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mysticalmindblog · 4 years

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Whether under enforced quarantine, or on lockdown, or self-quarantined; this may well be the only time you have where you are forced to just STOP!!... From a busy and hectic schedule, where for once you are not running and competing in a rat-race solely focused on materialistic gains and pleasures. Maybe now you are fearful of getting sick, or fearful of death, in ways you have never perceived before...

How about taking this time to contemplate the bigger picture, the bigger questions: Who am I..? 'Why am I here..? Is there more to life than this..? In truth, you may never get such an opportunity again, to reflect inwards, to take time to focus on your place in the big scheme of things.

So, I say to you, take some time for Meditation. Reflect and contemplate by first quietening your noisy mind; allowing you for the first time in maybe a very long time, to focus with exquisite clarity, and grow your inner self.

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I wrote this inspirational article back in September of 2018 for a now defunct website.

It is relevant today, more than ever, with the current global lock-down and quarantine situation related to the pandemic.

I hope it helps.

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What is your typical Sunday like..? Assuming you don’t work on a Sunday, do you go to Church in the morning maybe, and then on to a family lunch at a restaurant, later returning home for an afternoon snooze if the weather isn’t so good, or maybe catch up with some household chores, or just have some quality family time..?

Do you finish off your typical Sunday by relaxing on the couch and watching some TV..? This seems a fairly typical Sunday for many in the Western world today.

Of course, if you are a student, or a business owner, your Sunday is probably spent busy working like every other day, juggling so many tasks and responsibilities.

For some individuals and families, it is what they would describe as “...a boring day”, one where everyone is together in the same house, and yet all are detached from each other, busy in their own activities.

It is generally regarded as a day of rest, or a Family get-together day, where banks and many types of corporate businesses are closed and that time of the week where a sleep-in is justified and allowed.

And yet all day Sunday, at the back of your mind, Monday is always looming..!!

So, how often on a Sunday, or on a day off from your typical work schedule, have you actually sat down quietly and pondered the age old question asked by so many before you... “Who am I..?”

For the sake of this article, I am going to hazard a guess, and say that it isn’t a regular practice of yours.

So... WHO ARE YOU..?

Note that - I didn’t ask your name. I didn’t ask your age. I didn’t ask your gender. I didn’t ask about your religion. I didn’t ask where you are from. I didn’t ask about your race or heritage. I didn’t ask what you do academically or professionally. I didn’t ask if you were a homeowner. I didn’t ask your relationship status. Think about it for a few moments. If you are like most people, right now you are scratching your head as if it is a trick question.

You may even be reasoning that the above conditional facts that weren’t asked for, actually make up the sum of the answer; which would be incorrect.

Truthfully, this question ranks right up there with the timeless questions of old -

Where did I come from..?

Why am I here..?

Where am I going..?

What comes after death..?

Now then, I neither have the ability, or purpose, of telling you right now, who you are. You are capable of discovering that for yourself.

Instead, allow me to simply get you to take the following concept on-board:

YOU NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

How do you do that..?

REALIZE and CONTEMPLATE this FACT >>> THERE IS NO BOX.

We are the architects of the restricting mechanisms of our own minds. We place an illusionary box around our thoughts, perceptions, dreams, and around our very own concept of our reality.

Either by ignoring those deep and fundamental questions in favor of materialistic diversions and comforts of the moment, or by simply never taking time to get to know oneself.

Each of us starts out the journey of life as a blank slate, an infant born with only pure awareness and a craving for nourishment and warmth. In that time, those moments, as a newborn, who were we..?

That’s quite an ‘out there’ question right..?

And how does any of this connect to Sunday Fun-Days..?

It all is connected.

As we journey through it, we get so caught up in the demanding maelstrom of ‘Preparing for Tomorrow’ by rushing around today, that we rarely ever get those awe-inspiring moments where we just marvel at the complexity of the Universe.

We seldom appreciate the bigger picture, of nature, of life itself.

You know the moments I am talking about - like when you first saw the stars at night when you were far away from city lights.

As a result of our rushing to-and-fro we bury that beautiful and simple awareness under layers of acquired learning, programming, and self-definition.

The truth is that it is in our simple awareness that our true identity lies - and yet - going further, deeper into a state of a quietened mind (where you have successfully turned down the volume on all noisy thoughts and are experiencing the bliss of a silent and aware mind) encountering a lack of identity in the silence of simple awareness can be a target concept to experience, that enables an amazing euphoria as one can suddenly feel connected with all things, everywhere, regardless of time and space.

Confused yet..? Probably, right..?

Good - good, and so you should be, because these are things that we rarely consider as we rush about our moment-to-busy-moments in life.

Curiously, if you talk to someone who has had a Near Death Experience, someone who has maybe been revived after spending a short time medically classified as dead without a heartbeat - you will find that regardless of having any paranormal experiences or not, that they subsequently spend a great deal of time contemplating those big questions, and possible answers.

Furthermore, I have repeatedly found when conversing with the elderly and gravely ill, that in answer to the question of what thoughts occupy their minds in their recent days, practically all uniformly answer the following.

They replay specific memories from key periods in their lives, some good, some bad, and others where they wish they had made different decisions.

They remember and think about departed loved ones and friends from over the years. Often wishing that things could of been different - and/or regretting things left unsaid and undone.

They lament how much time they spent chasing after shallow dreams, selfish desires, and aggressive career ambitions - and each day feel the pain of lost opportunities to have led a more meaningful existence. Ultimately they will conclude the conversation by stating that they felt their lives had gone by too fast, and that they have too many regrets to feel a sense of deep inner peace.

AND THIS IS PERVASIVE IN TODAY’S EVER MORE DETACHED MATERIALISTIC SOCIETY.

“Some will say that they are tired and ready to pass on

because they want the pain and loneliness to stop, while

others will show too much tearful remorse and say they

are not ready for their lives to be finished.”

I asked a dear family member who was elderly and in bad health last year, literally a week before they passed away - “Who are you..?”

After a pause, they replied, “I don’t know, but, I can tell you that I feel like a tired old man”.

The point of this article is to get you to seize upon the idea that you need to make time for yourself to be by yourself to be able to peacefully contemplate and discover who you really are.

If Sundays are a typical day where you find yourself with a few hours spare without anything planned, take an hour in a quiet place with your phone either muted or switched off, no TV, no music or radio, nobody to bother you, and just sit and quieten your mind. Deliberately shut down all the noisy thoughts of the monkey-mind including responding to sensations of thirst, hunger, scratching an itch etc, and just get very still. Focus on your breathing, observing your inhalation and exhalation.

“If you do this, you will pleasantly sense your mind

becoming lighter, therapeutically and blissfully so.

It will become clear, invigorated, and crisp, as if you

have literally given your brain a nice warm soapy shower.

This is YOU being mindful, and meditating.”

With this state of clear-mindedness and mental bliss, your awareness will begin to perceive so much more than all your physical senses combined. It’s here - that your adventure into fantastic realms will truly begin, where those age-old questions can be asked, and answered - and you can finally start walking a clear path of the truth of Who You Are.

It’s addicting, and fulfilling. Don’t delay it anymore.

#isolation #lockdown #lock down #quarantine #virus #pandemic #time alone #lonely #loneliness #fear #anxiety #know yourself #know thyself #self #self realize #self-realize #enlighten #enlightenment

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mysticalmindblog · 4 years

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How often do you ask yourself, "Why can't I ever feel any sense of peace in my life..?"

It's a good question to start off this blog article. The quote states you do indeed possess inner peace, always have, always will. Does that sound right to you..? I can tell you that for a good percentage of people, it doesn't at all feel that way. So what is the contrary alternative to inner peace that seems a lot more prevalent..?

Anxiety: Anxiety Disorders affect 18.1 percent of adults in the United States (approximately 40 million adults between the ages of 18 to 54). - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Current estimates put this number much higher - approximately 30 percent - as many people don't seek help, are misdiagnosed, or don't know they have issues with anxiety.

