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Taking time for meditation

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A meditative journey

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Play as Jigsaw Puzzle

Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.

Wayne W Dyer

Closing doors and opening the mind

A few weeks ago I let my business license go and yesterday I canceled my business account at my bank. Both things I needed to do as they were no longer good for me but still there was a feeling of failure involved with closing a venture down and putting an \”Out of Business\” sign on the window, even if that window was merely a mental picture in my head.

Afterwards I felt elements of sadness, disappointment, anger at self, resentment, etc. etc. which of course are all perfectly natural. I decided to spend some healing time to listen to a 20 minute meditation that Cathy sent me a link via email a few days ago. The meditation is called RAIN by Tara Brach.

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RAIN stands for these four thoughts to explore.
R: Recognize
A: Allow
I: Investigate
N: Nurture

Truthfully I was not in the mood the first time I tried this meditation. I was feeling like I HAD to do things, move forward, get something done to make the day feel worthwhile but since Cathy had been kind enough to send me this I figured she could probably sense that I needed it and I should do it.

Others see what we are too involved to see with clearness and this was truly the case with this meditation gift. I tried a couple of times to settle down and listen to the recording but two or three minutes in and I threw in the towel. Twenty minutes seemed like a very, long, long time to just meditate. Maybe there was or is some resentment lingering from the years of monastic scheduled periods to pray, meditate and be \”still\” for hours of the day coloring my thought processes.

At any rate I wanted to give the meditation concept a chance and on my third attempt which was yesterday I managed to get through the whole twenty minutes. It was not bad and I felt a tiny bit of calm peeking through like light rays under a heavy leafed tree. It was enough of a glimpse that the meditation could be helpful that I tried it again later in the day.

The second time I knew more what to expect and my resistance was lower so that it became even more helpful. When I was at Guest House prior to leaving the monastery there were a few times that we were given some meditation exercises and those I found very helpful so I did have some positive vibes as well that this might be good for me.

I can\’t say that I am a convert to guided meditations at this point (though actually praying the rosary is about as guided a meditation as there is!) but I am going to continue for awhile and see how it goes.

It\’s such a process for me to relearn slowing down and letting go.

Inspirational Story of the day

Shrine of Safe Return – a story from 101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of the Rosary – an amazing story of God speaking to a priest in the confessional.

Gratitude Moments

If you would like please add \”your\” three gratitude moments in the comments. It\’s a great way to pick up your day and it\’s fun for the rest of us to read!

  1. Closed my business account at the bank so one less worry taken care of.
  2. A simple green salad made with our own lettuce and tomato last night was yummy!
  3. Saw Mr. Big Bunny on our walk.
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Daily daisies

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8 Responses

  1. Hi,

    Meditation can meet us where we are and helps us to process and try to grasp and understand what comes up while meditating. When praying I am always asking God for this and bargaining with him. I forget to pray to the Holy Spirit for clear thinking and guidance. The rosary is a beautiful form of meditation. I have found during this difficult time, both prayer and meditation have helped me.
    With the closure of the business account and the business license, you will soon feel a weight off your shoulders and will enjoy retirement. You were and are successful in everything you do Pat. You amaze me. Best to not expect too much out of each meditation, all meditation is good and all prayer is good. There is no such thing as a bad meditation.

    1. It is still a process – I keep reverting back over and over to how can I do something to create more income – which I guess I don’t really need – it feels like I do though.

      So far the weight has lessened a bit but I feel sort of useless not doing something worthwhile – and creating a business or doing some kind of work that I could see measurable results feels like I’m wasting my life.

      Well all change takes time – that I have learned.

  2. Me again, forgot my Gratitude’s : lol. Also the story from the Rosary book was excellent.

    Meeting a friend for lunch ( late lunch 2:30) when no one is at the restaurant
    Peaceful day today
    Pretty sky

    1. The gratitude’s are good – love yours. Good idea to have a late lunch – and certainly helps support the struggling restaurants! We have only ordered pick up once and should do more.

  3. Hi Patty,
    I was going to mention the rosary is a meditation that I always find very calming. Maybe very small doses of the meditation may work for you. Please try not to be too hard on yourself. Iā€™m up for a chat whenever ?
    My 3 grateful moments today:
    1. A visit with my dear friend
    2. Making meatballs
    3. My morning shower outside

  4. Dear Patty,
    Interesting, I had several rough days, and this evening came across a Franciscan Media email, that I decided to do a bit more reading when I saw Richard Rohr’s name involved with it. After reviewing several of the entries, I decided three daily readings might be an aid to me in helping me to make my life more God-centered. The biggest thing that I decided was that I really needed to make my life much simpler, particularly decluttering and getting rid of much “stuff”. I had to do so much of that back in January when I exchanged my very large 100+ year house–that I had put so much of myself in during the past 14 years while Keith and I lived there, and thought that I was only bringing the essentials with me. Well, I am here for five months now in my two bedroom flat, and I still can’t remember where half of my things are, so tells me I just have “too much stuff.” Then I read your Blog tonight, and saw that you were getting rid of your business part of your life–and felt that maybe God was using your Blog to tell me that it was ridding myself of so much “stuff” that He was waiting for me to see the need. Your Blog today helped me to see that making one’s life simpler is something not easy–but often necessary. I read your pain in giving up your business aspirations, just as I will have pain to get rid of many of my life-time of treasures. But I am 87, so if this will help to restore my peace and bring about my happiness–which is still very far away, as I cry myself through each day missing Keith, and his care of me–then I at least have to try to follow the Holy Spirit’s prompting. Please pray for me as I pray for you. LaVern P.S. Is it possible to contact with you by email?

    1. Oh wow – leaving your house would be a big loss – it’s something I guess we all do at some point but it is a big loss and I don’t think we comprehend it till in the midst. For me leaving the monastery was like that – and then even leaving my own little house that I had only lived a couple of years in Albany was also a bit sad- though what I gained was bigger, nicer and love it immensely there still even yet feels a bit of loss to it.

      You certainly can contact me by email – sent you a private message. šŸ™‚ You can always use the contact page on this site as it comes directly (and privately) to me by email as well.

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