ve applied a standard to them that they never consented to meet. If it is possible to release the negative energy, allow it to rise into the pink light, as well. If someone has hurt you, you do not owe them forgiveness, but if you can release the negative emotion from within yourself, you can make room for more positive energy to replace it.

Continue to breathe. Now imagine this bright pink light rising from your body like a cloud. As it lifts into the sky, a sense of peace settles over you. Before the cloud is gone, say aloud, “I am free of you. You are free of me. Thank you for the lesson. Thank you for the healing.”

The pink cloud drifts away and begins to rain. As the raindrops fall, it carries your negative energy back to the earth. The earth will compost those negativities into something more useful now that they have been released.

You feel lighter and brighter. Continue to breathe in this peacefulness as long as you wish.

As always, friends, thank you for your kind responses to these essays. I will answer one question from last week’s newsletter: Did I write the creed/poem from that issue? Yes, I did. I am glad so many of you liked it!

Namaste

-Amy

INSPIRATIONS THIS WEEK

We’re feeling inspired by these incredible and thought provoking pieces:

Researchers may have discovered a breakthrough vaccine for fentanyl—the drug at the center of the opioid crisis A group of researchers found a potential vaccine to block fentanyl from entering the brain.
Psychedelic drugs may reopen critical learning periods in the brain In adult mice, psychedelic drugs including LSD, ketamine and psilocybin have been shown to reopen the brain to a critical window for social learning usually only seen in adolescents
Dogs and humans both can get dementia. More walks can help. Regular walks can help protect dogs and humans from dementia, new research shows.

That’s all for today, y’all – remember, taking time to focus on you is an act of love.

We hope you found this helpful – don’t hesitate to reply with any feedback on how we can improve future Mindful Moments! We can’t wait to hear from you.