According to The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders, a study commissioned by the ADAA and based on data gathered by the association and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion a year, almost one third of the $148 billion total mental health bill for the U.S.

Anxiety can be defined as a feeling of concern, worry, nervousness, or panic. It is mostly associated with an imminent situation, especially events and situations that have a variety of uncertain possible outcomes. Basically this definition shouts volumes given the state of mind that the vast majority of people live in on a daily basis. The keyword is 'uncertain'.

I could go into a lengthy ramble about uncertainty, and how we humans have this strong urge to be able to predict the future, but instead, I will just say that through a regimen of meditation, it is possible to deactivate that obsession, and instead live mindfully 100% in the present moment. A future blog post will cover a quote about it in-depth, as I have wrestled many times with the uncertainty in my life, to the point of despair, and have a lot to say about it. Getting back to 'Inner Peace', and acquainting yourself with your own inner worlds, I can promise you that regardless of how much stress and anxiety you have in your life, you absolutely can achieve a state of mind where you feel deeply peaceful. Don't let your stress and anxiety deceive you.

The Deception with a Stranglehold on your Mind

The first deception is that if you are facing a situation with unknown results, you can "Figure things out...", if you give enough time to thinking (worrying) about them. Truly, it will never work. If you worry, or if you don't worry, the outcome will be the same. While wanting the best and most beneficial result, we tend to always imagine the worst possible scenario as the one that will most probably happen, and we then magnify the dread we feel, and it becomes a tightness in the chest, and a lump in the throat. The tragic thing is that so many individuals live in a perpetual state of anxiety on a daily basis. Regardless of your age, stress and anxiety can lead to high blood pressure, a loss or increase in appetite, diabetes, hair loss, heart disease, and even a stroke. All because of a 'State of Mind' that we have the power to overcome, but don't, because we have become so used to suffering in that form that we regard it as normal.

Danger

Anxiety can arise over the simplest of things, in the view of others, but not to you. Something simple to one can be another's mountain to scale. However, there is also the kind of anxiety which I call 'Infectious Anxiety', an example of which could be if you are unfortunate enough to have to work in an atmosphere where there are individuals who consistently act and communicate negatively, and carry around their own anxieties for all to see. You can quickly end up becoming just as negative and anxious as them simply by virtue of not guarding your mind adequately enough. We humans are hard wired to be creatures of instinct, with knee-jerk emergency environmental responses; in other words, we carry the capacity via the sudden release of the hormones adrenaline, norepinephrine, and cortisol to swiftly react to a crisis situation, especially when that situation appears to involve danger, such as a threat to our life, or to the life of a loved one.

The problems arise when we feel like we have to constantly be on alert, that if we aren't vigilant then a looming catastrophe will befall us.

It's like we are running around frantically trying to see into the immediate future, imagining it to be full of monsters and disasters - so we are perpetually in a state of heightened anxiety and stress, expecting that crisis situation. Subsequently we can burn out daily as a result of the hormonal imbalance resulting from the anxiety.

So what's the solution..?

Allow me to throw one word at you: ACCEPTANCE.

Life will surely be unpleasant for everyone, at some point in time. It's just like that. As the old saying goes "S**t happens!"

Worrying will not stop it. When I used to whine and complain about something I was worried about, as a teenager, to my Father, he would never fail to remind me, "Son, if you worry, you die. If you don't worry, you die. So, why worry..?"

Of course, it wasn't until years later that I would recite that to myself as a mantra, fully understanding it's profound depth, and simplicity.

OK, so, stop worrying, and accept that life is intrinsically challenging, and that if things can go wrong, they probably will, right..?

You have it partially right. Yes - stop worrying... Yes - life is intrinsically challenging...

Now, whether or not things can go wrong - an individual only has so much control over the inanimate impermanent things around him, and the results of situations playing out can rely upon an almost infinite amount of variables that control is impossible, especially when other people are involved.

So I should just stop caring about what's around the corner and hope for the best..?

No. Definitely not. Care enough about the next moment that you give this present moment 100% mindfulness. Simply, live for the moment you are in giving it all of your attention and mind power. If you have a test paper to write, that needs to be turned in tomorrow, don't delay; get yourself sat down with your laptop, put your 100% mindful concentration into the task, and focus on nothing else until you finish. Once, finished, mindfully review it several times for errors and mistakes. Once satisfied, and document is saved, close the laptop, and move on to whatever is next to do. Just keep your mind clear and mindful, toss out noisy thoughts that hinder you and your progress, and throw your 100% concentration into whatever task you are working on next. Some call this 'Living Life Deliberately'.

The concept of living solely in the moment you are living was extensively studied and practiced in Taoism and Buddhism in ancient times, and there are vast volumes written and translated about the practice - however it definitely isn't a difficult concept to understand - it just can take time to perfect, as with anything; practice makes perfect.

- Right, I get it. I will try that. But how do I find this inner peace and get to enjoy it..?

Acceptance. As I said, accepting yourself for who you are, accepting the fact that you will always have challenges, accepting that you need to think more of the present moment, and not of the next or previous moments.

Take some time to sit down quietly, close your eyes, and just relax, clearing your mind of noisy thoughts. Embrace the now, embrace the current moment, and deliberately quieten the mind. This in essence is what meditation is, quietening the mind, being in the present moment but doing nothing but being still, and fully conscious, while throwing out all the mental noise, random thoughts, and questions.

What is left is a peaceful mind, pure consciousness with no nonsensical distractions or noisy thoughts. There's your inner peace, it was always there, buried under layers of noise, stress, worry, and anxiety. Welcome to your inner world.

Stay a while, and visit often.

Did worrying ever help..? No.

Footnote:

Do you still worry sometimes..? Yes, only now when it occurs, I see it as an invasive feeling, and quickly shut it down, turning back to what I am doing in the present moment and focus.

Again, I want to take the opportunity to recommend meditation as a vital tool to dealing with your mind and the various tortuous thoughts and fears that can plague it. Until you take your last breath, your mind will attempt to clutter up with noise and imaginary crisis scenarios, anxiety is a tricky, nasty state of mind, deceptive, and always causes suffering. There will be times when you will just have to find some 'solo' time, and quieten the mind while mindfully focusing on the very moment you are in.

#stress #worry #fear #anxiety #anger #rage #depression #lonely #loneliness #frustration #tension #pain #sadness #suicidal #suicide

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mysticalmindblog · 4 years

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A candid look at one of the most common sources of heartbreak and sadness readily available to each and every human being. The Internet is awash with memes and quotes mixing Positive Affirmation with Expectation. The reality is that when you are prone to expecting something, you are opening doors inviting disappointment and suffering to visit.

THEME: Until you can accept what is, you will never move into what could be.

Look back on your life, and count the many times you feel you have been let down, deflated, disenfranchised, because expectations and promised results didn't come to fruition. How much suffering have you gone through in your life because you mentally and emotionally invested far too much in expectations that proved unrealistic..??

There is a glut of memes and quotes all over Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and many other online sources that are very generic and 'feel good' but with no substance.

Examples are:

You Deserve It, So Expect It

Expect and You Will Receive

You're a Winner, Expect Great Things

It's Good to Know What to Expect

You Are Unique So Expect Unique Things

etc. etc. etc.

Some of these quotes have tens of thousands of likes. The problem is that they are so general and generic that the presupposition is applying to ego, rather than the truth. It is part of the 'INSTANT' gratification "Feel-Good" motivational movement that is nothing more than a mental band-aid rather than an enlightening revelation.

There's also a fine line between expectations & dependency. There is another fine line between expectations & an entitlement mentality. Inevitably, to be in expectation of something opens up the doors of possibility to disappointment & suffering. It is far preferable to work with Mindful intention instead, in the present moment you are in, to project desired results.

