It is truly remarkable to me how much time our brains have to fool around. As I become more deeply immersed in watching my thoughts, the more astounded I am. It seems with all its power, it could be doing a great bit more than admonish me for things I did not do, things I have done, or things I just might mess up tomorrow. Certainly, at times, it gives healthy advice. It might drum up an inspiring quote it read, a kind of friendly pat on the back. Sometimes, it even does better. Sometimes my mind might offer up a less specific and more open ended kind of thought, These quieter moments might better be regarded as self- compassion. Compassion from the mind to the self seems awfully hard to come by for the regular pedestrian with whom I speak. It seems like we all might have learned to be compassionate towards others but very stingy in offering it toward ourselves.
I think this has something that happens when we move away from home. The environments of our childhood seem more structured. Rules which were either clear or not, fair or not, were most likely enforced by a host of adults for you. Whether you were self motivated or not, there were most likely people pushed you to do things, from homework to chores, to practicing or to just being nice and stop hitting your brother. These were most likely constants, pleasant or unpleasant, they were the tenets that organized your household. And they helped too to focus our monkey minds.
When we leave though, it seems we have to take on the role of inner parent, and that’s when our minds, which had been used to solving algebra equations or memorizing spelling words, or trying to get the boy to like you, or practicing for the big game, now has nothing more to do than jump in and keep you in the organization you grew up with, because lets’ face it, creatures of habit we all tend to be. So now we are out there adjusting to this new, unbridled mind power that seems often meant to destroy us. The mind that is unfocused and untended swerves toward the negative. There is a great deal of research being done on why the unpleasant things we notice take more of our attention than the pleasant.
I know, for some of us, it is not so dramatic. The parent inside the mind can be both compassionate AND an a ball buster. But my real wondering is: is anyone truly living out there free from the constant mutterings of your mind?
Come share your thoughts with me this week as we practice. Our regular schedule plus bonus classes for the next week.
THURSDAY 8:30 am Temple Emanuel
7:00 pm U Studio, 5410 Wilshire Blvd.
SUNDAY 9:30 am Alliance Cross Fit, 9000 W. Washington Blvd. Culver City
MONDAY 8:15 am Temple Emanuel
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