“The mind has an experience, and we translate it into
an image. There is a deeper sense of something that’s happening, but the mind
can only experience it in terms of thoughts and images”.
Gabor Maté (When the body says No, 2004)
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| Melanie 2012 |
As a person living with
chronic illness I have noticed that it is tempting to let the mind follow the body’s
symptoms and make up stories about what is happening, or what may happen in the
future. It likes to be dramatic at times and I am reminded of the bumper
sticker that says, “You don’t have to believe everything you think”.
If we can just sit and
witness our minds frantic attempts to make sense of its perceptions, it’s easier
to touch into the deeper knowing that lies beneath the discomfort. It’s
tempting to get hooked by the drama of the story, but most of the time it is
only thoughts and images trying to get our attention to a deeper layer of
meaning.
If we are able to remember
that we are spiritual beings having a human experience it’s easier to come back
to center and get back in touch with our true nature. Perhaps we can hang out
with the panicking part and hold it in our mind with love, just as if we are
comforting a small child. Sometimes we need to call on someone else to assist
us because we feel too overwhelmed to cope.
When I am consumed by fear
and dread it’s a sure sign I think I am cut off from my source. I cannot hear,
see or feel clearly. The doorway to my inner guidance seems closed and I feel
alone and scared.
This is when I am grateful
to my regular meditation practice. It makes it much easier to come back to
center and not run around outside of myself looking for answers. When I do
this, my worst fears are more easily confirmed because I invite others to join
my fear experience in order to confirm it and make it appear even more real.
Instead, I can sit with my
own dear Self and be curious about what wants to happen. I use my felt sense to
dive a bit deeper down and ask Spirit to guide me, teach me, show me.
In this way infinite
possibilities are available to me and I am more likely to see the situation
differently. I don’t paper it over by having a ‘positive attitude’ but look
honestly and with trust that I will be shown what I need to know. I don’t have
to rush off and fix anything because it will reveal itself when I am ready. I
am deepening my awareness that I there is much more to me than just a body.
Perhaps it has been trying
to remind me about this all along….