Expectations

Having expectations being thwarted leads to very deep sadness and longings... They can just rip out all of your cultivation and capacity for being able to give kindness and compassion to others and can make your soul stale.

They can make a warm heart turn ice cold.

They can cause mental anguish and intense frustration.

Expectations, for the most part, are made up of the imagined desired results for a future moment in time. They represent a large percentage of thoughts that are dedicated to the variables of the future. Expectations represent a diversion from present mindfulness, away from the moment you are in into the unknown moments of the future.

Truthfully, we all suffer from vulnerabilities intertwined with emotional dependency on expectations projected, like architectural blueprints, on those around us. Disappointment after disappointment wears down our patience, as well as our ability to trust and give unconditionally.

On the extreme far end of the mental spectrum, many people who walk around in a constant state of anxiousness due to 'Expectation', also exhibit egocentric and entitled behavioral patterns.

It's a trap.

Over-indulgent and pampered personalities tend to lead lives where they expect, and expect, and expect (the best, the more, the most), and often with emphasis on being entertained and distracted by nonsense more-so than anyone else around them, or the VIP treatment; is another way to put it.

Disassociate

It is for me an ongoing quest, to disassociate from emotionally attaching to high hopes and expectations in regards to the attitude, words, and actions of others.

From family, to friends, to acquaintances and strangers, in a variety of settings, they will invariably surprise you in a negative way at some point or other; it is inevitable. Often this is because we invest far too much expectation upon them. In some ways, our expectations can become so unrealistic, that they depend on the person in question making personality changes that are not even made clear.

I talk often of the Noisy Mind condition; where we go from moment to moment not actually living in the moment, but living either in the past, or the future, or even worse: Both simultaneously - all without actually living mindfully in the present moment.

The inherent problem with setting expectations in regards to all those you have come to know is that we always seem to set the bar too high. It helps me to look inside myself at my own failings, and the ways I could improve myself - before looking to others for inspiration. Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, setting expectations makes us deviate away from present-moment mindfulness.

Here are some plain truths:

We have NO control over anyone but OURSELVES.

We have NO ability to see the FUTURE.

We have NO ability to change the PAST.

We live in NO other moment but the moment we are IN.

We have NO better immunity against emotional pain than ACCEPTANCE.

We have NO better immunity against anger than COMPASSION.

The ONLY one who can truly know you is YOU.

The ONLY one who can use the key that unlocks your heart is YOU.

The ONLY one who can make you change who you are is YOU.

So basically this article comes down to some harsh and unpleasant facts; such as dealing with the negative aspects of people that WILL invariably either go out of their way to hurt you, or alternatively hurt you in their ignorance. As such, you measure the depth of your sufferings and pain based on your expectations.

Expectation is a strong form of attachment making. It is that which will sink deep hooks into your most sensitive nerves, and will ever-so-often bring tremendous suffering.

Now it is important to point out here that I am not saying that as far as I am concerned, it is best to go around looking at everyone through cringing and skeptical eyes, treating them all as potential antagonists - definitely not. Alternatively, what I am saying is what I actually try to practice daily, treat others as you wish to be treated, but don't attach to the expectation that they will reciprocate. It is as simple a recipe as that.

The Alternative

The 2nd Noble Truth of Buddhism teaches that 'Suffering' is due to attachments and expectations, to grasping and clinging. This truth is a secular truth whatever your belief system.

So how do we liberate ourselves..??

You can literally transform your life by learning your own personal art of "Letting Go.."

It is a matter-of-fact that by cultivating and changing your mental thought processes, you can relieve emotional discomforts and pain, and chief among those changes are the way you accept & embrace change.

Realizing how we instinctively react when provoked by broken expectations and unexpected change, and then modifying the way we react can help us break out of the need to be micro-managing every little detail of an uncertain future, and individuals in our lives who we have no power to change or control, and instead, we can simply embrace with acceptance of the present moment we are in.

It's only possible in the present moment that we will find the courage to cross the threshold of the unknown and relax into the changes we cannot avoid.

The Attachment of a Sense of Predictability

It is a Human condition, we feel that much more secure when we are assured that we possess a sense of predictability, and in that effort we invariably develop a great capacity for denying a very basic & simple truth which is 'that nothing stays the same'.

Such a denial can invoke an inner arrogance, an egoic but illusionary 'reality' construct; and then along comes the unpredictability of life, and through loved ones, friends, or life changing situations, we are painfully shown that even if we do everything "right" and exercise every precaution, we can still face extreme disappointment and unexpected loss.

As such, all too frequently, rather than surrender to the inevitability of change, and embrace it, and work creatively with it, we Humans resort to the anxiety & fear-based behavior of forcing situations to occur the way we want them to, and to take charge and exert pressure on other people and situations to conform to our expectations. Again, this is a terrible trap.

Your inability to avoid disappointment, broken expectations, and deflated dreams as well as accepting change may make you wrathfully angry, sad, depressed, and frustrated. It can be hard to let go of the false belief that the only way to achieve happiness again is to regain what's been lost. Even when you know you can't reverse the situation, you may enter into a perpetual suffering, and constantly agonize over this unwanted reality, knowing no inner peace as a result.

When faced with disappointment and broken expectations, we can mistakenly cling on to what once was, actively avoiding the needed process of grief and acceptance, and end up in a constant state of non-growth and life paralysis; grasping for a future set of circumstances or a situation identical to the past holding you back from discovering what better roads lie ahead, just around the corner, simply just outside of your vision. The desire to backslide, or reconstruct the known comforts of the past will almost always result in you walking around in circles, lost in the ashes of the unchangeable past, instead of venturing forth with mindfulness and actively taking steps to look around those corners and see new ways to grow, new paths to follow.

Change your Perspective

The change in perspective that invariably happens when we come to the enlightening conclusion that there's no such thing as a permanent comfort zone, or feeling of happiness, will allow us to embark on a voyage of healing from suffering. It leads to a rise in wisdom, a new understanding, and helps us take the next brave step which is to accept that we must often be broken to mould ourselves anew, and broaden our reality giving a new definition of what we need in order to be productive, happy, and liberated - giving up the old and painful habits of clinging and grasping, as well as the need to control external circumstances and future events.

It's important to balance the concept of something you want, with an acceptance of what is, right in the moment you are in. It is no good wanting something for what you want it to be, rather than wanting it for what it is now in the present. You MUST know your limits.

This subtle balance which is a mindset to adopt, allows you to live in this, the present moment and trust that your acceptance of a given situation or individual or concept, will relieve the suffering and confusion that comes when not things do not go the way you 'expect' them.

In other words, having expectations is an inevitable Human condition, but it is down to your Mindful clear thinking on how much you invest in those expectations, and how realistic they are, cognitively understanding that everything is impermanent, even expectations, that will clear the brain-fog of confusion, unnecessary emotional attachments, and distractions, and show you the path to move into a more clear and unrestricted, happier, way of life.

When we cling to the past or what no longer serves us, we contract ourselves to the point where we're unable to be nourished and invigorated by the present moment. We have to accept that what's past has truly passed in order to open up to what the present moment offers us. In this opening we become nourished, refreshed and revitalized.

Finally, it takes us making an effort, and acknowledging not only our own flaws and damaging personality traits, but also for the most part, understanding that the general population ultimately only care for themselves and their own comfort zones and closed circles, and will extract what they can for their own pleasures and comforts from whoever can supply it the soonest. That's the modern sociologically imprinted "I want it and deserve it and I want it now" illusionary construct. It is damaging to everyone, and leads to awful entitlement issues.

We can CHOOSE not to be that way. That's part of the old 'primitive' brain that is programmed with a genetic self-preservation instinct and gets combined with the ego to the point that so many end up with toxic personalities.

If we see it, recognize it, choose not to be a part of it, and instead take care of all that we have power over (ourselves), then we can be liberated from the suffering it can cause.

