Remembering What Matters When You’re Lost

Dora found me through browsing the internet for meditation teachings. She asked to have a chat because she wanted to tell me her story.

I was struck by the energetic lady who showed up on my screen for our scheduled call on Thursday afternoon. Her voice tells a story of moving with the waves. She enjoys travelling, her artwork, a beautifully supportive family and changing things around the house.

But an accident a few years ago cut through the narrative of her life leaving her with a persistent fear of death that disrupts her of her joyfulness. After couple of years being treated by a psychiatrist whose medication ate away at her sleep, she decided to look for a different route to reconstructing her life.

It’s difficult to admit, but not all of us have Dora’s stubborn determination to revive her joyfulness and fullness.

We either believe the doctor’s admonition that there’s no other way, taking upon ourselves the blame for not keeping up with their instructions. Or we’re squandering energy in the attempt to contain our pain until it becomes all we can do to keep on with the way things are. Often we just soldier on with everyday tasks while labelling our concerns and pain as “not too bad”.

If we remember what matters the most in the most important moments we are less likely to be hijacked by a fight/flight system that has a very limited conversation with life.

One of the less spoken of meanings and functions of mindfulness is remembering.

“Our bodies are texts that carry memories” said Katie Cannon “and therefore remembering is no less than reincarnation”.