Knowing this, it is up to us as the responsible entities to go within and make the changes necessary to better deal with those occurrences, and live more in the present moment while annihilating our expectations of things we have absolutely no control over.

#attachment #liberation #new attitude #new life #moving forward #being strong #detaching #overcoming #be better #no fear #be strong #enlightenment #evolving #breaking free #selfish #selfishness #ego #egoic

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mysticalmindblog · 4 years

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It is understandable that so many are quarantined and locked down now and feeling strong fear and anger about their situations, but these are destructive and debilitating things to feel and endure. There is another way to be during this crisis.

Once again, it is the theme of this article to focus on being for others what you want them to be for you.

You don't have to be a Saint, an Angel, or a Sage, to care wholeheartedly and show unconditional love and compassion; and yet to that someone in need, you may just be the Guardian Angel they have been praying for.

You basically have to go from being angry and grouchy to showing some love to those who need it. What you give comes back to you !!

This article is not about the reciprocity of 'love' in a relationship setting. However, whether you are in a reciprocal love relationship or not, this article can definitely help you to perceive other dimensions of interpersonal relationships.

Unfortunately, 'Love' is a word that is thrown around so loosely in today's 'freedom & liberation' modern society. It is the subject of meme after meme, quote after quote, and countless fables and idealized fictional scenarios. Four letters making a word that has such a generalized scope of uses and meanings for so many.

There is no point in going into a lengthy discussion of the meaning of Love in this blog article. If you type "What is love" into Google, you will be met by over 530 million linked articles/videos etc.

Love

I will however, for the sake of this blog, encapsulate my perception of the concept of Love into two words: Unbounded Compassion.

I have learned that Love can originate as a manifestation of Compassion; but please don't misunderstand - that doesn't mean I go around falling in love with the people I 'feel sorry for'. It actually hearkens back to a realization I had many years ago that changed my perception of the way I see people in general, in the world around me.

- "I find it an ongoing challenge to be compassionate in my life. I accept this, and understand it is normal. But how so..?" -

Because I am prone to being careless with my thoughts at times, and I find myself thinking selfishly and putting myself and my needs first.

At this point many would be thinking, "There's nothing wrong with that." - It is seen as part of the 'Survival of the Fittest' paradigm, and the 'Win or Lose' mentality... You know; the COMPETITIVE URGE stuff we have been sociologically programmed with, since our earliest memories. Again, please don't misunderstand - the context of this article, is to explore and understand our ongoing struggles to rise above what is deemed normal and strive to reach higher into new uncharted realms of living purposefully, mindfully, and spiritually.

As such, you will be challenged by my writings to see through your eyes; with my eyes; to share perception, and take the journey of Life together.

A Vow to the Universe

Actually, let me stop right here a minute to tell you... Yes YOU - who are reading this, that we don't know each other; and yet I feel you as I write these words, in a way that escapes vocabulary in description. I made a vow to the Universe quite some time ago that I wanted to be a voice of unconditional love and compassion with no face and no ego to all my human brothers and sisters on this amazing little planet of ours.

One planet, one species of sentient beings with the capacity to love, to laugh, to care, to cry, to hold, and to grow. We are united whether we like it or not by this time in which we share our world. We all suffer the same sufferings, we all idealize and hope for the best in all things, we all feel pain, and sadly we all feel so alone sometimes.

I hope and pray that you will stay with me through this world crisis and through my quotes/articles so we can take this quest together; and I dearly hope and pray that whatever light and love you receive through this article, through my deeply candid and intimate writings with you about the human condition - you will take and pass it on, paying it forward, like a wave of light for those suffering in lonely darkness.

Sorrows

So, it can be so challenging to feel compassion at times, especially when life can be so devastatingly painful and full of personal suffering. The self-preservation instinct invariably remains active as we strive to overcome insurmountable challenges, and odds, and situations that seem entirely detrimental to our very sanity, our very existence.

You and I both, we have faced them. We face them sometimes on a daily basis, like haunting wraiths - family dramas, mistakes we have made, and bad decisions, sometimes trying to dissolve those feelings in things that can become unacknowledged addictions, causing more deep sorrows, so much suffering, in us, and all around us, all these things can afflict and vex us to the point where we can feel emotionally numb, compassion crushed because our own morale has become so burned and damaged.

Empowerment

But what was a personal revelation for me was to comprehend that the very act of setting aside my own issues to focus attention on the issues of someone else that I saw who needed care, attention, guidance, and protection - not only relieved my own pain response to personal suffering through my own challenges, but provoked an internal empowerment that said "Yes, I can..! I can make a difference, I can be a light for someone else even if everything has gone to crap in my own life".

Suffering

Curiously enough, by helping to deal with the problems of another through a heart of compassion I was able to change my perspective on my own issues. I learned not only that so many around me are going through the most intense and insane forms of suffering, many of those sufferings are of a type that are truly dark and shameful to the ones suffering - and very common it is that they are actually victims of the evils of others. I have cried many times from the very pit of my stomach, (you know what I mean, right? The type of uncontrollable grief-stricken crying that wracks your entire body from head to toe) while doing my best to be out of the sight of those who I have attempted to help because, it's not pity we want... - Us suffering humans; it's simple love, a kind smile, a soul warming hug, it's simple compassion, it's simple partnering, a safety net, a mechanism to share our pain in an unobtrusive way.

It is very rewarding, and very fulfilling, to make yourself available to someone who you see is suffering, especially when you are suffering yourself. I promise you.

So that's what I meant with this quote. If it is your friend, and they are suffering, be compassionate and make their dramas and challenges your own - even if it is to sit and listen, and empathize. Be that guardian angel who becomes a mirror of reflection. Very often, if we are able to vent and talk about our problems, we can actually come up with our own solutions. It's a cognitive process that's part of oral communication, on an emotional level. If it is your partner, child, grandparent - or a complete stranger - STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE, and stop thinking of yourself, and be the very best compassionate sentient being you CAN BE, to that one who is suffering and in need. You will rapidly see how your own life, your own troubles and challenges, will either become easier to solve, or just simply fade away, no longer important.

In this perfect storm of a global pandemic and global lockdown - this is a perfect form of Unconditional Love - when carried out with your full, mindful self.

If I was to rank the importance of coming to a higher understanding, and practice, of Unbounded Compassion, I would have to say it is the number One most important aspiration you should look to achieve. It will lead you into an understanding of yourself, and people, and the world around you, that will catapult you into a journey of self-discovery you can never turn your back on. You will begin to see how your life, and the lives of others can be so much more fulfilled, and warm, and beautiful, and peaceful, and productive. You will feel like you have suddenly come into possession of the greatest secret gift in existence.

And in a way, you will.

Think about the following...

Compassion is and was at the center of the lives of so many important and influential figures, some are worshiped, or celebrated, or revered, still today, even aside from such as Buddha, or Jesus, there are Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, John Wesley, St. Francis of Assisi, Guru Arjan, Mother Teresa, John Calvin, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and of course the current Dalai Lama, who said that "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."

I created this quote, so that what I had found to be true, could be established almost as a *mantra to self.

#compassion #love #life #lifequotes #suffering #lockdown #quarantine #quarantined #depressed #sad #angry #fear #self help #be strong #virus #soulful #soul #motivation #inspiration

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mysticalmindblog · 4 years

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Today's society with the prevalence of Social Media and personal blogs has led to a glut of fake personalities, narcissism, and overindulgent bullying egos. How do you keep yourself in check without bending to peer pressure?

How Many Layers of Mediocrity Did You Add to Your Shell Today?

For most, the above question would be deemed offensive and condescending. It implies that by default the person being asked leads a mediocre life, and generally acts rather than being genuine.

Some context is needed for us to properly break this down into something profoundly meaningful.

So let's just get you to do a simple 5-Step Mind and Memory Challenge.

Think back to last Tuesday. Take a minute or two, and remember your day, as much as you can, from the time you woke up, until the time you went to sleep.

Now, think back to the Tuesday before that, and also try to remember the day from start to finish.

And again, cast your mind back to the Tuesday before that - so now you are looking roughly 3 weeks into your past. Try hard to remember the day from start to finish. Are you having difficulty yet? Can you remember anything especially significant about that specific Tuesday?

Now go back in your mind to the Tuesday before that. You are trying to remember the Tuesday approximately 4 weeks ago.

Finally, using your memory again, ask yourself what distinguished each Tuesday as being different from the other. What stands out in your mind?

Such Challenges are especially useful for getting mentally prepared to prompt your thought processes into a type of internal investigation that it rarely, if ever, does.

I actually did this challenge quite some time back, and I was more than hard pressed to remember any differences. Sadly, all I could vaguely remember was that there was no break from the same routine for those Tuesdays. That's it, that's all I could say, I knew I had carried on the same routine for those Tuesdays that I always did. In fact, practically every day was indistinguishable, repetitive, and I couldn't name the day or date of the last thing that occurred that stood out as being a significant positive occurrence.

Negative occurrences..? That was another matter. I always had a lot to groan about.

I have tried this on several individuals also, and had pretty much the same results. It makes you think, and can make you uncomfortable in a deep and unfamiliar way. Why is that..?

Obsession with Happiness without knowing what True Happiness is

It all comes down to catching a glimpse of the preposterous nature of our lives which can be summarized as follows: A Pursuit of Happiness through a competitive obsession to obtain pleasures and comforts via the acquisition of impermanent consumables, which serve as addictive yet unsatisfactory finite attachments, prompting a compulsive, repetitive, and exponential drive to seek an ever greater amount of impermanent consumables by any means necessary, at whatever cost, without any limits; often compelled by a herd instinct to imitate the actions of others in an attempt to manufacture a corporately approved shell of ego while seeking an agreeable sense of individuality and self validation in addition to a perpetual quest seeking positive peer affirmation.

That's quite a mouthful, right..? Can I simplify it down a bit..?

I sure can.

Basically, we are indoctrinated from a very young age that stuff, and lots of stuff, can make us happy, feel mental and physical pleasure, and be comfortable. To be attractive to others, the more stuff you get and show off, the better it will be. Especially the stuff that gets advertised to you as being the most essential, trendiest and most in-demand stuff. So study hard, be someone who is competitive, get a good job that pays good money, and get good stuff. Don't stop there, be more competitive, get a better job, get more money, get more stuff. Be a winner, and don't stop there, don't let anyone be above you, just fight hand, tooth, and nail to get what you want. Just do it. And do it again, and again, and again...

And then, maybe when you least expect it, you will find yourself drawing in your last breath, and in that moment - do you think you will FINALLY be happy**..?** It will all have been worth it**..?**

The above is the reality for billions of people worldwide, so, it's got to be OK, right**..?**

It's not like anyone has an option, unless they are born into wealth and don't have to endure all the struggling and suffering in the pursuit of happiness, right**..?**

They say that money is the root of all evil, but I do my best and work my hardest to get the things that me and my family need to be happy and comfortable, so I will be happy one day, right**..?**

No pain, no gain, right**..?**

Fake it until you make it, right**..?**

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

The precise thing that is wrong with these assumptions, and the nature of life described above, is that from the level of the individual, all the way through to entire populations spanning the world, they all have been sold on the concept and blind pursuit of FAKE HAPPINESS. That's it.

A terrible misconception of what the True Happiness in being Alive really is.

Sufferings, trials, and tribulations of life

Entire generations being born, pursuing materialistically based happiness that they see normalized by the majority, enduring the sufferings, trials, and tribulations of a life dedicated to that pursuit, sometimes corruptly, and many times at the expense of others, to never actually experience true bliss - even to the moment of their last breath.

It is this lack of understanding that can be found at the root of every conflict, every war, genocide, famine, and crime. Whether seeking power, wealth, fame, notoriety, or just trying to live a decent, *normal* life, the desired bliss can never be found, because once you have made the attachments, they will bring you suffering.

The more 'stuff' you have, the more possessive you will be about guarding that stuff, while always looking for bigger, better, newer versions. The chase will not end in your lifetime.

Without truly understanding what Happiness is, mankind blunderingly assumes it is to be found in the taking on of the role of a mindless drone, following the herd instinct, earning and spending, attaching to the idea that the more stuff you have, the happier you will be. What a perfect deception that ultimately only benefits a select few whose hands are all over the money made from giving you the proverbial 'stuff'.

Youth Mind and the Societal Programming

We aren't created as mindless drones. We humans come from the womb wide eyed and with a pure mind, pure consciousness,helpless and dependent for a time on our parents love, nurturing, and nourishment. It's not long after that we begin to choose to accept what is thrust in our faces throughout our younger years by the Corporations, by the Mainstream Media, by the Movie and Pop Music Industries, the Fashion Houses, by what we see our friends wearing, what we see our parents buying. It's like kids are shuffled through Elementary and High School learning as if they are drones being built on an assembly line of indoctrination. By the time they leave high school, the ink has dried, the glue has set, and with raging hormones and a magnified desire to stand out in a crowd they launch into early adulthood wishing to be years older already and on top of the game. It doesn't take too long for the metamorphosis to occur, and the routine to lock itself in place, before they are no more than mindless drones following the beat of a silent drum.

We humans complain. For every challenge and every problem in life, we complain. About the challenges and problems in our society and governments, and those around us, we complain. We call for change, but are unwilling to change ourselves. We stay as mindless drones on the path that we think will take us to happiness. We humans get so self-absorbed in our own little worlds, our own little melodramas, that we ignore the true issue of knowing what is true happiness, and because we want to stay on our path, we complain about the problems around us, but do nothing except blame others.

So, if the problem is not having an understanding of what Happiness is, what can be done..?

First, recognize that you have to do a clean-out of the mind. It has become noisy, disordered, and littered with a lot of useless junk.

We spend a lot of attention, time, and money - for grooming our outward appearance, be it the hair, clothes, shoes, accessories, or even in some cases modifying through cosmetic surgeries.

We also spend a lot of time caring for the appearance of our vehicles, our homes, and in recent years, a huge amount of time and attention to crafting our online profiles through various social media platforms... But what about our mind..?

At the end of the day, when we feel tired and somewhat dirty, we go to the shower or bathe to cleanse ourselves, using pleasant smelling shampoo and body washes. We like to then dress in clean clothes or nightwear. All clean, all fresh, all sanitized.

But what about Your mind..?

How do we clean and sanitize our mind in such a way as to begin to have clarity to accurately contemplate what it means to be truly happy..?

Peace and Quiet

Make time, even a few minutes, to retreat away from the noisy world and be alone, and sit down. Close your eyes. Imagine a volume dial in your mind that controls all the noisy thoughts, and begin to turn it down. Quieten those thoughts. Actually, dismiss those thoughts. One by one, just like you are closing the window panes on a computer, shut off the thoughts. If a thought like "I wonder what I will eat tonight?", for example, pops up in your mind, dismiss it. Finding it difficult..?

A 'FIND YOURSELF' MEDITATION

Try concentrating on slowly counting down from 10 to 1. Regardless of how long you spend on focusing on a number, forget time, just focus ONLY on the number. See it in your mind, hear it in your mind. Don't have any other thoughts except that number. Quite quickly you will find yourself in a very peaceful state of mind; and actually for the first time in a very, very long time, you will begin to feel a sense of deep, inner peace. What you are doing is cleaning your mind through meditation. If your are counting down, then you are meditating, and contemplating numbers. Your mind is 100% switching on, your mind is taking a beautiful shower of its own, and any brain fog will be washed away.

As you sense this inner peace, your very essence, your 'pure mind' (consciousness without noisy thoughts) will emerge. You will begin to perceive a sense of deep inner satisfaction - almost as if for the first time you experience yourself, you, the REAL you, to the point where you will almost want to say "Here I am..!! After all this time, I have found myself..!!", and this perception, this feeling, can be profoundly satisfying and life-changing. It is the proverbial mirror on the wall which you will see clearly as you have now cleansed your mind in the moment of the noisy thoughts and distracting concepts.

There - did you see them..? The keywords I used..?

PROFOUNDLY SATISFYING and LIFE-CHANGING

It is a state of mind then, that most amazing feeling.

You see, the capacity to know true happiness is already within you. You will not meet it somewhere outside of yourself, and you cannot buy it. It must well up like a fountain from deep within your heart - and it will seem like a rushing torrent of purpose, and it will be a compassionate heart..!! How so..? Because you will suddenly feel like you can save the world, that you have found the secret to save many from suffering - and indeed you would be right, because it will just be the very start of an amazing journey, a pilgrimage to know the essence of who you are, and to be able to release others from the same suffering you endured for so long.

The capacity to know true happiness is already within you. You will not meet it somewhere outside of yourself, and you cannot buy it. It must well up like a fountain from deep within you.

Instead of rushing out to trade in your 9 month old cellphone for the latest version, take time to sit quietly, and contemplate what you have to do to see yourself as a member of the human race; and that race, gender, wealth and status mean nothing to the fact. You are not above, or below, anyone. You are unique as the person you are, but you are simply a member of the human race. Look at all others with compassion, as equals, the majority of which are suffering their own daily ordeals and tragedies.

Acts of selfishness and greed are not positive things, even though many encourage the 'Do what you want, when and how you want to do it' mentality, to find happiness - they are negative things, and provoke ignorance, arrogance, and suffering. Cause and effect will always balance out your actions by repaying you what you give. Promotion of ego, and acts derived from attention craving, will lead to rampant narcissism and put you far away from having a compassionate heart.

Clear out the Clutter of the Mind

Pretty soon after cultivating more time to yourself to meditate and contemplate like this, you will see how so much of the junk you have accumulated around you is just that - junk. You'll begin to see how much worrying, stress, anxiety, and suffering you have gone through for just obtaining unrewarding impermanent junk. You will begin to instinctively feel the artificial distractions as just that, junk that is so unnecessary, and will want to begin trashing it, or donating it. You clear out the clutter in your mind, you better believe you will begin to clear out the clutter around you. Life changes will occur, as you begin to live clear minded more and more. It's a most fascinating and wonderful journey that guarantees you will see yourself, this world, and all people differently, and in ways you could never have previously imagined.

The Core of Life is the Struggle for Survival and the Suffering in-between

Will there still be suffering in your life..? Of course..!!

The world, and this life, is guaranteed to bring suffering, but finally you will have a method to master how your mind deals with that suffering, how to recognize it, and how to transmute it into something else, not just lessons to learn from, but lessons in compassion to help others who you perceive and observe going through the same crises that you have already emerged from.

Remember that Suffering is also Nature's hard-wired way of teaching us essential lessons. We cannot effectively avoid it our whole lives, but it is better to learn from it so as not to repeat the same mistakes over and over.

Don't settle for mediocrity, or living as a mindless drone for the Materialistic World

Make a pledge, a vow, an irreversible promise to become a new person by cleansing the mind and finding the supreme satisfaction of meeting the person you really are in essence, and take the most noble of journeys to be compassionate, clear minded, patient, loving, honest, and satisfied. It's not too late. All it takes is you, to get the journey started.

#self #self realize #self help #self improvement #truth #patience #love #quote #life quotes #life #suffering #stop suffering

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mysticalmindblog · 4 years

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The challenges you face today could well be your victories tomorrow, but in order to tackle the issues at hand you need to have the clear intention of being mindful to know how to wade through the minefield of the EGO to get to the other side.

So many of us are swept up in our own self-importance that when troubles or challenges come, we go scurrying quickly into safe-spaces and comfort zones whining. We live in the Age of the Ego; of the Selfie, of the hot Social Media profile, of the Likes, and Followers. Narcissism is ritualized and celebrated in every form of media and entertainment. We want to be better than anyone else, even if it means stepping on others, or we have to fake it to make it.

Does your Ego make you feel good about yourself?

How important are you, to you..?

An awkward question to contemplate, and answer, right..?

For the greater majority of people, if asked this question, an instinctive mental answer would arise out of the ego and say, "I am the most important thing to me." However, I wonder for how many people a deeper part of the pure mind would interfere in that reply actually being spoken out loud.

Humility, and a deeper - often overlooked sense of understanding where the evils of ego are concerned, are present in all of us; and fortunately can be triggered into blocking us from making embarrassing blunders when conversations go a certain way in social situations.

The reality though, is that we humans to all intents and purposes appear to be creatures driven and motivated by insatiable desires, expectations, and self-importance. We are on this planet for a very brief time, and we spend so much of that time trying to prove to everyone else our value and worth, while having no clue about our real identity or purpose.

And yet, for all we think about ourselves, our ego, our gutsy desires, our wildly exaggerated social media profiles, and self-marketing - for the majority, we really are nothing more than temporary consumers on this planet.

We are so distracted with seeking the next best comfort item, escapism, comfort food, and comfortable environment, apathetically being lectured each and every day by the commercial advertising thrown at us in practically every aspect of our lives - only to consume, and consume, and consume some more, and keep consuming, and want to consume more, and on and on it goes.

Do you think I am being a bit harsh and narrow minded with the above statement..?

If you do, please read on, to understand this angle of perception.

You, I, and every other individual, are nothing more than a potential revenue source, a consumer who needs to be told what they need to consume in order to be happy, in the eyes of every business, company, and corporation. We are simply a means to an end - and that is to generate revenue, make profits, provide finance for others to live from. The care is only for the bottom line, and whatever it takes to ensure the bottom line is fruitful.

And then there is us, the customer, the consumer. For us, wherever we think the grass is greener (the price is cheaper) we will inevitably always run. And why not, right..? After all, everyone wants a great deal and a super bargain, get more for less, or maybe get stuff for free - even better! Whoever likes to make a dash towards anything that takes away from your pleasure center, and instead gives suffering and hardships..?

Nobody. It's all about the comforts and pleasures.

So, what has all this got to do with the Image Quote theme for this blog entry..?

Everything to do with it, actually. I myself am a firsthand witness that when you get completely and utterly frustrated by a situation or a bundle of challenges in life, you 'can' learn the most important lessons of your life.

It really has to be clear that when suffering occurs and painful choices and procrastination are concerned, a lack of due diligence will return the human psyche into a repeating cycle of "I am hurt, I need sympathy and comforting because it's all so unfair'.

The potential to grow, and retain enlightening information to be able to pass on to others, is inherent in every challenge you will ever encounter. This is a fact of life. Nobody is exempted from this potential for so long as they have breath in their body.

If you notice I highlighted the word 'can' in the above paragraph. The reason being is that a typical knee-jerk response to a tough life challenge is to experience a surge of emotion, giving rise to instant anxiety and a sudden quest to find the nearest comfortable looking 'safe-space', whether physical or mental; from calling someone for help, to rushing to obtain escapism through alcohol or narcotics. This is another tragic set of statistics, alcohol and drug abuse as a result of individuals falling into despair after being afflicted by a severe life trauma or negative series of events. Challenge after issue after trauma after problem, can stack up in a literal heartbeat - and with the demands and constraints of modern society, it is all too easy to fall down, and fall hard.

The Fortunate Few

Some are fortunate enough to have supportive and caring families, or friends, while others invariably end up alone, forgotten, ignored.

There is so much sadness and suffering in the world related directly to our inadequate understanding of our true potential for overcoming the pain that life brings via those life-changing challenges that everyone will endure regardless of age, race, gender, or social status.

So, how do we discover and realize our true potential..?

How do we achieve a real state of peace of mind..?

How is it possible to rise above the pain and suffering that affects us, and undoubtedly will again and again..?

How do we interpret life's challenges as great lessons to make us wiser and stronger individuals..?

LESS ATTACHMENTS.

LESS DISTRACTIONS.

LESS WORRYING ABOUT THINGS WE CANNOT CONTROL.

MORE ACCEPTANCE.

MORE SELF CONTEMPLATION.

MORE LIVING IN THE MOMENT YOU ARE IN.

MORE COMPASSION.

Please, for a moment or two, imagine the above 7 points are titles for sections of a typical college course syllabus.

Now, imagine the course syllabus is called "My Life".

The first semester begins on the day you are born.

The last semester ends on the day you die.

Do you see the proper context now..? Is your perspective changing yet..?

Compassionate

The best way to learn in life is through hands on experience. There are things that hold true regardless of whether you are religious or not, irrespective of your beliefs - in life, that sculpt you and shape you. When you see by looking back over your life how you have been educated by the most tumultuous times and harshest challenges, you'll realize that by embracing those things that normally cause you anxiety, you can not only overcome those issues, and learn a great deal from them, but also in fact speed them right along to their conclusion - all the while maintaining a warm and compassionate heart - especially for others who you know are going through the same challenges.

Believe in yourself. The pure YOU beneath all those layers that the cold, cruel world sees daily. Cast off those layers, embrace the lessons life is teaching, and pay-it-forward by taking your hard earned wisdom to others who are suffering needlessly.

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mysticalmindblog · 4 years

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There will be those days, maybe even right now, where you experience many unpleasant emotions and feelings. It is inevitable. Yet, in this crazy modern day society we are always rushing around, doing as much as we can to keep ourselves busy, and we utilize this 'busy life' as a crutch, and a sedative to avoid raw emotions that we do not face off with when we should. And an inner sadness builds slowly over time, a loneliness, a mountain of frustrations.

Shifting your perception from trying to speed through those difficult and challenging times, to slowing down and doing a measure of Acceptance & Contemplation of the suffering being endured will help you to have the wisdom to prevent such things happening again. As mentioned in the previous article, the sufferings of life are the masterful teachers of the lessons hardest learned, and never forgotten.

It is all too easy to try to rush through your day, through the boring commute, the unrelenting traffic jams and crowds of people, and let your mind dwell on the negative things in your life - things which you wear like clothing, letting them give you definition for the day on the inside and on the outside.

You repeat this, day in, day out. Even when the weekend comes, or your schedule has changes, the stormy clouds follow your mind wherever you go. Like this you lose track of time and the contents of your days deemed pointless with no value aside from financial gain, automatically casting off activities and logging them into the recycle bin labeled 'Another Blah Day'.

And then - suddenly - without warning, something happens to STOP YOU IN YOUR TRACKS..!! Like this Coronavirus pandemic and lockdown / quarantine.

Right now you might be facing unemployment, separation from loved ones, unpaid bills, not enough money left for food... You may even be battling the virus itself and be in tremendous pain and suffering - on your own..!! The future may seem so uncertain and fearful - and it is in these moments that so many of your life's frustrations and tragedies all come flooding back into mind.

Yes, these are unbearable sorrows and sufferings to carry. But you CANNOT give up. You must not give in. Someone, somewhere, needs you, loves you, is worrying about you. But beyond that, there are those who are in your phone contacts list, or Social Media friend's list that are also suffering right now, maybe even worse than you, and they are just waiting for someone to reach out to them.

That person can be you. We so often neglect to take a step back from our own sufferings and dire situations to realize that compared to some, we still have so many blessings. And it is with that perspective that a pure form of compassion can arise inside.

It isn't so much that life is unbearable, but more-so you have allowed yourself to perceive it as unbearable; truly it is more about perception, and engaging your compassion for others in defeating the illusion of 'Doom & Gloom' more than anything else.

But what if you just cannot muster the courage..?

What if you feel so low, down, depressed, and fed up that you just don't feel you have the strength to call anyone, or be compassionate at all..?

Grab a pen and paper - and write a list of all the tough times you have had in your life, and try to put the date, or even just the year that was the hardest year. Really, write down a summary list, maybe one year you lost a family member and spent a year in grief, or a romance you were hopelessly invested in fell apart and left you devastated... There are so many things we humans go through in life, so many sufferings, but the truth is our self-preservation instinct kicked in so many times in the past and got you through it, even when you thought that it was the end, and you could not go any further in life.

Truthfully, when you have finished, you will see that not only did you get through some very tough times, but on the flip side, so to speak after the fact, you were stronger because of it. You learned some very important lessons, and a road-map to try and avoid such things from affecting you the same way again.

Take that list and put it on your fridge door, or anywhere that it can be regularly seen. Let it be a constant reminder that you have made it through so many dark times already, and even though this time may seem darker, you can, and will - somehow - make it through to the other side.

Furthermore, once you have maybe shed some tears over that list, and the memories, and maybe vented some long pent-up emotions, begin to think of others; could be friends, or family, or old acquaintances... Maybe you have the phone number for one of your neighbors - it could be anyone, and dial their number and check up on them compassionately. Reconnect with them.

But don't fall into the trap right away, of venting all your woes and troubles

If they ask you how you are doing, or how you are coping, quickly reflect the question back to them, so they open up to you - and do it with compassion. Allow yourself to hear the woes and tribulations of someone else's life, suppress your own instinct to reach out for help and instead reach out to help - even if just by being a listening ear.

In so doing, you will find many of your challenges and problems taking on a new perspective, one that definitely can enable you to cope a lot easier. And you will not feel alone.

Call 1 person. Call 10. In your own time of need, reach out with compassion to those who are in need. Be a force for good in this chaotic world of sufferings, and treat others as you so wish to be treated.

Out of those phone calls, you may very well cement new relationships, new close friendships, even getting assistance with so much that is worrying you - simply because you put THEM and THEIR sufferings before yours.

#life #quote #quotes #life quotes #meditation #suffering #pain #depression #sadness #frustration #anger #fear #be strong #enlightenment #thoughts #lockdown #quarantine #mindful #zen #vedic

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mysticalmindblog · 4 years

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Dear friends, fellow humans on this extraordinary voyage called life; let's take a few moments to step out of ourselves and see the pointlessness of the worrying and stressing we allow our minds to endure so much in our lives - especially now with this COVID-19 situation globally...

First of all, let's be clear in regards to the distinction between 'Mindful Concern', and 'Overthinking / Panic / Worrying too much'.

Mindful Concern - is where you function at your best, efficiently processing facts from fiction, and taking actions based upon those facts to create a safer environment for yourself and loved ones to be able to thrive in. You could also say that this is actively tapping into the genetic 'self-preservation-instinct' and coupling it with higher-thinking.

Overthinking / Panic / Worrying too much - is where you allow your mind to become overwhelmed with fears of 'possible doom scenarios' whereby you exist in a constant state of vulnerability and heart-trembling nervousness, almost paralyzing you into a useless state-of-being.

Now, primarily the source of so much panic is the 'sensationalism' of much of what is being broadcast in the mainstream news. Yes, there is a deadly virus that has reached across the world, sickening many and killing some. This is a fact. However, if you closely examine the statistics, you will see that they pale in comparison with the results of other respiratory viruses that have been around for many many years. Not to take away from the seriousness of the COVID-19, but some critical thinking perspectives should be allowed.

If you were to be an ardent believer of the mainstream news, you would think the Apocalypse has arrived and humanity teeters on the edge of complete destruction. Sadly, this situation has been packaged as a narrative related to politics, globalism, and many other 'uncontrollable' factors. So much panic caused by sensationalizing the news creates such stupidities as hoarding toilet paper; which all started in Australia as a result of supply chain issues as most toilet paper in Australia is imported from... China. When this was first reported there, it was given such importance that people went berserk at the supermarkets emptying shelves and fighting for toilet roll. This then got picked up by global mainstream news and suddenly you had a global herd instinct rush on buying up all toilet rolls. The global mainstream news just 'omitted' saying the truth about why there was a rush on toilet paper in Australia, instead hyping it up sensationally as evidence that "The World is in a State of Viral Pandemic and toilet paper is an essential emergency need" --- Ridiculous.

This is why I say, you must mindfully be efficient in sorting truth from fiction. In reality, if you give it the consideration it deserves, how on Earth could toilet paper be such an emergency item? Hysteria over irresponsible news reporting. That's all.

The news networks globally are focused more on 'viewership statistics' for profitability than anything else - and this is nothing new, this has been and is the focus at the very core of them as corporate entities; and they are often wrong, having to issue retractions - or often 'spin' news narratives to suit their agendas. ~Just be aware of this as a fact the next time you turn on a news channel. You have to exercise some critical thinking and mindful concern in discerning what is credible and factual reporting. More often than not, when looking at the news with such mental measures, you will see a consistent thread of narrative influence to lead your thought processes in a direction that, given more contemplation, will seem quite ridiculous.

What I want to get across to you right now is to focus with mindful concern on you and your immediate environment. (HOME) I want you to empty out the clutter in your mind of confusing news reports, opinion pieces, and narratives - and instead focus on simply this question - How do I stay safe, sane, and functional in all of this..?

The answer..? Understand fully what you have control over, and what you do not have control over. Examples are: Sanitation at home. Sanitation when outside of home. Keeping track of local government safety and enforcement measures and following them. Mindfully keeping track of how much food and water you have stored, and need to get. Mindfully keeping track of your health, and the health of your family.

Additionally, set aside some time, and I am sure many of you have the time now with the global lockdowns, to Meditate. Too many associate Meditation with some old useless traditions from the Far East, and that is so incorrect.

It can simply be defined as "Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state."

However, it can also be defined as simply being "The practice of quietening the mind by not focusing on any thought, concept, or activity." In essence, turning down the volume on the mind so that you are just simply consciousness with no active thinking - you simply - ARE. It is not that you 'forget' the suffering, the problems, the stress or anxieties' - but rather not think about them. It is like you go from the state of having a glass full of water (A mind full of dizzying worries and thoughts) to an empty glass (A mind where there is an absence of thoughts).

Reaching such a peaceful state of mind is tremendously rejuvenating for the body and brain. It is an art that has been practiced and perfected for thousands of years; even having clinical studies showing how beneficial it is for the organs of the body and physical longevity.

Meditation can be practiced not just sitting down in the Lotus position, but it can be practised anywhere, any time, whatever you are doing; because it is simply put - a quiet state of mind. It promotes powerful, efficient, critical thinking aka Mindfulness.

So, with the above in mind, I am going to include below an article I wrote in 2018 called "Why Worry?" which covers many aspects of how we humans get suckered into living a difficult mental state 24/7 by everything from processed foods to the stresses of social interactions. I hope it will be a blessing to you.

As for Meditation, enter it as a search term in YouTube for many good instructional videos, or Google to lead you to interesting articles on how to properly conduct sessions.

Be safe, be blessed.

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WHY WORRY..?

We are a species of worriers. We worry about practically everything. We even worry about worrying - someone told me just a few days ago, 'how much they worry about the amount of worrying they do', to which I replied by asking, "Does it help..?"

A very wise man who has since passed from this world once told me "If you worry, YOU WILL ONE DAY DIE. If you don't worry, YOU WILL ONE DAY DIE... So why worry..??"

Everyone goes through those times when they suddenly realize that a storm is going off inside their mind. Worry, upon worry, upon worry, and more worries, all stacked up in the mind like a mountain with no visible summit. It is a moment when it feels like the last scrap of sanity recoils from the rest of the consciousness in abject horror.

For some, that is the moment that they set about reaching for an alcoholic beverage, for others, they go for the pill bottle, or worse.

So, we are starting to see a process at work here: Worries + Time = Stress + Time = Brain Fog. OK, so hold that thought.

What else can cause brain fog..? Of course, failing to get enough sleep is a well known trigger, as well as the morning after a night out where copious amounts of alcohol are consumed. Surprisingly though, aside from these common sense facts, and that of stress, there are lesser known causes of Brain Fog.

Certain food allergies have been known to trigger chemicals in the brain that have a sedatory effect along with other more unpleasant symptoms. Furthermore a variety of food additives and even foods have been linked to inducing brain fog type effects. Chief among the food additives are MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) marketed as a flavoring agent and taste enhancer, is widely recognized as being a main culprit. And if you think you can avoid it, it can be very tricky because it has a variety of names. It can be in salad dressings, soups, canned vegetables, frozen lunches; you name it, it can be added. Here is a link that will provide you with the names that this nasty little food additive can hide under - http://www.msgmyth.com/Hidden_Names_for_MSG.pdf

Another one is an artificial sweetener known commonly as Aspartame. This has gotten more attention in recent years as many tests have been shown to prove that this additive can result in the early onset of Alzheimer disease. I recommend the following link for getting more information on what products contain this sweetener - http://deeprootsathome.com/products-contain-aspartame/

Peanuts, dairy products, pre-cooked foods, and even bacon, and a low vitamin B-12 intake have all been shown to result in chemical processes that affect the abilities of the brain in a negative fashion. And then of course, there is ALCOHOL. Yes, it's a lot to consider, a lot to look into and figure out what is in your diet that could be causing you grief, but please do it. It will be one, or a host of things less to worry about, right..?

Back to the Noisy Mind.

Worries + Time = Stress + Time = Brain Fog accompanied by all the uncontrollable noise in the mind, emotional swings, and anxieties. What is the secret then behind stopping worrying and obtaining a peaceful mind..? Well first off, it is not secret, just common sense. There is no way to stop the mind from thinking, however well you can control your thoughts, or however experienced you are with meditation. Thinking does not equate to worrying, yet worrying is all about thoughts, right..?

Without going too deeply into the dynamics of thoughts and thought responses, I will just say that you can discipline your mind to where you are able to observe a thought as it arises, not react to it, and allow it to pass while effectively turning down the volume so that as more thoughts arise, the drift past your awareness like a breeze clearing the morning mist.

The answer is Mindfulness; living fully in the moment you are in. Being wide awake and responsive in, and to, the very moment you are in - nothing more, nothing less. Mindfulness is the method used by meditation practitioners to achieve a very quiet and deep state of awareness while conscious. Meditation itself is literally mankind's most ancient way of 'getting away from it all'.

If you talk to any meditation practitioner, Yoga practitioner, Sadhu, Buddhist, Yogi, or practicing Hindu, they will all agree though that the same mindfulness practiced in meditation can be practiced in each waking moment of every day. It is ALL about LIVING IN THE MOMENT.

You see, 99.9% of our worries are connected to things in our past, and things possible in our future. Now here's the thing - the past cannot be changed, and the future hasn't arrived yet. It will, but not yet. It's coming. But you are in this moment, right now, here and now.

Does that mean I am telling you that to avoid brain fog, worries, anxieties etc. that you should just quit thinking about the past and the future..? NO. That is not possible, and would be disastrous. I am saying that you can efficiently put the past and the future into the correct perspectives so that you can be fully aware of the present moment unfolding before you, and be prepared for forthcoming moments by taking possible actions in the present.

A simple example would be: It is better to study now for a test tomorrow, rather than sit and worry about if you will pass the test or not.

The above example gives a definite knowledge of an event coming, which is the test, so it makes the process simple.

But what about an example like: 'I hope Philip doesn't come in to work tomorrow, if he does I know he is going to make my day hell in the office'. So, from this, the Thinker is worrying about something he has no control over (if Philip goes to work or not).

Just remember - you have control only over this moment, so control this moment with your 100% mindfulness. Worrying about things you have no control over leads only to disillusion and false expectations. Be mindful and present only in this very moment you are in, and take charge of it completely.

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